Life is lived every day. How we reflect the daily events, people, circumstances builds us into who we are, and that is how we share ourselves with the world. Dr. Tae Yun Kim who is an Author and Martial Arts Grandmaster has something to offer to any woman. The winner of Gold and Silver Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Tae Yun Kim has her personal story of joy and tribulations to tell and to share. What we take away from it is up to each and every one of us. But I love to be inspired by the stories like this one and remind myself about what matters to me. What I am learning form the women like Dr. Tae Yun Kim is factored into my internal know-how system and makes me stronger, wiser and more confident in the choices I make for myself in life.
I was born in Korea, a first-born girl in a culture that viewed my birth as an omen of bad luck. I overcame the objections of not only my family but 5000 years of the Korean tradition to begin martial arts training at the age of seven.
At twenty-three, I moved to the United States and suddenly found myself in an entirely different culture. I lived with my family in Vermont in a trailer park. None of us knew how to speak or read or write a word of English. I didn’t know how to drive; I didn’t dress like other people; I had no money; and I was—and still am—only 4’11”.
From my first days in this new world, I never lost sight of my dream to become a martial arts teacher. But I had to tend to first things first. Our family had only $300 between us, so I needed to find a job.
I had just arrived from a foreign country. What could I do? At first, the only jobs I could get were cleaning bathrooms at a Howard Johnson hotel and pumping gas, both of which I did happily. As I scrubbed the toilets and sinks at work and went about my daily activities, I was constantly looking for an opening where I could begin to offer my talents. I visualized my future plans and saw myself teaching students.
In my heart, I wanted to be the spark that would light a flame in others, as my master had done for me. Every day as I walked to and from my home, I would pass a high school and watch the students coming and going. I realized that I could teach these students so much. But how could I get started?
Dr. Tae Yun Kim is Author and Martial Arts Grandmaster
A plan began to form in my mind. I expected that somebody would ask me, “What do you want? Who are you? What is your name?” I would get out my Korean-English dictionary and practice my answers: “I would like to teach martial arts. My name is Tae Yun Kim.”
I imagined the other questions they would ask and how I would answer them. Finally, I got my chance. I learned an important lesson during this time: never give up. So many times in life we want to give up just before we are about to succeed. But if we are persistent and consistent, doors will open.
As I expected, the school’s administrators asked me questions. I didn’t understand everything they were saying, but I understood their quizzical expressions.
“I would like to teach martial arts,” I told them.
“Oh no, we don’t want martial arts,” they replied. “Besides, we don’t have the money to hire you.”
I told them I didn’t want any money and that I wanted to volunteer. I smiled and was very confident.
They asked me how I could teach if I couldn’t speak English. Well, I was ready for that question too.
“Correct,” I said. “And you don’t speak Korean. I learn fast. I can teach martial arts in broken English.”
Bruce Lee was very popular at the time and, sure enough, they brought up another point I had anticipated: “We don’t want our students to get hurt or break a kneecap – their own or someone else’s.” I had already prepared my answer with the help of the dictionary: “No, no,” I replied in my broken English. “I’m going to teach them how to break through their mental barriers. I’m going to teach them confidence and discipline and how to stay focused and be positive.”
The administrators had their doubts, but they gave me a chance. Many students as well as teachers would gather each day to watch the strange and fascinating movements, routines, and lessons I was teaching. Amazingly, the troublemakers started to become better students.
It took Dr. Tae Yun Kim 4 years before she managed to open her own Martial Arts Studio
Within months, my class had become the most popular in the school. Even more amazing, I was voted Teacher of the Year and given an award. The administrators were so pleased that they let me use the small gymnasium at the elementary school to teach martial arts classes to the teachers and parents who now wanted to take lessons themselves. I was putting into practice the life principles my teacher had taught me, and they were working.
As time went on, I was always looking for ways to expand my reach. After many months, I was able to open a martial arts “studio” in an old garage. I taught martial arts classes after school during the day. At midnight, I would go to do my janitorial work at the hotel. During weekends I would pump gas.
Four years went by, and I had at last saved enough money to open a school where I could teach martial arts and pass on the life’s skills and wisdom my teacher had instilled in me. At the end of every class, the students and I would shout out the affirmation that would become my motto: “He can do, she can do, why not me?”
I have had my share of ordeals, of course, both professional and personal, but I have been determined to learn from each one. I’ve always believed that if this person or that person can do something, why not me and why not you?
If I fail, I’ll try again. And again. This takes effort, but has anything worthwhile ever been accomplished without effort? Even if something has never been done before, why should that stop us?
One of the important things we need to remember is keep our self-empowerment. Partially, it comes from the books we read and people we are connected to. Check out the book by Dr. Tae Yun Kim “Seven Steps to Inner Power.”
Learn from the Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim
