One of the most respect grandmasters in this country believes that Tae Kwon Do will "slide down the mountain" if something is not done to educate the younger generation of instructors. Grandmaster Kwon of Chicago, Illinois speaks openly about instructors who use the art to promote their own financial well-being, and the serious problems that have evolved since the 1980's when he first noticed the decline in traditional values and respect.

Tae Kwon do Times : It is understood about the moral code of the second generation of both American and Korean born instructors. When did you begin to notice the decline of traditional values in these instructors?

Grand master Duk Gun Kwon : Well, I can say the first generation of new instructors was in the early 1970's. They had a lot of respect for their seniors and the seniors respected the juniors for the way they conducted themselves, even though they were of different khans and styles.  I think it was around the mid-1980's than I started to notice a change in instructors both in those coming from Korea and the second generation of martial artist born in the United States.

TKDT:  Did you see those changes personally, or did you just hear about the problems concerning some second generation instructors?

DGK: I saw it, I can't say that I saw it in individual schools, but I began to notice the behavior at tournaments. There was no respect like in the early years. The whole focus of the tournament was on winning. Instructors would argue with the officials if their students did not win. They would use dirty words. It didn't matter their rank; they were very disrespectful. It was and is very destructive to martial arts. Many years ago, younger instructors always bowed to senior instructors and gave them respect.  Today, a younger instructor may not even stop to say hello to a senior instructor, much less bow to the senior. Parents and spectators see this disrespect.

TKDT : Do you see this kind of behavior outside of the competition arena?

DGK : Oh, yes. I have been in many situations--meetings, lectures, seminars--with both younger American and Korean instructors, and the atmosphere is not good. The respect for traditional values is not present in many of the younger instructors I have met with.

TKDT:  Doesn't your generation of instructors have some responsibility in the way the younger generation of instructors behave? Couldn't you and your peers have done something to stop the decline in respect, or was it that their training was not as it should have been?

DGK: I think an older generation is always responsible in some way, for the next generation, by word, by example, etc. But when two cultures mix there will always be a watering down. It is not the pure product anymore.

TKDT: So, what you are saying is that a young Korean instructor teaching in the United States is affected by the American culture and causes him not to respect his senior instructors?

DGK: In America, things are different than in Korea. Here, people call each other by their first names. It's a more relaxed atmosphere; more friendly.

TKDT: So you are saying that the younger generation, let's say the younger Korean generation--if they were raised in the United States, they have less respect than those just arriving from Korea?

DGK: We don't really know what is in a person's mind or heart. Many young American Tae Kwon Do instructors--those with Korean heritage or not--respect their seniors, but their attitude is not the same as those instructors coming directly from Korea. However, even the attitude and values of those instructors coming directly from Korea are not the same as years ago. There is a change in Korea, too. Training is not the same. The focus of Tae Kwon Do training in Korea today is on competition and winning. There is a tremendous push to maintain world dominance in Tae Kwon Do competition. Teaching traditional values and Tae Kwon Do philosophy are no longer a main focus of training.

TKDT:  Do you think that teaching Tae Kwon Do in the school system from elementary school on has contributed to the demise of its traditional values in Korea?

DGK: What is taught in Tae Kwon Do class now in Korea is different than how I was taught. For one thing, students begin training at a much younger age and cannot understand anything but the physical part of Tae Kwon Do.

TKDT:  But aren't senior instructors in Korea teaching the students?

DGK:  They are not teaching their students the same values that we were taught in the dojang. So when their students come to the United States, they come with different focus and a different set of values. Combine this with the nature of America, and there is a decline in respect, discipline and philosophy of Tae Kwon Do.

TKDT:  What do you define as the nature of America?

DGK: I'm not saying that the nature of America is bad. I am saying that American culture is different. When instructors try to incorporate those differences into their teaching, it can cause problems. For example, Americans shake hands instead of bow and many younger instructors have taken on this greeting instead of the traditional bow. Also, the attitude of some American instructors toward their senior instructors is different in America. Some view us as equals in the martial art business world and some view us as competition in the martial art business world.

TKDT:  But many Americans do bow to show respect to their elders in Tae Kwon Do..

DGK: Yet, that's true, but then they shake the hand of their elder. This is okay, Americans are very friendly people, but this is not proper martial art etiquette. The junior waits for his or her senior to offer to shake hands. I know this is just a small point, but the decline of tradition and values begins with small points.

TKDT:  Is this decline happening only in the United States, or is it happening in other countries as well?

DGK:  It is happening all over the world because instructors are re-focusing their priorities to winning competitions and on making a living for themselves. Up until only a couple of decades ago, martial art instructors did not make their living from teaching martial arts. Now it is the only source of income for many instructors. Because of this, Tae Kwon Do and many other martial arts are becoming too commercialized.

TKDT:  Do you think that could be the main reason why tradition is being eroded in Tae Kwon Do?

DGK: There is no main reason, but as I said, a combination of many things. Again, competition is a big contributing factor, but competition can be good for Tae Kwon Do if it is put in proper perspective. For example, when I traveled to China, I saw Wu-Shu competition. There were so many divisions; sparring, poomse. Ho Sin Sul;; so many divisions. In many international Tae Kwon Do competitions, there is only fighting. Tae Kwon Do has become no more than boxing matches; the art is lost.

TKDT:  Are you saying that there is no way that the clock can be turned back so that the younger instructors teach and instill the traditional values of Tae Kwon Do to their students?

DGK:  The way things are now, that's right. They are too concerned with making the dollar and producing tournament champions.

TKDT: So there's no hope for Tae Kwon Do?

DGK : Not unless something is done to change the direction of Tae Kwon Do. We must do something!

TKDT:  Like what?

DGK : Education. More traditional Tae Kwon Do instruction starting with my generation with the assistance of the Kukkiwon.

TKDT : But how could that help now? How is that going to help the instructors that are teaching in the United States?

DGK: This is the responsibility of the senior instructors teaching in the United States. We must be more visible and set excellent examples of the traditional values and discipline of Tae Kwon Do. The Tenets of Tae Kwon Do must be taught more diligently in the dojang. Instructors must live the Tenets if they expect their students to follow the traditional values of our art. Some instructors have made excellent money from teaching Tae Kwon Do. They have jewelry, expensive cars and million dollar houses-- I've seen this. But they have not returned anything to society, back to the community that has given them so much. Many professionals give back to their communities. For example, many professional athletes donate their time and money to the poor or to help with worthwhile projects. What do Tae Kwon Do instructors do?  How can our students respect us if we do not do for others? Tae Kwon Do instructors should be leaders in their communities, not only martial artists. When this happens, people will understand that the martial arts are not just for fighting, not just for competition, not just for the Olympics, but are a philosophy for living.

TKDT:  What would be the first step?

DGK:  I encourage all instructors to do something for their community. It can be something as simple as checking the report cards of their students and encouraging them to do better in school. It could be working with anti-drug programs such as the one Chuck Norris started. As a world governing body of Tae Kwon Do, Kukkiwon can help by advancing the idea of contributing to the community where you live. They could send brochures to instructors outlining some of the projects they could do. Education is the key to solving many problems. Kukkiwon could help a great deal to advance the traditional aspects of Tae Kwon Do and to widen international competition to include more aspects of the martial arts. We need one-step competition; form competition; not only fighting. The bottom line is that martial artist must return something to their communities--money, time, talent. Instructors need to take the lead in this or martial arts will stop growing. Our Tae Kwon Do world governing bodies should promote this too.

TKDT:  Have you spoken to anyone about this?

DGK: Yes, I have spoken to many officials of the Kukkiwon about this very thing. Dr. Kim, WTF president, has just appointed me to the position of chairman of the Sport for all Committee.

TKDT:  What does that mean?

DGK:  It's a committee to oversee the activities for Tae Kwon Doist 36 years of age and over.

TKDT:  How do you instill the traditional values of Tae Kwon Do within students in your own school?

DGK:  I try to be an example for my students. I have been very involved in serving the wider community, city, state, for many, many years. In the dojang, I try to get my students to think about other things involved in Tae Kwon Do, not just the kicking and punching, I maintain the traditions of Tae Kwon Do in the dojang; students wear only white uniforms, no colors; they are taught the Tenets of Tae Kwon Do and expected to live up to them. Also, schools need to be standardized. For example, when I became USTU State President in 1984, people were wearing all different colored uniforms to tournaments. This is not proper. I turned this around when I was Illinois State Tae Kwon Do President. I remember a competition who drove four hours to compete but had a colored uniform.  The rules stated that a white uniform must be worn, so I sent him home, he did not compete. The next year he returned wearing a white uniform. It gave me great pride to see that I had standardized the competitions. Currently there are many seminars offered by very successful martial art businessmen. One focus is how to make more money by making the dojang fun for children. I don't think you would recognized some dojangs, they have stopped all traditional training. Many instructors are just baby-sitting children for one hours. That's it!

TKDT:  Does the younger generation of Tae Kwon Do instructors teach differently than masters of your generation? If so, how?

DGK:  Oh, yes, and I have discussed some of the ways they have changed. But they should change their ways if they are to stay in business a long time as martial art instructors. Again, this is why I believe it is so important to have standardized classes, and keep the tradition in Tae Kwon Do. You can have fun doing this too. I do it, many instructors do it.

TKDT : How can you standardize classes when there are so many different organizations and students who leave their instructors to teach on their own?

DGK : I understand this, but if instructors stay true to how they were taught, then classes can remain standardized, even if some try new things in the dojang. There are many young instructors who now host tournaments. They get their black belts and then go out on their own to open schools and host tournaments. Why?  To make money.  I'm not saying that this is all bad. The problem is their lack of experience. Many younger instructors do not bring respect into running the tournament. Without respect, many things happen.  There are more injuries, more problems. This hurts Tae Kwon Do's image in the community. Many years ago, only high-ranking black belts hosted tournaments. The competition was not only Tae Kwon Do, but for other arts as well. We had no problems. Now, they are all separated by martial art, by favorite groups. Today tournaments are smaller and many times competitors from different belt and weight divisions are placed in the same division. This causes problems and more injuries.

TKDT : But how can you put any kind of regulations on who operates a tournament and how it is run?

DGK: This is difficult, it's a free country! Other professions have regulations and licensing -- it may be difficult to pass, but maybe Tae Kwon Do needs this too. Again, it all has to start with educating instructors from Kukkiwon. Perhaps the officials at Tae Kwon Do headquarters could appoint some high-ranking instructors to research this problem.

TKDT: But how can Kukkiwon know the problems in tournaments in the United States? How can they mandate procedures in the United States? How can they mandate respect?

DGK:  Perhaps Kukkiwon could appoint a high-ranking instructor in the United States to work on this problem--and believe me, I am not saying me! I think it would have to be an instructor with many years of experience who has seen the evolution of what has been happening in Tae Kwon Do since the 1970's in this country. Some of the younger instructors have high ranks, but they have not put in the time as instructors and really, I don't think they care about maintaining the traditions of Tae Kwon Do as much as the older generation. To be honest, I think some of the younger generation of Tae Kwon Do Instructors care more about making money any way they can than about passing on the art.

TKDT: But how can Kukkiwon or any organization change this?

DGK : I am hoping that this article will light the fire and that instructors from my generation--and even those who have retired from martial arts--will want to do something to help maintain the traditions and to elevate the standards of Tae Kwon Do. This is one of the reasons I am sponsoring a tour to Korea. I want Tae Kwon Do students to see the roots of their art. The Olympics will help to spread Tae Kwon Do, but there must be something more than that focus.  I feel we have lost our martial art traditions. The older generation with the assistance of Kukkiwon needs to bring back the traditional martial art. Very few people can be Olympic Tae Kwon Do champions, but everyone who wants to can try. I don't have a specific answer to the problems that I have brought up. I do know that education is the key. I tell my son, who is a martial art instructor, and other younger instructors, that if they do not promote the traditions and respect of Tae Kwon Do, they cannot expect any respect when they are fifty years old.  They will not be able to look back at their careers and be happy. You cannot just repeat the Tenets of Tae Kwon Do, you must live it. Tae Kwon Do can help our country; it can help us to be strong. What many young instructors don't realize is that by donating their time and money to the community, they will benefit. That isn't why you should do it, but it is a benefit. It gives exposure to the community and helps to spread goodwill. I know some instructors are already involved in community affairs, but unfortunately, not enough. It is not a good thing for Tae Kwon Do when students become instructors only to make money, but how can we blame them? They see their instructors with expensive cars and fancy homes and they want that too. They think that teaching martial arts is an easy way to make money. That's why we have so many schools now. But there are also many schools that close when the instructors find out that it isn't that easy to run a successful dojang. When schools close, it is a bad example for all martial artist. Tae Kwon Do training needs to be consistent in the dojang and in conducting tournaments. This will only come through educating the instructors and setting state and national standards for tournaments. The time for talk is over; we must do something to stop Tae Kwon Do from sliding down the mountain.