Oom Yung Doe

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Oom Yung Doe is a style of martial arts that was founded by John "Iron" Kim^[1]. The organization currently includes twenty-one licensed schools across seven states in the US^[2]. Controversy surrounds this organization due to serious legal entanglements that lead to Kim, the founder of the style, and several senior instructors being jailed, along side continuing accusations of being an unethical cult^{[3][4][5][6] [7]}.

Contents 1 Origin 2 Meaning of Oom Yung Doe 3 Biography of Kim 3.1 Achievements 4 Training 4.1 Moo doe skills and movements 4.2 Acupressure and herbal equipment 4.3 Meditation and spirituality 4.4 School protocol 4.5 Potential benefits 4.6 Criticism of training 5 Controversies 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Origin

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Oom Yung Doe (alternatively known as Kong Su, Chung Moo Quan, and Chung Moo Doe) is a martial arts organization headed by John C. Kim.^[8][9]

Three components of Traditional Moo Doe:

• Moo Doe principle (Principles to follow a positive path in life)
• Internal (Nae Gong) and external (Wae Gong) foundation development
• Correct sequence with proper adjustment for body type ^[10]

Kim is the 8th generation Grandmaster of Oom Yung Doe. He was preceded by Wang Po, who taught the Oom Yung line of martial arts under the given name of Yin Yang Doe. Throughout history, the given names of the different styles of martial arts have changed, but the principle has remained. It is common for each Grandmaster to select a unique name to distinguish that generation of form and movement from the previous.^[11]

Other styles of East Asian Moo Doe have been incorporated into the original Oom Yung line of martial arts. Today, about twenty percent of the Oom Yung Doe style is derived from other styles of East Asian martial arts and has come to be known as "Eight Martial Arts taught as One," ^[12] or "All Martial Arts United." ^[13]

[edit] Meaning of Oom Yung Doe

Schools have operated in the US under the names of Chung Moo Quan, Chung Moo Doe, and Oom Yung Doe. "Oom Yung" (Korean) means the same as Yin Yang (Chinese). While "Chung Moo" more specifically means mind and body, "Oom Yung" means the balance and harmony of everything in nature which of course is inclusive of mind and body. "Doe" means a way or more specifically a way to develop harmony through practice. The school's name has evolved as Kim has upgraded the level of training. In 1999, Kim chose to use the more universally understood name "Oom Yung Doe" to represent all the knowledge that is being passed down to the schools, the community, and throughout the world. ^[13]

[edit] Biography of Kim

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Kim was born in Korea and given the name of John C. Kim by his parents. Kim has also used the alternative aliases of Chull Kim, "Iron" Kim, Jack Park, and Charles Won-suk Kim at various times over the course of his career. Kim began his life's path in the study and practice of martial arts at the age of seven.^{[citation needed]} To achieve perfection of his martial art movements, Kim many times chose the solitude of the mountain and ocean areas of Asia to practice the forms and techniques that he learned. Although he learned from many qualified teachers, a majority of the knowledge that Kim possesses was passed down through Wang Po, the 7th generation Grandmaster of Yin Yang Doe. ^[14]

[edit] Achievements

Kim purportedly competed in and won the All Asia Championship in 1956 sponsored by Wang Po in the Cho Leung area of Pusan.^{[15][citation needed]}

Another of the many personal achievements claimed by Kim is a technique he refers to as "Kyong Gong Sul Bope" (flying side kick). Kim claimed to have demonstrated Kyong Gong Sul Bope by jumping from the equivalent of an 11-story building.^{[citation needed]} In 1972 while in the US, Kim claims to have again performed the Kyong Gong Sul Bope movement by jumping from the equivalent of an 8-story building and landing without injury on a sloped surface 8 stories below.^{[citation needed]}

Pictures of this claim and others can be found on the Oom Yung Doe web site.^[16][17]

Critics of Kim assert that the the All Asia Championship has never existed for Kim to participate in or win. Furthermore, they question the existence of Wang Po, the individual that allegedly the previous head of the Tradition Moo Doe line of martial arts, as well as the lineage of Oom Yung Doe in general. Finally, they accuse Kim of having staged the photographs used to support his claim of performing Kyong Gong Sul Bope in 1972.^[18]

[edit] Training

[edit] Moo doe skills and movements

Training is claimed to be in "a combination of East Asian martial arts" collectively referred to as Traditional Moo Doe.^[19] Various forms are practiced.^[20][21][22] The eight styles of martial arts taught in Oom Yung Doe include the "Iron" Kim style variations of:

• Bagwa Chung
• Kung Fu
• Tai Chi kuen
• Ai Ki Do / Hap Ki Do
• Judo / Jiu Jitsu
• Ship Pal Gae (18 Chinese Weapons)
• Kom Do (Samurai Sword)
• Kong Su (Tae Kwon Do)

In the United States, all Oom Yung Doe practitioners regardless of age, body type, or condition - have an opportunity to learn and develop Traditional Moo Doe skills and abilities at the International Level^{[23] [24] [10]}. This training attempts to mimic movements of animals and from the elements of nature. Some of the training rituals or style alterations unique to Oom Yung Doe are also apparently drawn from fables or legends.^[25]

Movements use the whole body in many different positions and directions, and are practiced at both slow and quick speeds. The practitioners of Oom Yung Doe believe that this training builds the powerful strength of chi, sometimes referred to as qi. For example, the Tiger Movement (Ho Bar Toop) has practitioners to develop the ability to move into a very low predatory position, then jump high in the air while making an adjustment toward their striking target. As animals instinctively move in certain ways to maintain balance and harmony, these movements were adapted to properly fit the human form in a way that would achieve the greatest natural benefits, leading to an increase in chi. Similar to empty-hand movements, weapon movements follow the same principles, combining the mind, body, and weapon; thus all parts harmonize as one.

[edit] Acupressure and herbal equipment

Training combines specific movements, with acupressure points and herbal equipment designed to help the practitioner quickly build skill and ability, flexibility, coordination, speed, and power.^[26] Purportedly, when traditional herbal equipment of a specific weight is used, the practitioner can quickly develop better control in the movement and quickly harmonize their body. Specific Chinese classic herbal formulas have been passed down for centuries of Traditional Moo Doe masters, who used the natural herbs to increase their chi and attain tremendous strength. The increase of Chi practitioners experience can help balance the internal and external condition of the person. ^[27]

[edit] Meditation and spirituality

Moo Doe training is intended to allow the practitioner to attain inner peace and achieve a high level of spirituality. A venerated master who has reached a very high level of spirituality and awakening is considered to be essential for learning the proper principles and methods.^{[citation needed]} Learning the proper techniques and principles are of utmost importance as incorrect technique and understanding reportedly make it almost impossible to purify oneself in order to attain inner peace and strength.

Oom Yung Doe students learn meditation as part of their practice. One higher level form of Moo Doe meditation taught is Nae Shim Gong.

• Nae = means brain or internal
• Shim = means heart or soul
• Gong = means develop, build, purify

Without purifying your mind, body, and soul, it is extremely difficult to achieve your ultimate condition or your maximum level of mental and physical skill and ability. Through Nae Shim Gong, practitioners gain the power to develop a high level of physical, mental, and spiritual strength and ability. Often times, many people do not realize what proper meditation consists of. If the proper methods of meditation - Shim Gong or Chom Sun - are unknown, it is nearly impossible to purify your soul; it is as if you were trying to reach a destination without the proper map. If you do not know where you are going, you cannot find your destination. ^[24]

[edit] School protocol

Oom Yung Doe schools are formal learning environments, which follow historical teaching principles and traditions. Throughout East Asia, one such tradition is bowing. A commonplace greeting, bowing is also a sign of respect. For hundreds of years, Moo Doe instructors have felt that the greatest gift they could pass on to others were movements and principles that could help the student achieve good health, happiness and a more meaningful life. Just as instructors have respect for their teachers, students in turn gain respect for their instructors. ^[28]

[edit] Potential benefits

More Magazine^[29] and The Oprah Winfrey Show^[30] have featured a Oom Yung Doe practitioner in her 60s on stories about what women in their midlife are doing to maintain their health and gain greater meaning out of life.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Criticism of training

Criticism has been leveled at Oom Yung Doe training because significant parts of training in Oom Yung Doe consist of attending supplemental "Weeklong Seminars"^[31] or "International Sae Gae Moo Doe Seminars"^[32] that may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in addition to basic contract fees. Furthermore, Oom Yung Doe, and its associated organizations are the sole providers of the approved proprietary herbal equipment^[33] necessary for training. Finally, Oom Yung Doe practitioners maintain that by practicing Traditional Moo Doe in the prescribed manner, that miraculous skills and abilities far superior to those of practitioners of other styles of martial arts may be developed.^[34] This is viewed with skepticism by many in the martial arts community, because neither instructors nor students of Oom Yung Doe engage in formal competition or training of any kind with practitioners of other forms of martial arts while the effectiveness and credibility of the Oom Yung Doe style and its senior members is often be viewed as highly suspect.^[35][36][37]

[edit] Controversies

The controversy surrounding this organization stems from the conviction and incarceration of the organization's leadership for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Internal Revenue Service,^[38], the charging of fees in the vicinity of $10,000 per annum,^[39][40] and accusations of fraudulent^{[41][42][43][44]} and unethical business practices such as pressuring students to pay exorbitant prices and providing second-rate training or services to students who do not pay supplemental fees for additional seminars or courses.^{[45][46][47][48]}

The Freedom of Mind website maintains reports on this organization including statements from former members as well as providing a comprehensive list of media reports covering twenty years of this group's activities under its various front names.^[49]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• oomyungdoe.com: The official Oom Yung Doe web site
• Web sites created by current practitioners.
• A discussion group created by former practitioners.