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Greetings! Its been a long time since I did a blog, but I feel this might be the best place to log my experiences as of late. I'll be adding in pictures in the next blog, but this entry is to act as an introduction to a continued series of entries I'll be making over the next few years.
As a gamer, I often was met with the question about physical condition. The general population is still very under-educated about the state of professional video game playing. Most still don't even know its a legitimate profession! They think the old days of playing an NES or an Atari as children is still how the scene is. They think of gamers as "couch potatoes" and don't seem to understand that the gaming generation we have today is far more advanced and mature than back in the day. Most professional teams encourage their gamers to take up a good amount of physical activity and spend a bit of time in a gym at least to work themselves out and stay in decent shape. I am no different, except that I have a long standing history with martial arts.
I first met Grandmaster Yu 2 years ago through some friends of mine who were members at his gym facility. They introduced me to him and I immediately knew this was what I needed to do with my life. I was very much into Starcraft BW and SC2, but wanted to go back to my original calling. I started martial arts with Taekwondo when I was 5 years old. As an adopted Korean child in a very heavily-white area, I was almost always alienated socially. The only place I could escape the ridicule and harassment was in the martial arts dojang where my ethnicity was actually an asset instead of a hinderance.
I studied Taekwondo for 17 years in total, reaching 4th dan as my highest achieved rank in that art. Along the way, I studied in Wing Chun, Gojiru Karate, Shaolin Kungfu, Choi Lay Fut and finally Muay Thai. I achieved black belt in all of them, but never went past 1st dan in any art except TKD. I was very active in competition circles between 1997 and 2003, but suffered a grievous injury at the semi-finals of the World Championship of 2003 and was unable to continue practicing martial arts for a year or two until the injury healed. My opponent had caught my leg mid-air during a kick and the result was a knee that bent sideways rather than the way it should. It would be almost 2 years before I could use it to its full extent in martial arts again.
By the time that time had passed, I had settled into a different rhythm of life and was content to be a freelance musician at the same time I was attending vocational school. I ended up taking almost 7 full years off of martial arts before I found my current base of operations.
Grandmaster Yu is a strict old-school martial artist. He is the most decorated martial artist of all time and nobody in history has won as many championships as him. He was also the most dominant martial artist in that he completely destroyed every tournament in every style of martial arts around the world. He was known as the "Korean Killer" because most all of his opponents ended up in intensive care wards. In his older age, he still is in ridiculously good shape and far outclasses most people in their teens, twenties and thirties at the ripe age of almost 80!
After speaking with me, Master Yu decided that I should become his student. He saw my previous record through background checks in the various martial arts associations and said I needed help to get myself back into the martial arts style after such a severe knee injury. He was and is still incredibly strict about training and discipline, but all in all I know its for my own good. Lately the topic of corporal punishment has been brought up in the mass media and they are pushing the agenda of pacifism down everyones' throats as if it were legitimately proven true.
The truth of the matter is that although you probably will live and be fine in society without strict discipline and sometimes physical ramifications for your actions, you'll be what Master Yu calls a "just hang in there" kind of guy. Without that whip constantly driving you forward and upwards, he believes that nobody can achieve true greatness. I would contest this, were it not for his social circle which consists entirely of the world's top people of all fields. Every Grandmaster around the world ranks below him and asks his advice on everything. Every major TV/Movie producer, director and distribution firm ask his advice as well. The guy is surrounded by the CEOs of major production studios like CBS, Paramount, MGM and Disney. When I finally got the chance to meet a lot of them at the various demonstrations and tournaments we attended as a martial arts school, I inquired about their upbringing and if it was full of strict discipline like mine and Master Yu's were.
Turns out 100% of them had that kind of upbringing.
This got me thinking. I wonder how the "non-violence" side would explain that every person who truly grabbed life by the horns and ended up at the top had corporal punishment throughout their childhood years and were very strictly disciplined. Once you reach the top, its hard to provide yourself with the same kind of drive you'll have getting up there so you can keep going upwards to an even higher level. This is what Grandmaster Yu taught me and given what I've seen so far, I believe it.
In the coming days, I will be helping first-hand with producing Grandmaster's final public demonstration. It is already shaping up to be the martial arts event of the year and honestly I can't wait to see how it goes. The journey is studded with difficult trials and treacherous areas, but I can feel in my core that this is what I need. This total sacrifice of everything is what will bring me to where I want to be. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach this major martial arts event! I will include links to our video channels and pictures documenting the process as well as my own progress as a martial artist back to the world's top ranks in the ring and on the big movie screen!
 
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I also like Muay thai and that's why I read this.
Discipline is cool and all but all in all I think people should do what makes them happy while not troubling other people with it. So if someone is fine with that strict discipline, he should go with it. If the person is troubled by the discipline, I think he should quit.
Like, I know for sure that Einstein had serious trouble with people imposing discipline and authority over him. And he is far more important for humanity than all those movie producers and your Grandmaster and all his buddies combined together.
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You must be damn good if you somehow earned a black belt in Muay Thai.
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Ain't nobody better than Master Yu.
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On September 24 2014 19:07 hymn wrote:
I also like Muay thai and that's why I read this.
Discipline is cool and all but all in all I think people should do what makes them happy while not troubling other people with it. So if someone is fine with that strict discipline, he should go with it. If the person is troubled by the discipline, I think he should quit.
Like, I know for sure that Einstein had serious trouble with people imposing discipline and authority over him. And he is far more important for humanity than all those movie producers and your Grandmaster and all his buddies combined together.
I agree that martial arts are actually for everyone. I merely subscribe to the heavy disciplinary style because I really want to get back to my same shape I was in for the international championship level and that isn't the casual or fun route of martial arts. If I want to be something special that stands out world-wide, I'll need to bring that "next-level" to the table in my work and in my life. Martial arts are so much more than just beating people up or looking like a badass, but I admittedly am doing it to recapture past glory and make a future for myself.
On September 25 2014 21:28 TheKwas wrote:
You must be damn good if you somehow earned a black belt in Muay Thai.
Eh, black belt in Muay Thai isn't all that great. Not to say its not an accomplishment, but since the Muay Thai system is different than what we often think of as "traditional belt system" much like Jiujitsu having red belts being highest with a half-red-half-black belt serving as the intermediate between them I consider this rank to be somewhat unsatisfactory for what I'm trying to attain.
My studies in many martial arts were mostly because I realized almost every film star had many black belts in many styles under their belts. Joe Lewis and Ron Van Clief for example had upwards of 8-10 top ranking belts in just as many styles. Honestly compared to their level of expertise, I'd have to earn another 3-4 black belts just to stand with them in terms of qualifications. By "black belt" there, I mean whatever their highest ranking belt is. I realize a lot of martial arts do not use black as their top rank.
I still have a long way to go until I can stand with "the greats" in any manner.
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The joke is that there's no black belt in Muay Thai, just as there's no black belt in boxing. Muay Thai is a combat sport, so your skill level is determined by your fight record. The only belt that means anything is a stadium/champion belt.
If your Muay Thai gym is handing out belts, it's almost certainly some sort of McDojo. Some serious gyms have internal ranking systems (eg. fighters separated from hobbyists), but I've never heard of anyone using coloured belts.
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Sweden33719 Posts
I think it's more common in the US (muay thai schools with belts). Not sure it automatically makes it a mcdojo but not the best sign.
I cant tell if this is a serious post or a joke... the master yu stuff sounds like some kind of martial art cult parody. "Every grandmaster in the world is below master yu". I dont know, confusing post.
There is a Grandmaster Yu after googling, tho I dont think he can be in his 80s (can't find a date of birth but with going to Yong In university in the 60s he can't be more than 70 something?)? I guess he could have started very early. Still, mid 70s is no joke of an age.
Also, it says he retired from running his academy last year?
Anyway, if you aren't trolling then good luck, just not sure how you determine 'all other grandmasters are below' somebody. Also what's your name? Tried finding a bracket for the 2003 world championships but they only have the top 3 results posted (I assume you couldnt compete in 3rd place match with a hurt leg so I guess whomever you faced would have gotten a default win there).
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Ever consider grappling arts?
I was big into all the striking stuff (TKD bb (everyone has one nowadays) and amateur boxing) until I saw the old vids of Royce Gracie rape everyone in UFC 1, 2,etc.. Thus began my journey in BJJ, and I've got to say it's super effective when compared to a lot of the striking arts. A whole different beast, plus it's great you're able to roll constantly for practice.
Edit:
On September 24 2014 15:35 sCCrooked wrote:
In the coming days, I will be helping first-hand with producing Grandmaster's final public demonstration. It is already shaping up to be the martial arts event of the year and honestly I can't wait to see how it goes. The journey is studded with difficult trials and treacherous areas, but I can feel in my core that this is what I need. This total sacrifice of everything is what will bring me to where I want to be. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach this major martial arts event! I will include links to our video channels and pictures documenting the process as well as my own progress as a martial artist back to the world's top ranks in the ring and on the big movie screen!
nvm...striking>grappling when it comes to film presentation. To each his own on the personal pursuit of martial arts.
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On September 30 2014 12:24 Liquid`Jinro wrote:
I think it's more common in the US (muay thai schools with belts). Not sure it automatically makes it a mcdojo but not the best sign.
I've trained both in Asia and North America (granted, it was Canada and not the USA), and I've never seen or heard of anyone using coloured belts. Perhaps it exists somewhere, but I'm pretty confident that most Muay Thai practitioners would laugh at the idea of having a "Muay Thai black belt".
Edit: And the fact that he doesn't seem to realize that Muay Thai's belt system isn't just "different", but non-existent makes me really doubt that he ever trained Muay Thai.
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Sweden33719 Posts
On September 30 2014 16:55 TheKwas wrote:Show nested quote +On September 30 2014 12:24 Liquid`Jinro wrote:
I think it's more common in the US (muay thai schools with belts). Not sure it automatically makes it a mcdojo but not the best sign. I've trained both in Asia and North America (granted, it was Canada and not the USA), and I've never seen or heard of anyone using coloured belts. Perhaps it exists somewhere, but I'm pretty confident that most Muay Thai practitioners would laugh at the idea of having a "Muay Thai black belt". Edit: And the fact that he doesn't seem to realize that Muay Thai's belt system isn't just "different", but non-existent makes me really doubt that he ever trained Muay Thai.
Well, as an example, there's UFC fighter Amir Sadollah who has a 'black belt in sambo' even though that doesn't really exist... except for in America.
Idk, belt in muay thai is very strange but I don't think it's an automatic death sentence for legitimacy.
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I think everything should have a black belt. Like, if you practice killing spiders, there should be a ceremony where you are handed a black belt by a spider-killing master. Or if you're really good at poking holes in the cheese-ball at parties and not getting caught, there should be a ceremony where a master cheese-ball poker (without getting caught) hands you a black belt.
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Should there also be a ceremony for people to become blackbelts at handing out blackbelts?
Also, a blackbelt ceremony for birthdays
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joe lewis was the white joe louis
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On October 01 2014 04:48 Slayer91 wrote:
Should there also be a ceremony for people to become blackbelts at handing out blackbelts?
Also, a blackbelt ceremony for birthdays
Yes.
On October 03 2014 04:03 sCCrooked wrote:
I'll basically take the comments about the belt system as a sign that you must not be particularly experienced in martial arts if that's your attitude towards a gym that uses a belt system.
Do mean myself, Jinro, Slayer91, or TheKwas? And by the way, how does an opinion of various colors of belts as a ranking system correlate with a person's level of experience in martial arts?
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United States4883 Posts
On October 03 2014 05:11 ninazerg wrote:Show nested quote +On October 01 2014 04:48 Slayer91 wrote:
Should there also be a ceremony for people to become blackbelts at handing out blackbelts?
Also, a blackbelt ceremony for birthdays Yes. Show nested quote +On October 03 2014 04:03 sCCrooked wrote:
I'll basically take the comments about the belt system as a sign that you must not be particularly experienced in martial arts if that's your attitude towards a gym that uses a belt system.
Do mean myself, Jinro, Slayer91, or TheKwas? And by the way, how does an opinion of various colors of belts as a ranking system correlate with a person's level of experience in martial arts?
The same way one's knowledge of SC2 patches correlates to their skill at SC2.
If you don't know about the Thor patch prioritizing attacking ground combat units over Medivacs, then you're obviously in silver league.
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On October 03 2014 07:32 SC2John wrote:Show nested quote +On October 03 2014 05:11 ninazerg wrote:On October 01 2014 04:48 Slayer91 wrote:
Should there also be a ceremony for people to become blackbelts at handing out blackbelts?
Also, a blackbelt ceremony for birthdays Yes. On October 03 2014 04:03 sCCrooked wrote:
I'll basically take the comments about the belt system as a sign that you must not be particularly experienced in martial arts if that's your attitude towards a gym that uses a belt system.
Do mean myself, Jinro, Slayer91, or TheKwas? And by the way, how does an opinion of various colors of belts as a ranking system correlate with a person's level of experience in martial arts? The same way one's knowledge of SC2 patches correlates to their skill at SC2. If you don't know about the Thor patch prioritizing attacking ground combat units over Medivacs, then you're obviously in silver league.
What sc league corresponds to not knowing that a martial art you claim to be a black belt in doesnt use a belt system? Would you take my opinions on boxing seriously if i told you i had a black belt in boxing?
I may not read martial art mags from the 70s but Im knowledgable enough to know that theres never been a thai stadium champ who had a black belt in muay thai.
You might as well say you got a big, shiny gold star from your trainer. Atleast that way youre not deluding people into thinking what you recieved is a real accomplishment or a standardized thing.
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I've got a black belt in extrapolating my rank in brood war
I got C+ in iccup so I think that makes me a c rank in fish so i'm pretty much a pro
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On October 04 2014 03:54 Slayer91 wrote:
I've got a black belt in extrapolating my rank in brood war
I got C+ in iccup so I think that makes me a c rank in fish so i'm pretty much a pro
I think we're getting a little bit off-topic here. I think we need to stick to how Master Yu is the highest ranking grandmaster in the world and the most decorated martial artist of all time and put his opponents in intensive care, and yet, how nobody has ever heard of him.
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you can't fight any of the professional fighters when you're at that level because you'd risk ruining their careers by sending them to the hospital
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On October 04 2014 04:26 ninazerg wrote:Show nested quote +On October 04 2014 03:54 Slayer91 wrote:
I've got a black belt in extrapolating my rank in brood war
I got C+ in iccup so I think that makes me a c rank in fish so i'm pretty much a pro I think we're getting a little bit off-topic here. I think we need to stick to how Master Yu is the highest ranking grandmaster in the world and the most decorated martial artist of all time and put his opponents in intensive care, and yet, how nobody has ever heard of him.
Hes hiding in the Himalayas
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On September 24 2014 15:35 sCCrooked wrote:
He was known as the "Korean Killer"
... Master Yu (nicknamed “Lightning Bolt”) ...
I sense a disturbance in the force.
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On October 04 2014 04:26 ninazerg wrote:Show nested quote +On October 04 2014 03:54 Slayer91 wrote:
I've got a black belt in extrapolating my rank in brood war
I got C+ in iccup so I think that makes me a c rank in fish so i'm pretty much a pro I think we're getting a little bit off-topic here. I think we need to stick to how Master Yu is the highest ranking grandmaster in the world and the most decorated martial artist of all time and put his opponents in intensive care, and yet, how nobody has ever heard of him.
The answer is quite simple. If you do not know of him, you are most likely not anywhere near the top of the martial arts community. If you aren't an absolute top-of-the-world ranking person, you wouldn't know of him. You will be able to see in January.
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I don't mean to rain on your parade, but it's not hard to see why people call into question the legitimacy of your post. It reeks of the "my dad can beat up your dad" mentality, and has an air of blind fanaticism.
I have also trained and taught Taekwondo for over 10 years, and have never heard of the guy. One thing that I do know, however, after being in the martial arts industry for so long is that it is rife with hyperbole. It's always rubbed me the wrong way how almost everyone in the industry milks any accomplishments that they have made for far longer than they really deserve credit for, and in many ways it boils down to a popularity contest of who can sell themselves the best. It's not hard to see why, as when you are running a school/style you are selling yourself. No one wants to follow someone who they don't think is the best, so you have to be that figurehead for them.
Grandmaster Yu is probably awesome, but the fact remains that if no one here has heard of him then he probably isn't the "most decorated martial artist of all time", or "the most dominant martial artist in that he completely destroyed every tournament in every style of martial arts around the world." Those are pretty grandiose claims that I can confidently say are blatantly false. People who are the best at something are generally extremely well known even to the laymen practitioner (especially in this day and age where information is so readily shared via the Internet) since they are constantly winning events and proving themselves against the best.
I'd like to think that the "best martial artist" is just some random guy who trains at his school all day every day, and doesn't care to show off to others how great he is. Truly great martial artists are too busy training and mastering their craft to be telling all the great businessmen of our time how to run their companies.
On September 24 2014 15:35 sCCrooked wrote:
This got me thinking. I wonder how the "non-violence" side would explain that every person who truly grabbed life by the horns and ended up at the top had corporal punishment throughout their childhood years and were very strictly disciplined.
It's not hard. I'll even do it for you, though I don't particularly believe in either side of the argument. As someone who has recently entered parenthood I believe the true answer of how much corporal punishment is acceptable is an incredibly complex question.
How do you know that "every person who grabbed life by the horns" had corporal punishment throughout their childhood years? I'm pretty certain that you weren't there for every famous person's childhood, and "grabbing life by the horns" is a meaningless statement. If you mean successful people, then there are tons who didn't have corporal punishment in their childhoods.
And even if corporal punishment translated into material success, it's not hard to see a ton of examples of how that screws with a person's head and they can't handle any amount of success in a good way. Just look at the life of Stu Ungar, one of the best Poker players in history. He "grabbed life by the horns" harder than most, but i'm pretty sure that corporal punishment in his early childhood didn't help him much.
Don't be so arrogant as to tell everyone else that they're not at the "top of the martial arts community" like you are. It rubs people the wrong way.
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EPT
