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Breakthrough at Tong Il Moo-Do Workshop |
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Main Events: The Participants: 40 Responsibilities: It was a miracle that we could complete the workshop. And we are so grateful that no one was injured during the workshop! There were many difficulties, and obstacles to overcome before and during the workshop. So we were given the opportunity to demonstrate Tong Il Moo-Do spirit!! Mr. Michel and I visited 2 places to decide the workshop site; one is the school, another is the Sports complex. The latter didn't allow us to stay overnight, and we had no choice but to choose the school. They gave us 3 rooms and one lecture hall. Since no room was ready for lodging, we went to buy the plastic sheet for the concrete floors, screen and wooden boards for windows to prevent from entering of mosquitoes, and had the carpenter to fix them so that the participants and staff were ready to move in there. Furthermore, we had to buy light bulbs and fluorescent lights, mats for sleeping. Since the rooms were covered by spiders web and dusts it took quite efforts for Congo members and the participants to clean them up. The rooms were fixed on Nov. 30. As we prepared for the workshop, the communication was so essential. But we had to go to the town to use the telephone, fax, and computer for the communication because none of them were available near us. UC has only one vehicle. Many times we had to use taxi. During the workshop, sometimes the electricity and water were out. We practiced outside on the grass under hot sun, and in rainy days we used the lecture hall for practice. Our dobok became easily dirty. So students often had to wash their dobok sometimes even at 3 - 4 am because of water. During the workshop, many of them suffered by diarrhea probably because of un-boiled water( though we prepared the boiled water for them.) or some foods which they bought on the property, or our meals(I hope not.). But no one complained as far as I know. I supervised the training and all the activities during the workshop, and gave several DP lectures during HDH time. I especially tried to help them master the basic. Master Don shared with the students the meaning, the purpose, and the vision of TIMD, and the meaning of meditation. He emphasized the importance of becoming the man of true love through TIMD training, and attracted all the students in his teaching self-defense everyday. He has supported me so much. Master Didier interpreted during the IEF lectures, DP lectures, sharing, the training, and visiting the Sports Minister. He gave the internal guidance during HDH. He coordinated overall activities. Many of the participants were from Kinshasa, the capital of the Republic Democratic Congo, and they were trained under him or contacted by him. Without him the workshop was impossible. Master Aketch gave IEF lecture every day under the difficult circumstances without the slide projector, screen, and air condition. He invested so much to have give and take with students during the lecture, and gradually they began to show the interest to the lectures. He helped the training leading exercises, and correcting their techniques. Master Njiru showed great support by leading exercises, book keeping, helping Master Didier in coordinating. During the workshop, 5-6 students who had been teaching their styles of martial arts came to Master Didier and expressed their strong desire to change their styles to Tong Il Moo-Do. One student whose father used to be most famous martial artist in Kinshasa has 3 schools of Shoto-kan Karate inheriting from his father wants to change to TIMD. He gave the testimony, saying," At the beginning of the workshop, I learned from the instructor that the biggest enemy is within myself. This has helped me throughout the workshop." Among the participants, the youngest was 14 years old boy, and he said, " I used to think the purpose of learning martial arts is to fight on the street. But I learned that the real purpose is to bring peace." Students showed their great performances before and during the demonstration, and they really enjoyed so much. They expressed it through African dance and song which overwhelmed all the instructors. One of our highlights was to meet the Sports Minister of Congo at his office because his representative was impressed?by seeing the demonstration. We mentioned Dr. Sun Myung Moon as the initiator, and Dr. Seuk as the founder, explained clearly the meaning and the purpose of TIMD. We assured him that we came to bring peace to Congo, not violence, nor war. He showed us the great hospitality and interest to work together with us to educate the youth.
Takamitsu Hoshiko |