12-day TIMD workshop in Panama, South America

The Second Workshop for the staff of the Institutional Protection Service, The National Police (Presidential Guard and Escort), Tecnical Juridical Police, National Air Force, Mayor`s office and Education Ministry was held from February 21st to March 4th , 2005 in the Building of the Institutional Protection Service depending on the Presidency of the Nation.

The classes were divided from Monday to Friday for two weeks in 2 courses: Advanced and Beginners. The Advanced group was training during the morning (from 8:30 to 11:30) with 17 Black Belts and 4 Brown Belts from Martial Arts such as Yudo (Judo), Karate, Kempo and Tae Kwon Do. However the group of the Afternoon (14:00 - 17:00) was composed of 29 participants with the majority of Beginners, except 4 had minor Karate graduations. At the end of the workshop these 4 received: one Brown Belt, two Blue belts and 4 green belts.

I gave Tong-Il Moo-Do philosophy lectures for 30 minutes after each class and the last day both groups gathered in order to listen to 4 IEF lectures in Power Point. These lectures were: The Need of Character Education, The Universal Principles and the Goals of Life, The Family as the School of Love, The Need of a New Philosophy for Martial Arts as a Foundation for World Peace. Professor Minerva Caballero helped to give the first three lectures. She is responsible for IEF in Panama.

The President of the National Karate Federation Master Pereyra who was so surprised about the level of our teaching participated in the demonstration and invited Tong-Il Moo-Do to train in Personal Defense the National Karate Team of Panama. In the demontration there were performances of the forms of Karate, Kempo, Tong-Il Moo-Do and movements of Yudo (Judo). Also 9 slates were broken representing breaking down the walls within the Martial Arts and that from now on starts an integration based on Universal Principles and Values. Some National Delegates participated in the Demonstration.

The National Police proclaimed that they want to receive a special course next year. The have a total of 18.000 policemen.

We also organized Open Classes on Saturdays and Sundays in the famous Omar Park of which the First Lady of Panama is responsible. She herself supported our activity and we had 40 participants. Also in every class we gave Tong-Il Moo-Do Philosophy lecture, which created a wonderful environment. Students and parents participated in this lecture.

One evening we went to a Tempo Karate School in Pedregal where 40 students with their parents were waiting for us to give them a Self Defense course and the lecture about the New Philosophy for Martial Arts. In the end the Main Master was determined to join TIMD and start a more constant work.

I want to encourage the TIMD practicants of the world to keep expanding this wonderful style for the sake of World Peace.