Episode Transcript
Hey everybody, welcome back to the Collector Perspective. This is season four. This season we're focusing on what makes America stronger, starting with our local community. We're creating a digital footprint by shining a spotlight on the amazing work of organizations and non profits making a real difference in North Florida.
And who knows, every once in a while we might toss in a controversial topic just to keep you on your toes. Like, do you actually need to use your turn signal while driving, or is that just a suggestion? Tune in as we highlight those. Building a stronger, more connected future, one community at a time. Hey everybody.
Welcome back to the collective perspective podcast. This is Jeff and I'm here with my two friends, Travis and Jawad. Say what's up fellas. Hello everybody. Hey, today we have a very special, this is our ongoing discussion about what makes America great. And it starts with small communities or just any community.
And one of the communities is martial art. Today we have master. Song Kee Pak. Hello, Mr. Pak. How are you? Fine. Thank you. Mr. Pak is not just a martial artist. He's a force of inspiration, a mentor who has shaped countless lives and a leader in his community. As the founder of Pak's Karate Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, the headquarters of the United States Tung So Do.
Did I say that right? Federation. His journey from humble beginnings to building a thriving martial arts academy is a testament. To resilience, passion, and purpose. Today, we have the privilege of hearing his incredible story, his philosophy, his impact, and his vision for the future of martial arts.
MasterPak, we're thrilled to have you and welcome to the show. MasterPak, this is kind of forward, but how old are you? Now it's over 80. 80? Over 80. Over 80, okay. Once you get to 80, you don't discuss the other number. Okay. Could you please tell us about your childhood and your upbringing? Yes, I was, childhood, I very shy, shy, and never stand up.
Then after I take Tang Soo Koo class, I changed everything in my life. You took a class for martial arts? Yes. And you obviously grew up in South Korea. Yes. What town in South Korea did you grow up in? I grew up in Daegu City in Seoul, Korea. How many people were in your family when you were growing up? Two brothers and three sisters.
Did they all come to the United States as well? No. No. Some of them stayed? Because they have good life over there. Right. What brought you to the United States? For what reason? It was dream country. And I want to help more down thought philosophy to everybody, change their mind, more respect, honesty, and justice.
When did you make that decision to come to America? When I was about 17 years old, I was teaching U. S. NCO Academy teach class. Then I did U. S. Army Police and CIC, CIA teach class. Then I moved 1969 to the 57th Air Force Division, Suwon, Korea. Then I come to the United States 1973, July 17, with a lot of my dreams to build a mall, Gangseo do.
And you created a federation, when did you create the federation? Was it after you already had, obviously you start out with one, you don't call it a gym, what do you call it? What do you call the building? It was Dojang. Dojang. Dojang means, Do is martial art, Jang means place, you see, Koreans say Dojang.
Dojang. Dojang. Dojang. So the Tojong is the one that you're at now, your first? Yes. Wow. So that was built in what year? I built 1985. Whoever's listening and the gentleman in the room, MasterPak has an academy that's, uh, nationwide. Yes. Right? Right now my school is United States, Korea, Dominican Republic. And this is Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico too, wow. It's Korea more, more than, yeah. How many facilities would you say that are nationwide? No idea. No idea? Were you the first one that brought the Tung Su do? No, it was, Tung Su do was there. It was here already? Yes. Okay. One thing, Park Security was here before I come to United States.
Because I, I told the U. S. Army and Air Force person, they come here. They had a school, St. Park's name over there. Oh, okay. You mentioned that your first encounter with martial arts was when you were younger. What age was that again? When I was start teaching Tang Soo Do, only I was 13 years old. Not commercially, with my friend.
You started teaching, but when did you start learning? About 11 years old, something like that, yeah. 11, 12. Okay. But I did, just make green belt. I was teaching my friend, my backyard. They start from there. So that's how the military noticed you. I was gonna, I was just thinking that, how did the mil, how did you become in contact with the military?
So. The military, just someone that was influential to the program in the military said, Hey, I see this kid and he's teaching karate. We should learn from him. And, and I was 17 years old. I thought the class is outside my backyard. Oh, okay. Then, ancient academy captain, he saw me, how I teach. Okay. He invited me, start teaching class of 1967.
That time, every beginning time, U. S. A. marched down to the class. He see me when I teach a class. Oh, okay. The captain, he say, come. He learned that. Okay. Not, not ancient academy student. That time, I don't know much English. I think you speak very good English. Thank you. Still, I speak broken English. Ha, ha, ha.
My wife has been here for 45 years plus herself, and she still has some broken English. She moved from Laos when she was 7 or 8. Actually, they were in Thailand in the refugee camps. Back in the early 80s is when she immigrated. So, you were teaching the army, you were asked, invited to come teach the army soldiers back in, when you were 17.
Uh, what belt were you, how, how far had you advanced in the discipline by the time they saw you? Well, I was teaching class about only fourth degree black belt. Fourth degree? Yeah, I was teaching only that. Okay. So, it took you about six to seven years of study to become the black belt? No, no. That means when I teaching time, it's only third, third dan.
After that, I promotion fourth dan. Okay. At what point in your life did you think that karate is going to be your career? You thought you were going to make a life out of it. When I was teaching class, I was looking for my students, more respect, everybody needs justice, respect, honesty. I'm better than future life for them, okay.
Me is a little different. Ever learned through martial arts was human nature things. I'm more point for that. Growing up, did you have mentors or somebody or a figure that inspired you? It's my brother. He's very physically, very strong. He, he take and judo. Then he's, I I need to make strong better than him.
So he inspired you to, you're like, I gotta, I gotta outdo him. Yes. The old he played look too, he played rugby too. Yeah. He's very strong man. Yeah, same thing. Uh, the Akido and Hokkaido are very different than the Sdo ung. Suo is a, is a TaeKwonDo. Uh, and they're, that, those disciplines are more throws and blocks and almost grappling?
Is that, is that? No, no. Tang Soo Do, Karate, Taekwondo means kicking and punch. Your brother's, um, discipline was more throws and Yeah, bro, it, it, yeah, it, you see joint. Ah, joints, okay. Master Pak, my son Gavin absolutely respects you. I respect, everybody respects you. He has become a He's always been a good kid, and he's a very smart kid, but his discipline out of the house, I think, contributes to your influence and our influence as parents.
It makes it a lot easier, as a parent, knowing that He has that structure and that discipline that he's learning. And he, he's the type of kid that he'd be like, I don't want to go. And I'm like, come on, man. You're going to feel so much better when you're done. And every time he's like, dad, you're right. I could tell that his heart is in it and he's focused and he's serious.
When I look to my student, I was more, better everything. When you go to school, better school grade, someone has job, working more hard for his job, then people start respect for them. They are wanted that all the time. So what you're saying is karate is more than just the discipline and the athletic aspect of it.
It is life. Yes. It has everything to do with life. So like a, like a character builder. Building character and an integrity. Yes, builds character. Yes, and it's not a team sport. No, not individual sport. So the difference between, what would you say the difference between karate and a team, well obviously it's an individual.
So the mentality is different. Individual is, try hard for himself is okay. Team sports means have to be help each others, not individually. This is a lot different. Also, when they take martial arts, every different way learned. Some learn more quickly, some a little bit slow, depends on his body conditioning this.
But who's, don't matter who's good or bad, more hard work. They make better in the future this with the everybody learning and being a little different. Is there a standardized training regimen or how does that work for them? Do they get more time to learn the discipline or the form that they're studying?
Yes, because every physical condition different. Someone learn more naturally learn better. Some learn slow. Don't matter who is slow, more training hard, after a few years, same. I did a Yoshikenpo when I was very young. And to learn the forms, the master at that, I can't remember his name. I was probably in fifth or sixth grade at the time.
I didn't graduate past a yellow belt at the time, because I moved a lot as a child, so I moved away from the area. But the forms, it was how we did it, was very regimented and this is your form. This is your kata. This is, uh, you and you just did it over and over and over until it became muscle memory. Is that how some of these, your students, uh, progress?
It just takes that time for them to do it over and over? Any martial arts cannot learn shortcut. It's long run. Anybody take martial art, then looking for benefit. Right there. When you become 10, 15 years old, training for that. Oh, I know everything. Maybe he know everything for self defense, not physically.
They can feeling better benefit after 60, 80 years old feeling. They looking for long term for this. Uh, all the Dojons that are in the United States, they all follow off of your specific philosophy. Do you have? No? No, every different way philosophy with that. I think My job teach Dungstor is a mission for me that why we have more longer hours than a much freedom two hours Training hours.
Are there any certain core principles that you teach your students? No, I know I train martial arts Hakido Kung fu, a little bit judo, I'm Hakkido and Kung fu is master too. But downstairs is best for me. I more teach. Every school different way teaching by instruct. Me, my key point more than physically self defense.
Not in dojang, in outside. I want to build more confidence for them. If they know I'm black belt already. If you fight somebody losing, Fight. He losing all confidence, not only self defense. Oh, I'm not too good. They give up everything. Only build up more confidence for them. What they doing, I did. How many different colors of belts are there?
How many different levels of We start from the white belt. Then little kid, white, yellow. Yellow, white. Yellow belt is yellow, black. Little kid take around four years make black belt. After six years old. Adult take about three years. Most they make black belt. I told my people belt is not important. Belt show them what are you.
Not guarantee for self defense, not guarantee for healthy for you. Who's more practice hard than physically strong. Me, right now over 80 years old, my physically teenage person, because I had a car wreck. I lost about, I got nine place hurt in my disc. Doctor said that, Mr. Park, you have to go. Wheelchair, because my, a lot of my muscles support my, uh, the disc area, while still I can moving around physically.
Do you feel that with karate is the only reason why you're able to walk? Yes sir, absolutely for that. I've seen you run across the gym, faster than some of the kids.
He ran inside here. Wow. Yeah, he ran from the car because he was nervous. So you have all different walks of life that walk into the Dojong, all ages, right? So you start from what age to what age? It doesn't matter. Uh, obviously there's, you can't do an infant. No, I waited on the, after four or five years, my oldest student was 94 years old.
94, wow. He passed away three years ago, pandemic. Yeah, then he non stop two hours kicking punch non stop. I was with him. You were on a TV show with him, too Yes, one time. So you knew him for many years? No, he was 63 years old, retired surgeon. He stopped class. Maybe, I thought maybe a couple of months, quit.
He did not. So it's never too late. He never quit or he ask him so many questions to me. But when I just tell him this one, practice home all the time, come back class next day. Am I right? Am I right? He didn't learn right all the time. You said that your style of karate or martial arts fits you. Is it that you have to find what works for you?
So some people can gravitate to certain types of arts, but it's what you gravitated to fit what you, how you could grasp it better. And learn it much faster? Or learn it, or you know, just be able to fluidly learn how to do that particular type of martial art? Or learn it? Okay. No, with more long hours at the place.
Because when they're coming, most about 200 times kicks a day when you come in class. Then why is it physically strong? You cannot believe later on touch my thigh, how hard my thigh, look at the rock. Master Paik, you have students that come from all walks of life to come back to see you. Do you have any students that really made an impact on you?
Versus you just making an impact on them? Yes. It's uh, most of these people training within 40 years. First of all, Ronnie Ferguson, he was 45 years with me. He was Deputy Mayor Jacksonville. Still he come in class. Other one, Colonel Charles, he been same more than 40 years. He's Air Force full colonel. He teaching class Louisiana school.
And the other one, the lady, Stephanie Mathor, he's U. S. Army major. He teaching class for more than about 35 years with me. Then also, these people, okay, corner, no matter what, when you come see me, all the yes or no, they never say, uh huh, that kind of word. It's the way of martial arts. The respect for the teachers and the practitioners, or anyone, everyone, really, not just if you're in martial arts, it's always, uh A general respect for everyone around you.
The meaning is, if I met you without martial arts, make me a friend. But when they met each other, student and instructor forever cannot crack out this one. This is a little bit different, different sport. Other sports, best is best. Martial arts, different. Senior is first. The YSA recommends learn more martial arts, more respect, more harmony, everybody together.
And obviously it makes it, someone grows up and learns 45 years. That respect kind of comes more of almost as a fatherhood. Yes. And a fatherhood type of respect and it's a very special bond that you have with a lot of people. And they can come back and like my relationship with Travis, we hadn't talked for years at times and the second we see each other, it's like just yesterday that we saw each other.
Usually. The people come see me after 10, 20 years, come see me that, two different type person come see me, some of these free shop come see me, about, can you remember me? Yes, I know who are you. What are you doing? He got very good job, very high rank, anything with place. Someone is come, casualty, okay, he never come see me straight.
Head down, hello. Ask you what are you doing first? Looking for job. Make me cry. Because he was my kid. Don't matter what age. Don't matter what age. He was my kid. He training through me, I'm expecting he make success. This the way of life have the instructors for them. I'm sorry. It's okay, Master Pak. It just shows your passion for teaching.
Yes. God, I'm not think about making crying. God.
It's a beautiful thing, sir. Love. Yeah. You learn to love these students. And, uh, I think that's an important thing to, for our community is it was kind of like, uh, after having my own kids, you guys, you all know that you realize that one day, I hope you've realized for whoever's listening that, wow, the things that my parents did for me, it's just like down to wiping my butt.
You know, on a daily basis or just, uh, I really wanted something and they would sell something of theirs. To make it happen for me. I think that's a, an unconditional love and, and it's refreshing to see that we have leaders in our community that have that for, for the community and, and have that passion to want the, want to see everyone succeed.
It's difficult to ensure that everyone succeeds. There will be some that fail, but how they deal with that failure, I think, is part of the teaching of the martial art as well. And that discipline that you instill in them to be able to ask for help if they need it. I think that's a wonderful thing.
Because many people, they're not strong mind. They give up so quickly. Through martial art build more confidence, more concentration, more that things. This is my more thinking. We don't know, never self defense, fight each other. If you fight, it is more easier, gone. But more physically, gone cannot help. Well, also gun is life ending, uh, not that your, a punch from you wouldn't end my life, but Right.
You get the mind and the body strong and everything should fall in place or work together in harmony. So you can advance yourself. That's true, but our one is sports life and normal life are harmony together, this one. Somebody's boxer, they fight on the ring hard. They cannot, same kind of attitude cannot bring out normal life.
They have good harmony together, this one. Very important. I will make good harmony through the martial art. Hope your hopes. Yes. Well, let's just hope that they don't learn martial arts for evil, that they use it for more of defense. Right. Right. Then, then offense. Yeah. The anyway, a lot of benefit take martial art, physically, mentally leadership structure, learning to how to defend yourself and protect yourself as a by product.
Of just a lifestyle, of just being a better person, being able to make better decisions, understanding the value of being healthy. And being in shape, the fence is just a byproduct of it, but just the being complete or being whole as a person is the goal. I'm noticing that when you talk about your students and you talk about how you love your students.
It was, it's more of a relationship thing for you than it is, and the martial arts brings it all together. But the relationship is the most important thing for you. Oh, yes, everybody. What is junior respect the senior part. Yes, sir. And that's the passion. And that's the passion. It's, it's, it's. I hope, but right now.
I just think that Jeff's son is amazing. What you're doing just for him, nothing's in vain. And I think it's incredible that you, uh, what you're doing to impact people's lives. I hope not impact better person, success for future life. So would you say that that passion to help others is a motivating factor and why you established the Academy?
Because first time I come here. So that way, but I need the money, pay rent, everything. Then but, I more point, change personal things. Somebody, sometime they come first time, they's afraid to me at a lot of mean class hours. Pretty hard they can see my smiley face. I'm not playing with them. I teach for them right things.
Any other things mistake, you can do over again. But self defense cannot over again. Have to learn right. Why hit more than 200 times kick? Every class, minimum 200 times kick a day. Wow. You mentioned smiling, not directly, but that's one thing that you don't show your Yes, because you don't smile. When they see me smile, especially in the children's class, they see my smiley face, they will play with me.
I like to play with the kids, but I cannot teach for them. Then I will sure understand what is a different place, playground. There was a mean face for them. Because right now, my students become grandfather, grandfather. Father bring their children. Mr. Baxter, are you mean for the kids? Yeah, I mean, I'm glad you're this mean.
They help me a lot. I think it teaches them a time and a place for play and learning or work. And to learn the the discipline, it takes work and it's not a place to play. I agree with that. But little kids, if teenage kids, as much they have time, they want to play. I understand that, but I want teaching because my school adult class about six days a week, they can come as much as they can.
Children only get three out, three times a week because physically bones not be strong. Then the rest one day, they come in this. That makes sense. Just to kind of have a little bit of fun, uh, I've heard some stories of people that have Come encountered with you where you had to use your defenses. You ruined nobody.
Because nobody because were there any times that they came into the dojo and seemed like a threat To you or challenged you or challenged you know, I Was there one time and this person said that the person came and the cops got mad at you because you hurt hurt him too bad Because they came in and you hit him No, not really, you know.
No, no, no. You didn't really hit it hard or no, not hard. Right now is all my hand is weapon. This okay? Can you see my, how big My necklace here. Wow. Yeah. Fingertip. I go drive nail with my knife. Hand drive nail uhhuh. Wow. Then break bricks with this way. You see my picture over there? Uhhuh? , anything? This way he did anything.
Can I break something over here? This is my discipline for that, okay? Also, when I teach my people self defense, when I was a little kid, many times fight a day. Maybe two, three times fight a day. My parents think I'm a good boy because they fight my home area. They fight long way go over there. Oh, my son is good, good son, they thought.
Then I teach my people right now, how I want to save defense. When you want to fight, Like the martial arts, like that, no problem. With talking, they fight, okay, when they're coming. I showed how to stand up, how you want to approach to him. I want to fight you bigger than me. You don't know who am I. You're not scared, okay?
I'm close to you. I make you my distant. Throwing, punch, right or vital point, knock down that. If you want to come to me, you want to kick me or punch me, I stand up, stop. Next time you step in again, you want to punch me, kick me. As long as you step, step in, I want the same attack. So I'm going to tell an attack to you.
Then finish the game. Only not many chance, only one time. Hit, make knock him out. This self defense. Hurt him is mean nothing. Self defense wise, make it knock him out at the finish game. I think that's, uh, that's kind of an important point that, uh, if someone is having an aggressive posture towards you, you stop them and all right, this is the defense is to not get in the fight.
That's the, that's the goal of negotiation is not to have the fight is the best fight. And then if they continue, You don't wait until they swing on you, they're still being aggressive and coming at you, end it right there. Is that how, how you saw that? Yeah, usually, usually do that, yeah. I'm the one that touch me.
I'm touching first before close to me there, because legs more longer than arms. Leg is more powerful than this. My kick is very accurate. When I was before injury, three, four foot easy jumping same place. You can see my picture. I've been CBS Jacksonville daytime show twice. 30 minutes whole show myself.
The one time, 1978, I nationwide CBS ed this one, all over. Oh, wow. And also, I would to make the public, same as me, they show first time is, I don't know, only 30 minutes. I do show again, again, again, almost about 30 minutes, I show them myself. After that, I get out, everyone, I show you television. Wow. I noticed with self defense, you are like really, really serious about coming out alive and safe, if there was a confrontation.
Or someone just threatening your life. And it's a serious conversation. I notice we laugh and joke until you're like, Okay, you only get one chance. And if you don't make that count, you may not live to talk about it. That's right. And you're very passionate about that. It's like life and death kind of thing to you.
And I noticed that that's why you're like, Okay, when you come into my classroom, there is no joking. There's no smiling. Because what I'm teaching you is very, very serious. Yes. Yes. This is, this is survival. If you want, learn right. Yes. Ah, if you want to learn right. Well, and for the right reasons. Correct.
Actually, children, they, they not like me. I saw me. The children don't like you. I know that, but parents make come in class because they change a lot. Yeah, it's very serious. But still, I got, I'm Korean. I still about 80 percent of my Korean culture I got here. I respect elder. I respect mom, daddy. Yes, sir.
This day, too much freedom here. Your life. Remember that your kid keeping your life for you when you, when you go, when you pass away. Then how can you, you do the wrong things? We have to learn through martial art the right things this one, not only how to kick, how to fight. Not all kids are lucky to have great parents, but then when you have, I believe I'm a good parent.
I'm just making my son's life even that much better with you in his life, and I'm Really grateful for that. Koreans say that, this kind of world, you love a child, one more time spank him. You not like your son, get more bread. Because as long as you eat bread, not make trouble this. What would you say is the most rewarding aspect of your journey?
I think you've kind of already discussed that, and that's the influence that you have on others. Because I won't ever need money, important. But more than the mission for them, keep more control the mentalities. Usually, your kid about 14, 15 years old, they know everything. They don't want to talk first. We need to learn our youth philosophy give you next generation for that.
More respect you, follow your same thing. I don't want to go other, other way gone. Any other thing pretty hard. They're not make martial art, you cannot control that. I, most of my ask parents all the time, how you the kid at the home? Talk back. I taught the first time I taught that never talk back to your parents.
All the time obey. Don't say the only yes. Yes, who? Yes, mom. Yes, daddy. The Dan Orton eye contact talk. Somebody ask you head motion, you answer head motion. They talk to mouth, answer you have to talk to mouth. I'm not acceptable for anybody. When you're speaking with someone, it's that eye contact. It has to be there.
Right. And you, I've done this with my kids. Jeff can attest to this. When they answer and they say, yeah, I say, what? And they say, yes, or yes, ma'am, yes, sir. Oh, right. It's more respect parents. I tell them people most time, where you come from, mom, your daddy, respect 100%. Why your mom did hard work? For them? No.
90 percent for you. Then why say, I won. I don't know what they're doing. I'll change that kind of mind, right, things going on, future life. I think that's really good that you, Assisting and reinforcing good etiquette as well. Well, self discipline too, because it's easy to be lazy and say, Yeah. Or, mm, mm hmm.
No, say it out. Say what you mean, and respect the person that you're speaking with. Oh, yes. With through the, learn more the martial art, more respect for that. How many black belts have gone through and made it to black belt under your regime? Is regime a good word? Under your tutelage. Most time around about 10 15 percent make black belt.
Wow. Right now I have, I opened my federation 1980, right now 4, 550 some black belt I had. How did the karate kid affect your business at that time? When it came out. The movie. Movie. With Pat Morita. You know the movie Karate Kid? Oh, oh. Sometimes they help. They think they can learn so easily. Yes. Then they quit so quickly this one.
I want to tell the parents, when they want to start anything, don't give up for themselves. Parents decide the mind is okay, because little kid football one week, soccer one week, baseball one week. But he know how to quit. Then, later on, he got a job, not smooth. Any impact, give up. Then it's big problem.
Right now, I'm tell that all my kids are success. Of course, everybody cry black belt too. Because they got discipline for themselves. I'm not say anything for them. Especially my oldest son, he's on his company right now. He graduated high school GPA 4. 63. Every Stanton College prepared school day. Very nice.
Then right now they support us. You cannot believe that. I think that that is another aspect of not just karate or the martial arts. I think that's a cultural philosophy with the, dare I say, just like Asia in general. My wife being from Laos and when I've met family, their kids help support the older generation.
Out of, uh, not just respect, but tradition as well, I think. But, not now. I, I Not many now. Not many. I, I think it does still happen, and I'm trying to instill that in my kids now, or continue to instill it, that we as a family are stronger together. Oh, yes. And we can have more wealth together as opposed to sending my two kids out and then we have three different people paying three different mortgages instead of just having one, one place where we all live and come together and eat and still have that respect among our family and, and our, we grow together and I, I think that that is, yes.
A great aspect of martial arts and that, that teaching of that, that discipline, again, it all comes back to the self discipline. It's not just discipline, it's self discipline and how to motivate yourself and to see, hey, I may have failed at that technique, but if I keep doing it the right way, I will get it correct and master it.
One day when you come to come to my school, what student answer to me? Nobody say, uh, yes sir, no ma'am, every time. This is not important. You know, I want to let them learn how to respect somebody. He grew up like that. Next generation, his next generation do the same thing. Yes sir, no sir, like that. Your son throws 200 kicks every time, because Five, five hundred each.
Five hundred each leg. About Well, that's why they're like steel. Why I take two hours for that. What is that, what is that wooden thing they It's like, is that He's joking. They know how to punch here. I can block like this. We don't know which way coming. I'm not teach how to block fight time. You know the little wooden thing, the little thing?
Oh yeah, that, that joke. Like Bruce Lee said, boards don't hit back. I noticed my kid showmanship techniques. Same kicks three months next belt. Then can they using for other, other person, they can not one time, two time. Nothing kick, nothing punch, nothing wrong. Was different, which more power, more speed, more accuracy.
Wow. That's important things. When I was, before injury, how much my accuracy kick blind my eyes, right? Throw the apple to kick the back spin kick. That's very good dexterity and athleticism to be able to do that. This one, feeling, imagine this one. So you practiced so much, the movements became instinctive, it wasn't anything you had to think about, it was just It was my jumping, my TV show, knife over here, right?
Apple over here, behind here, jumping around. I'm not see the apple, jump from here. Wow. I think that was the frustration with, and I studied Jeet Kune Do, and Bruce Lee obviously is a hero of mine. But, that was his frustration, it was like it was so many movements. It was so predictable. It was like a show and it wasn't real world.
It wasn't, he couldn't, it wasn't applicable to like a real world fighting confrontation. And he said it was the frustration that there were too many movements to get to. The impact or the strike of the individual that was caused fringing upon your safety. So he said he had to create a process of how to get, how to get a real situation.
That's why he created the broken rhythm. The fluidity, which he had gotten from Ali, like, like when you saw him bounce, it was like broken rhythm. So they couldn't predict his next movement. I think this movement make better memories and exercise form is exercise. This is not. If it helps the sparring, less than one percent.
We not fight time, who's kick low, nobody do this one. This for exercise. Me, I'm not losing any muscle over here yet, because this kind of block here, this exercise here. This my, me is with, see, I'm not fat here, all muscle over here. Because tight fist help, any movement, I'm not fat. help the physical. Then I told my people, someone talked to me messed up.
I cannot remember forms. Don't worry about your forms. Don't forget how to kick, how to fight. For self defense. This form is exercise for you. They can benefit after 60, 80 years old, can benefit from there. And that seems to be like what Tai Chi, uh, is, is, is more form for exercise. And joint movement and the fluidity of everything.
Yes, yeah. Yeah, this, this good, good exercise. Thank you for all that you do, not just for my son, but for just What you've done for everybody. I know that you were telling me that, uh, I looked at all the binders that you had in your office there, and I asked you one day, you're like, oh, that's 4, 032 black belts.
I got all record over there. Yeah. All record keep over there, what year, what time testing, who is his instructors, everything over there. Right now with 37, almost 30, 500 members all record over there because I have to keep for them Something happen to do this. They can still find their, their, their mark.
Oh, yes. This is kind of a funny statement, but it's kind of a trophy case. But if you've been to PAX, Karate Dojon, there's a huge karate trophy case. And the books don't really tell you anything, but those are the true stories right there, and then there's the trophies. When they make Black Belt, they have this, five pieces, what the impact for his life.
Oh, wow. You can see the old trophies in my showcase over there. They win, bring to me. Take home, there's no mess, but this belong to you, because I learn from you this one. The respect. The respect. Oh, yes, then. I don't know. No, later on I can take, take back. Because he's the teacher. He's the one that allowed, uh, that taught them the skill.
And that's a big trophy case. Like there's a, there's over how many trophies would you say you're in there? And he's a trophies, a couple hundred his competitions. He's one.
Facebook page and Instagram for people to see. It's quite amazing. No, uh, when his students go out and win competitions, they bring him the trophy. To my student, they go to grand champion fight. One senior, one junior. They go ready fight. Attention bow each other. They say, I cannot fight with him. He's my senior.
Actually, junior is better than him technically. They left it at the school, yeah, for him. Everybody said, yeah. This is way of martial art. How can I say, children kick the parents. Same thing. This is my discipline. Martial art is different. Now a little bit different, okay? United States, best is best. It is different here.
That respect. I can't fight him. He's my, he's my senior. He's my elder. He's, I respect him and his position. Or hitting a woman or hurting your parents or, you know, anything like that. It's really, like I said, it's a really great thing that you've Dedicated your entire life to it's you took care of yourself and then you Educated thousands and thousands of other people on, on a way for a better life, how you should treat other people.
I want to try. Right. Isn't that really what it comes down to is like, you're, you're teaching people how to treat other people. And that is how you want to be treated. But why, but I don't know how much they can do that. I cannot see that. I want it's my thing forever that way. I think it's safe to say master pack that your influence on people.
Has transcended to it's there like they either have come back and bowed their head to you and said hey You know in disappointment or they've come back to you and said these are the great things that have happened to me Yeah. Thank you. You know that you come drop your son, pick him up, your son. What sin, what son do for you this when they come see you, what to do for you first?
He bows to me first. Right? The first time taking him. They shy. They never been like that. They right now they normal. Do this one first time. Parents, same thing. Why they do this? I'm serious. Some parents say that, like this bow. No, you answer bow to them. Yes, yes. Master Pac will get on you if you don't bow back to the child.
I'm, I'm just, uh, it's surreal for me. Cause, um, you, I have a, we have a real life master. In my recording studio, this is crazy. Like the, his, the lineage and the depth. Of what he's accomplished and the people he's impacted. He's a real life master. It's amazing. I think this is awesome. I really appreciate you.
I really appreciate you. I appreciate that I'm here. I will take, come cry class my school. Well, I, you know, my son is seven and I would love to have him come and start taking classes and learn self defense because one of the things in school is like the bully. Too much bullying. I mean, he tells me every day, someone Tried to hit him in the face or tried to jump on him and, and, and this is a everyday thing.
I'll give your kid a ride if he wants to go with us. Yeah, I would love him to get in the karate class. The problem is first one bully body first, right? One bully okay, next time other bully joint. Then it's a big problem. One of my students, he was a green belt little boy. His mom come see me. Mr. Park, my son go school first.
Everybody own him this one. I go fight. No, Mr. Park, if I go suspect. No, one time is better than all your life. Then one day, he fight. After that, nobody bother him. This have to do something. Okay. Many people school that problem. This to that my bullet. Yeah, I think that's a, that, that is a problem that people, the, the grownups, if you will, and quotes here, the grown, the grownups think that I think violence doesn't solve anything.
It's not the answer. I think it depends on the question. It's, it may not always be the answer, but if someone is performing violence or threatening violence on you, you have to show, hey, I'm not afraid to get back and defend myself and to stop the violence. It wasn't walk softly, but carry a big stick. I think that's one of them.
Walk with respect, but if someone comes at you, don't be afraid to use that big stick to say, enough is enough. I hope everybody is something trained. Same with, why go to church? They want to change mind. Very personal for that. They're not going to church to get God come to heaven. Had to be changed. Yes. I mean, my son is just, and they were older kids and my wife was telling me like a guy, they got in a confrontation and kids get into little things, little, little scuffles, but an older kid just hit him in the face.
And he just, he, you know, he broke down because my home were very peaceful people, really nothing crazy, no, no aggressiveness in my home. And he's not used to that. He's not used to someone aggressively striking him like that. So he was. So he broke down in tears and, and I completely understand what you're saying.
The, the need to prepare your children for, you know, I boxed, I trained as a boxer. Why don't you come to my choir school? No, no, train one time with, with, with me one time. We, yes, sir. We have many, we have many age people, this one. You know, I say that to them, you hard head. Everybody hurt knee, hurt foot, everybody.
Come school here, limping. Are you okay? Limp hard. Don't do kicking today. After five minutes, same hard work. I said, you hard head, hard head. Too late too, hard head. Messed up, I'm not hard head. I say hard head means good me in that. I say hard head myself, I'm stupid. That much people try hard in front of me, they do something this.
We have many UAs, I don't know how old are you, we have four or five UAs people here now. They try, you can see non stop two hours. Every class more than 30 minutes fight. Every class. Non stop. Non stop. When I say this, when I say lung is bigger than, my lung capacity is more bigger than you. I can hold about, right now about 90 seconds hold easy.
When I was young more than 2 minutes hold that was easy, easy, easy, easy more than 90 seconds. Because non stop move around. lung capacity mode. Cardiovascular health. Yeah. The forms for exercise and, and depending on the kicks, how fast you do them, it gets that blood pumping and gets them lungs going. I mean, he just said he could hold his breath for two minutes.
That is extraordinary. Not two minutes, maybe 90 seconds each, I think. Well, I mean, you said when you were younger. Oh, more than two minutes. That is incredible. That's like supreme shape moon. What can you do fight time? I cannot stop continue hit the goal Wow He doesn't have time to breathe
What still have to go on I cannot stop fight yeah Well, hey master pack. Thank you for being on the show and being an inspiration again This is you you are an example of Why America is great. And what, yes, why America is great. You, you are a prime example. Absolutely. Um, and it is an honor to have you on the show.
It's great to hear your story and your journey and your passion to help people. I think that's admirable. You will forever be a legend in many people's eyes. Thank you very much, let me hear today. One day, it was a serious comic. You come. Where you living? I live in St. Augustine. You go School is, uh, Palm Coast.
He's got a school for you too. Palm Coast and Palm Coast. You go over there. I live next to Jeff. I live off of Wells Road. Then you come class. Then he come class together. I'm going to get my son. No, you first. I need to check it out. I got to make some time. Are you going too, Jeff? You too. Yeah, I mean, I can go Mondays and Tuesdays, Mondays and Fridays.
Yeah, that's good. Regular class is good. I make you at least about 10 years younger after a couple of weeks, a couple of months. I can use that. I'm serious. Right now, my oldest student is 70 years old. He first time come to class, I never lose my weight. Then he come to class, I take run two miles every day.
Don't worry about me. I put on five minutes a day. All the time coming to class. He's crying to me. He's right now he has knee surgery. He's really crying to me in front of me. I cannot come, come closely, come out. All the time, I'm feel sorry, all the time something happen. Crying, you what? My father, very weak heart person, very weak.
He been More than about over 30 years, I think.
Peace out.
