March, 22, 2014

Chang Moo Kwan Black Belt Presentations

Alma Solis & Chandler Lee Receiving 1st Dan Black Belts

Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman and Master George Fullerton Overseeing

Coach Darrell Collins and Kyo Sa Cody Collins Presenting

Highland/Rialto Studios

Saturday, April 25th 2014 a Black Belt Test for Chandler Lee & Alma Solis was conducted at the Highland Studio conducted by Coach Darrell Collins. Coach Collins hard work over the last year was clearly evident as both students executed an exceptional test mentally, physically, and spiritually. Alma Solis and Chandler Lee both successfully completed all requirements for their 1st degree black belts in and exceptional test over seen by Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman and Master George Fullerton.

Their test included all their forms, freestyle techniques, one steps, and sparring. The most significant and interesting were the verbal answers to the judges’ questions. Both Alma and Chandler were very insightful and articulate. Mr. Darrell Collins, Coach Collins, on his impressive prep work on getting the candidates ready, as he did an unbelievable job of taking the "helm of the ship" after the passing of his beloved friend and teacher Master Gene Hahn the former head instructor of the Highland and Rialto studios just this last January. All agreed, Master Hahn would have been honored to see the dedication and "spirit" of his legacy.

Gerardo Avarado on your first tour of duty as a judge. He had approached Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman at the Laughlin, Nevada Spring Nationals in February 2014, and asked if he could judge at Alma and Chandler's upcoming test. Mr. Alvarado had spent many hours with the two young ladies preparing them for the test. After listening, Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman conferred with Master George Fullerton, and the responded with a resounding "absolutely."

This may have been one of the deepest emotional tests to date. Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman as both Alma and Chandler were asked to open up with their own question to Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman and Master George Fullerton. Both senior instructors opened up with very emotional and heartfelt responses. I one question both were asked about their respective idols. For Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman, Muhammad Ali was an easy answer. He went on to explain how the boxer had inspired him to stand up against being bullied in elementary school. Master Fullerton share how his mom had inspired him to accomplish anything he could put his mind to. She was the wind in his sails. Both instructors shared the importance of getting as much education as possible.

All agreed, this was an great day for Chang Moo Kwan spirit.

For more photos of the Highland/Rialto Black Belt Test please click here...

March, 22, 2014

Chang Moo Kwan Black Belt Promotion Test
Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman & Master George Fullerton Attend

World Martial Arts Training Center
Ontario, CA

For more photos of the WMATC Black Belt Promotion Test follow this link...

March 15th, 2014
Chang Moo Kwan Fighting Team
Team Sweeps the Spring Nationals
Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman & George Fullerton Attend
Laughlin, Nevada

The Chang Moo Kwan Paradox

"To Maintain Total Focus While Completely Aware"

Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee & Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman, April, 2000

I would like to dedicate this photo storyboard consisting of pictures from the March 15, 2014 Spring Nationals to the Hahn family, Darlene, James, and Kirsten with deepest love and compassion for the one and only Master Gene Hahn. I spent the day shooting photos of what I felt exemplified Master Hahn’s spirit as I felt it, and as I saw it. So many wonderful families, so much connectiveness with the moment and with each other…this was Master Hahn’s work of art, his legacy, his “bridge.” I realized Master Hahn was the common denominator in all which flowed around us this day.

Everywhere I turned I say the bright blue “Chang Moo Kwan” logo, continually I heard the resonate sound of young men and women clearly proclaiming “My name is…and my instructor is MASTER GENE HAHN.” It was not rehearsed and it was not mechanical, it was that deep confident sound which originates from something which burning inside, and needs to come out, and once it does the words linger on indefinitely as if etched in the invisible stone of our being.

I did not know which photos to post so posted them all, feeling perhaps the viewer can pick the ones most meaningful to them…they were all meaningful to me. Thanks to all our Chang Moo Kwan families who have been so supportive to the Hahn Family, Chang Moo Kwan, and made me feel welcome.

A special thanks to Coach Darrell Collins for his tireless effort at directing and redirecting our youth programs and instilling sportsmanship and honor in our young men and women.

Thanks you also Master George Fullerton for always being there for me, Chang Moo Kwan, and Team Chang Moo Kwan.

Thanks,

Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman, 9th Dan MA Ed

The Last Student of the Founder of Chang Moo Kwan

Custodian of the Spirit of Chang Moo Kwan

For Many more photos of the 2014 Spring Nationals Click Here!

February 28, 2014

Promotion Test Cosmo Magliozzi

Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman Visits

Mesa, Arizona Studio

February 27, 2014

Cosmo Magliozzi 5th Dan Training
Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman Instructing

Mesa, Arizona YMCA Studio

February 27, 2014
Mesa Arizona YMCA Studio/Cosmo Magliozzi
Promotion Test Class Practice
Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman Visits

February 21, 2014
Street Smart Promotion Test Master Alex Paredes
Redlands Street Smart Studio
Redlands, California

February 21, 2014
Historian Darrell Cook/3rd Dan Training
Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman

World Martial Arts Training Center

Ontario, California

January 21, 2014
Team Chang Moo Kwan
IMAC Internationals

Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman & Master George Fullerton Attend

Las Vegas, Nevada

For more Photos on the IMAC Championships and Team Chang Moo Kwan follow this link...

January 21, 2014
Team Chang Moo Kwan

IMAC Internationals
IMAC Awards Ceremony

Las Vegas, Nevada

For more photos of Grandmaster Wiedenman and the Awards at IMAC follow this link...

January 20, 2014
Master Anthony "Tony" Barnes Returns to Southern California
Visits Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman
Training, Organizing Chang Moo Kwan, Catching Up
San Pedro, California

Master Anthony Barnes and his wife Ro stayed with Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman at his home in San Pedro nearby where they both trained with Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee at the San Pedro YMCA. Master Barnes retired from the LAPD and moved back East to Tennessee several years back.

Master Barnes and Grandmaster Wiedenman have been best friends for several decades and both trained extensively under Grandmaster Dae Woong Chung of Pomona for several decades. Grandmaster Chung was a student of Sun Koo Kim, one of Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee's closest friends.

Master Barnes and his wife Ro started out their California adventure with a tour of San Pedro, the first stop is the Korean Friendship Bell. Newly refurbished, is shone like a jewel on its seaside bluff. From there, Point Fermin Lighthouse and Cabrillo Beach were definite stops. (See Section on San Pedro for more information on these landmarks).

In honor of Master Barnes Visit we had an advanced Black Belt meeting and photo op, Here Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman, Master Tony Barnes, Master George Fullerton, and Master David Johns gather for a photo in Grandmaster Wiedenman's home dojo in his San Pedro residence. This was the first time in several years all four of Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee's highest students we in the same place at the same time.

In honor of the late Master Gene Hahn, Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman, Master Tony Barnes, Master George Fullerton, and Master David Johns gather for a photo in Grandmaster Wiedenman's home dojo in his San Pedro residence holding Master Haven's portrait. There was reflection and discussion about Master Gene Hahn's life and his contributions to Chang Moo Kwan development and promotion. Master Gene Hahn was Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman's oldest Chang Moo Kwan training partner and friend.

Here Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman, Master Tony Barnes, Master George Fullerton, and Master David Johns gather for a photo paying respects to their teacher Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee. All four have trained with Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee nearby at the San Pedro YMCA. The are the four highest ranking last students of the beloved Chang Moo Kwan founder.

Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman, Master Tony Barnes, Master George Fullerton, and Master David Johns gather for a photo in Grandmaster Wiedenman's entry way. The group, is joined by Dr. David Hsieh, a long time Chang Moo Kwan friend and instructor. Dr. Hsieh is in all black.

Let the party begin! The extended Chang Moo Kwan family got together to spend some quality time with each other. Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman hosted the gathering and a local Mexican Restaurant catered. Special guests were of course Master Tony Barnes and his wife Ro, Master Fullerton and fiancee Barbara, Dr. David Hsieh and his wife Linda, Joe Hernandez, and Jamie Smith. The view was incredible and the cruise ships leaving and wonderful sunset complimented the 80 degree warm January "winter" in Southern California.

Training time is a must when the senior Chang Moo Kwan instructors get together, Master Barnes and Grandmaster Wiedenman spent several hours reviewing both the traditional Grandmaster Sun Koo Kim forms and Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee forms. The weather was so nice they practiced in the Great Room upstairs with a cool ocean breeze passing through. "It is and interesting paradox when time both stands still and flys at the same time, but that is it is when I am with Master Barnes...it has always been that way!" Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman commented about the training

For Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman a very special moment with Master Tony Barnes was when they both paid respects to American Veterans past and present and in particular the Airborne Divisions which Tony and Grandmaster Wiedenman's dad, Harold "Hack" Wiedenman were a part. He noted:

"Master Tony Barnes first met my father at my mom's funeral in 2000. Tony and I had been friends for many years, but somehow dad and he never met. Tony has always been a great listener. He remembered dad served in the 503 Airborne Paratrooper Division and Tony struck up a conversation with dad. Instantly, they were brothers, and you could not have hammered a wedge between them that day. They had a spiritual bridge spanning any differences in age, race, and background. Tony was the son of a school teacher from Mississippi; dad was the son a corn farmer in Iroquois South Dakota. Tony served during the Vietnam War; Dad was destined for the World War II battlefields of North Africa. Both jumped out of airplanes."

"I often think about what my dad and Master Barnes and all our military service personnel stood for. I thought about their willingness to jump into danger for our freedom. I thought about the level which they both could communicate and bond...one which I could never truly understand completely. I was humbled."

"One of the biggest honors of my life was when Master Barnes asked if we could take a photo holding dads photo. We were going to do our forms together so we went to my home dojo and Tony put on his 82nd Airborne had and held dad picture. After training and at dinner we spent some time talking about the moment. Tony had taken some time to read a very rare book written by Col Raff in 1942 talking about the 503 Airborne and their heroism. I was even more honored."

This truly was a “bridge of significance” for all of us.

Another truly significant bridge between past and future was engineered and constructed between Supreme Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee and his last students in San Pedro at the YMCA. It was in the true spirit of martial arts most important, inseparable, and simple components..."honor and tradition..." between teacher and students, patriots and country between a man with a message and a messenger willing to bear its weight.

Grandmaster Jon Wiedenman and Master Tony Barnes have a "killer" burger at "The Counter" in El Segundo. I think Master Barnes was a bit overwhelmed. It disappeared however.

Master Barnes' visit to Southern California would not have been complete without a trip to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Training facility Downtown Los Angeles. This is where Master Barnes went through his 'basic training' and qualifying as a proud member of the Los Angeles Police Force. Grandmaster Wiedenman was able to share Master Barnes' memories on what was new, the same, and changed. "Master Barnes has certainly served his community continually as an police officer and as a many who has supported our troops as a veteran and our youth as a role model."