The Um and Yang of True Leadership by Tim Bennett, Sa bom Nim

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In my way of thinking, to lead is a yang activity.  If I am in a position of taking charge of any situation, I feel that I need to be forceful, decisive, and direct – all yang qualities.  If I want to become the true leader and a Moodoin, it is vital that I learn to use the power of um in my style of leadership.  If I allow my “yangness” to become the salient quality of my style of leadership, I am out of balance.  History has shown us that a leader who has no balance in his thoughts and actions is a problem waiting to happen.  Author Han Suyin 韩素音, said this about gentleness, “There is nothing in the world stronger than gentleness.”  After having many opportunities to train with our Kwan Jang Nim, I am convinced that true leadership, without the gift of gentleness, is a dead end street.  I often let my passion for Soo Bahk Do take me down paths of severe focus that expel all gentleness from me.  Only by harnessing my passion and learning to work with balance will I ever become the type of leader that I hope to someday become.

A passionate leader is an obvious example of both strong and weak qualities.  When I put myself in the position of vocal and driven leading, I am using only a small portion of the powers that are at my disposal.  Our founder was a great leader.  He studied many scholars including Lao Tzu.  Lao Tzu had this to say about leadership, “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”  What better example of quiet, gentle leadership could there be than one who is barely noticed in the equation?  My only experience as a Ko Dan Ja candidate was one that was full of awe with the experience and with the level of quality leadership that was provided by the TAC at the event.  Now that I am in the unique position of wearing the blue belt with a red stripe, it is important that I portray the qualities that I admire in my seniors.  The description of the belt that I wear is this – The combined colors represent Neh Khang Weh Yu (Inside Hard, Outside Soft) associated with the philosophy of Um and Yang, the harmony of finding balance between opposing forces. The Ko Dan Ja practitioner has come as close as is humanly possible to the peace of our Moo Do philosophy.  It is my hope that I will continue to grow as a leader and as a practitioner of Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan and that I too will learn to be the type of leader that represents the belt that I so proudly wear.

About Roberto Bonefont Sr

Began training in 1967 at the age of 16, as a member of the Brooklyn Highland Park Y.M.C.A., under the guidance and training of Mr. Mike Masley, Jr., Dan Bon 10180, and tested for Cho Dan on June 18, 1969.  Now a certified 4th Dan Ko Dan Ja, and was issued his original testing date Dan Bon 13927 by Kwan Jang Nim H.C. Hwang based on his petition to honor that date and evidence showing Mr. Mike Masley and his instructors,  Mr. Robert Sohn, Dan Bon 6037 and Mr. Vincent Nunno, Dan Bon 7291, were legitimate representatives of the Founder, and Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee and the Korean Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Association in 1969.

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