Oom Yung Doe

Oom Yung Doe
陰陽道

"Kyong Gong Sul Bope" (경공술법 flying side kick) is an achievement claimed by John C. Kim. Here Kim purportedly leaps from the equivalent of an 8-story building.[non-primary source needed]
Focus	Hybrid martial arts
Creator	John C. Kim
Official website	http://www.oomyungdoe.com/

Oom Yung Doe (음양도; 陰陽道) is a line of martial arts schools founded by John C. Kim (Grandmaster "Iron" Kim). In addition to teaching physical movements and self-defense, the training also incorporates meditation, philosophy, and the use of herbal formulas and equipment. Students describe substantial benefits including self-defense skills, mental and physical health, and improvements in conditions such as asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,^[1] and blood pressure.^{[2] [3][4][5]} Critics, however, accuse the school's founder and instructors of unethical behavior, charging large fees, and pressuring students to commit to long-term contracts. Beginning in the late 1980s, several TV and newspaper reports publicized these accusations, and described the school as a "cult."^[5][6][7][8] In 1995, Kim and eleven of the organization's instructors were found guilty of conspiracy to commit tax fraud^[9][10] and some (including Kim) were incarcerated in federal prison.^[9][10][11]

Lineage and history of Oom Yung Doe

A photograph of Kim and other instructors.

John C. Kim was born in South Korea and emigrated to the United States in the early 1970s.^[12] Kim opened his first school of martial arts in 1973 in Westmont, IL, teaching Kong Su (a hard form martial art similar to Tae Kwon Doe). In 1976, John C. Kim began operating a line of martial arts schools called "Chung Moo Quan" (충무권), teaching the same 8 martial arts styles that are taught in modern Oom Yung Doe schools. "Chung Moo Quan" was effectively renamed to "Chung Moo Doe" (충무도) in 1989, and again to "Oom Yung Doe" in 1999; the instructor corps and training techniques for the three schools have been substantially similar, and they have all been founded by John C. Kim.^{[12][non-primary source needed]}

Training

Oom Yung Doe practitioners describe the techniques taught within the school as "moo doe." Moo doe is generally translated as "martial arts," but within the school the original term is used to contrast Oom Yung Doe's techniques against "common martial arts" or "fabricated movement" which is more commonly taught in the United States.^[13] The goal of moo doe is said to be not just self-defense ability, but the development of longevity and a superior quality of life through harmony of the body, mind, and spirit.

Much of Oom Yung Doe training consists of practicing repeated movements (forms) in order to develop the mind and body. Many forms are said to be derived from the movements of animals or from nature's elements. Oom Yung Doe literature states, "Each Hyung form is comprised of a series of movements that are derived from elements of nature ... Each individual Hyung took generations to develop; and have characteristics and benefits that are unique to that particular form. Through practicing these movements, the characteristics and benefits that are unique to that part of nature are instilled into the way the practitioner moves."^[14]

Oom Yung Doe training is known for being rigorous.^[5] Lessons are famously physically intense; one ex-student described them as "some of the hardest physical training of my life".^[3] However, training is adjusted to fit the individual student, allowing even older individuals or individuals with injuries or conditions such as arthritis to participate.^[15] In fact, instructors claim (and some students have reported) that Oom Yung Doe training can help older or disabled individuals dramatically improve their condition.^[4][16][17]

8 Martial Arts

An instructor demonstrating a weapons form.

Oom Yung Doe schools claim to train in eight different martial arts taught as one. These are listed as the following eight styles of martial arts:^[18]

• Hap Ki Do / Ai Ki Do
• Kong Su / Tae Kwon Do
• Udo / Ju Jitsu
• Kom Do / Samurai
• Kung Fu
• Tai Chi Chung
• Bagwa Chung
• Ship Pal Gae

Acupressure and herbal equipment

Oom Yung Doe practice with herbal equipment

Herbal formulas and acupressure points are an essential part of Oom Yung Doe practice. Herbal formulas used by practitioners are said to improve circulation and remove toxins from the body, and some movements taught within the school are designed to stimulate internal pressure points (similar to acupuncture).^[4][1][2]

Some critics have contended that the herbal equipment used in Oom Yung Doe represents little more than an additional revenue stream for the school. During an investigation for a news program, Steve Given and Allen Sayigh (respectively the dean of the School of Oriental Medicine and manager of the Chinese Herb Dispensary at Bastyr University) examined a set of dry herbal equipment sold for fifty dollars and concluded that "The entire bag couldn't be worth more than a couple dollars."^[3]

Medical benefits

Oom Yung Doe has been represented as a way to build health and longevity; students and instructors report increased physical health as a major benefit of Oom Yung Doe practice.^[4] Students report benefits such as strength, flexibility, increased energy level, and a general sense of well-being, as well as improvements in conditions such as asthma and diabetes.^[4][1] One study published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts found that students practicing qi gong techniques taught within the school had significantly better lung capacity than the general population (20-25% greater for students 35 years and younger, and 30-45% greater for older students).^[19]

The school also teaches techniques designed to repair damage to the body. A retrospective study of 58 patients suffering from herniated disks who had been treated by the school indicated significant improvement:

After 120 days, 90% of the patients had been completely free of back pain for 2 weeks; another 4% of patients had partial relief. These patients all had complete resolution of pain after 140-160 days of therapy. All patients who had taken leave from work were able to return.^[20]

Uniforms and ranking

rank	belt	uniform	typical position
white belt	white	white Korean-style	student
1st-6th section	partially black	white Korean-style	student
1st degree	black	white Korean-style	student or instructor
2nd degree	black	white or black Korean-style	student or instructor
3rd degree	black	black Korean-style	head instructor
4th and 5th degree	black	black Chinese-style	regional-level instructor
6th and 7th degree	gold	black Chinese-style	national-level instructor
8th degree	gold	black Chinese-style	national-level instructor

Beginning Oom Yung Doe practitioners are ranked into "sections" until reaching first degree black belt. Beginning students receive a white belt, sections of which are dyed black at each promotion until the rank of first degree black belt is achieved, at which point the entire belt is black. Higher-level instructors have a gold belt as part of their uniform trim, although their rank continues to be that of "nth degree black belt".^{[21][non-primary source needed]}

Oom Yung Doe instructors are likewise promoted through a series of instructor positions. Rank generally indicates skill and ability, while position generally indicates a practitioner's involvement with teaching. The two are independent, although there's a typical correspondence between them as indicated on the chart on the right.^{[22][non-primary source needed]}

All Oom Yung Doe practitioners wear standardized uniforms while practicing in the school. Students and beginning instructors wear white uniforms, and main instructors and higher-level practitioners wear black uniforms. Practitioners at 3rd degree black belt and below wear Korean-style uniforms similar to Karategi. 4th degree black belts and above wear Chinese-style ("Kung Fu") uniforms which button together at the front (similar to a button-down shirt).^{[21][non-primary source needed]}

Legal Proceedings

1989: Allegations of violating the Consumer Fraud Act in Illinois

In 1989, the Attorney General for the State of Illinois filed charges against the school. What was alleged in this complaint was that John C. Kim and five other instructors “violated the Consumer Fraud Act....by inducing Illinois consumers, through fraud, coercion and breach of fiduciary duty, to pay sums of money in excess of $2,500.00 per year for physical fitness services, failing to give consumers copies of contracts signed for these services, failing to notify consumers of their three day right to cancel said contracts, and coercing consumers into signing contracts for increasingly expensive courses...”. This began a legal battle which continued until 1994, when the case was ended without trial—the parties entered into a consent decree in which the defendants did not admit wrongdoing or misconduct, but did agree to abide by the laws governing businesses associated with physical fitness, and did pay $4,000 to the State Project and Court Ordered Distribution Fund for Consumer Enforcement and Education.^[23][24]

1995: Conviction for tax conspiracy

In April 1995, Kim and thirteen other instructors were arraigned to federal court for conspiracy to defraud the United States IRS. The federal indictment alleged that force and threats were used as part of the conspiracy.^[25] However, separate charges for those criminal acts were not filed, nor were charges alleging tax fraud itself—in contrast to the crime of tax fraud (which requires an "overt act" of fraud), the charge of conspiracy requires only that defendants had discussed or planned activities which, if carried out, would have been fraudulent. Kim and four other defendants were found guilty of conspiracy on December 6, 1996. The court estimated that the conspiracy withheld or planned to withhold $2,172,800.00 in taxes. Kim was fined $2,550.00 and sentenced to five years in prison. He was released on April 13, 2001.^[9][10][11]

Other Controversies

Media reports and critics of the school have at various times accused the schools of unethical behavior and of exaggerated claims of the value of the training.^[3][5][6][7]

Kim's claims of achievement

John C. Kim claims to have competed in and won the All Asia Championship (Chung Dong Yang Moo Sul Yun Moo Dae Hwey) in 1956 in the Cho Leung area of Pusan. Internal Oom Yung Doe literature lists Wang Po as the sponsor of the tournament, and Yang Chou Fai, Wang Sei Kau, and Hwan Byung Quan as the presiding judges. Also said to be in attendance were Mok Jing Quan, Chae Jung Su, Park Hyun Su, Yu Gee Han, Chil Sung, and Park Yung-Gil.^{[26][non-primary source needed]} This claim has attracted criticism. Nam Tae Hi, one of the founders of modern Taekwondo who ran a competing school in Chicago at the time,^[27] made a statement to a reporter investigating Kim's claims indicating that becoming champion of all Asia in the 1950s was "Not possible."^[6]

Another achievement claimed by Kim is a technique he refers to as "Kyong Gong Sul Bope" (경공술법 or flying side kick) which he claims to have demonstrated by jumping from the equivalent of an 11-story building. While in the U.S. in 1972, Kim claims to have again performed the Kyong Gong Sul Bope movement by jumping from the equivalent of an 8-story building and landing without injury on a sloped surface.^{[28][non-primary source needed]}

Some critics accuse Kim of falsifying these claims and promoting outlandish legends of his abilities.^[5]

Cost of Training

Critics have charged that the school's training is overpriced and that students are pressured to pay exorbitant amounts of money for additional courses or seminars of questionable value.^[3] Even some critics of the school, however, acknowledge that the rigorous training includes valuable self-defense skills,^[5] and students report further benefits such as greatly improved health and even recovery from injury and illness. One student described the training as "like paying for therapy and personal trainers and a gym and all of that stuff rolled into one,",^[3] and another said that Oom Yung Doe charges "twice what other [schools] charge. But what they teach there is 10 times more than what they teach at other schools."^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "KING 5 Seattle, WA: "It's about living long and comfortably"". http://oomyungdoe-ne.com/newsflash/King_5_SeattleMed_Prog001.swf. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "WB 18, Milwaukee: "New Trend on an Old Secret to Health and Longevity"". http://oomyungdoe-ne.com/newsflash/WB18MMed_Prog001.swf. Retrieved 2009-07-30. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Ingalls, Chris (2005-02-16). "Students take aim at martial arts school". KING 5 News. Archived from the original on 2006-11-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20061125104530/http://www.king5.com/localnews/investigators/stories/NW_021605INKoomyungdoeJK.b55fbaa5.html. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} "WISN 12 Milwaukee, WI: "Improving Your Health"". http://oomyungdoe-ne.com/newsflash/WISN12MMed_Prog001.swf. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Vogel, Jennifer (1992-04-01). "Be True to Your School: The Dark Side of the Moo.". City Pages (Minneapolis - St. Paul). http://www.rickross.com/reference/chung/chung1.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} Zekman, Pam (November 2–7, 1989). "Chung Moo Quan: The Cult and The Con". WBBM-TV, Chicago. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Kahn, Ric (1991-10-25). "Chung Moonies? Critics call Martial-Arts Club A Cult Of Violence and Greed". The Boston Phoenix. 
8. ^ "Lawsuit alleges Clairemont martial arts group is a cult.". CBS 8 - San Diego California. 2010-04-19. http://www.cbs8.com/global/story.asp?s=12338432. Retrieved 2010-08-13. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} Docket for United States v. Kim, No. 1:95-cr-00214 (N.D. Ill. 1995).
10. ^ ^{a b c} "Martial Arts School Chief Found Guilty In Tax Scam". Chicago Tribune. 1996-12-10. 
11. ^ ^{a b} "Inmate Register Number 44555-198". Federal Bureau of Prisons. http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=IDSearch&needingMoreList=false&IDType=IRN&IDNumber=44555-198&x=391&y=290. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 
12. ^ ^{a b} White, Thomas (October 2000). "Master “Iron” Kim Establishes the Oom Yung/Chung Moo Style in the United States". An Explanation of Traditional Moo Doe: First Edition. Oom Yung Doe, Inc., San Diego, CA. http://www.oomyungdoeschool.com/Handbook/OYDestablished.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 
13. ^ White, Thomas (October 2000). "True Martial Arts Movement vs. Fabricated Movement". An Explanation of Traditional Moo Doe: First Edition. Oom Yung Doe, Inc., San Diego, CA. http://www.oomyungdoeschool.com/Handbook/TrueMartialArtsMovement.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 
14. ^ White, Thomas (October 2000). "Hyung (Figure of Movement)". An Explanation of Traditional Moo Doe: First Edition. Oom Yung Doe, Inc., San Diego, CA. http://www.oomyungdoeschool.com/Handbook/Hyung.html. Retrieved 2009-07-02. 
15. ^ "FOX 13 Tampa Bay, FL: "Oom Yung Doe, Something for Everyone"". http://oomyungdoe-ne.com/newsflash/FOX13FMed_Prog001.swf. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
16. ^ "The Age of Miracles: The New Midlife". Oprah Winfrey Show. 2008-02-28. Retrieved on 2009-01-27.
17. ^ "I'm getting balance, coordination, flexibility and strength that is mental as well as physical.". More Magazine: pp. 175. July/August 2007 Issue. http://www.moremagazine-digital.com/more/20070708/?pg=175. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 
18. ^ White, Thomas (October 2000). "The Eight Martial Arts Styles Taught as One". An Explanation of Traditional Moo Doe: First Edition. Oom Yung Doe, Inc., San Diego, CA. http://www.oomyungdoeschool.com/Handbook/Aikido-Hapkido.html. Retrieved 2009-07-02. 
19. ^ Massey, Patrick; et al (1993). "Increased lung capacity through qigong breathing techniques of the Chung Moo martial art style". Journal of Asian Martial Arts 2 (2): 70–79. 
20. ^ Nidecker, Anna (December 15, 1996). "Martial Art Therapy Can Ease Sciatic Pain". Family Practice News 26 (24): 21. 
21. ^ ^{a b} "Rank and Position Uniform Recognition System", Oom Yung Doe informational poster.
22. ^ "Becoming an Oom Yung Doe Instructor and Reaching Master Level", Oom Yung Doe informational poster
23. ^ "Case Information Summary for Case Number 1989-CH-10044". Clerk of the Circuit Court: Cook County. https://w3.courtlink.lexisnexis.com/cookcounty/FindDock.asp?NCase=1989-CH-10044&SearchType=0&Database=3&case_no=&=&=&=&PLtype=1&sname=JOHN+C+KIM&CDate=. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
24. ^ Final Judgement and Consent Decree Between Plaintiff and Certain Named Defendents. Filed on July 26, 1994. Case No-89 CH 10044
25. ^ Janota, Laura (1995-04-13). "Martial Arts School's Top Brass Charged With Tax Fraud". Chicagoland Daily Herald. http://www.rickross.com/reference/chung/chung2.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 
26. ^ White, Thomas (October 2000). "Master “Iron” Kim Uncontested “Champion of all Asia”". An Explanation of Traditional Moo Doe: First Edition. Oom Yung Doe, Inc., San Diego, CA. http://www.oomyungdoeschool.com/Handbook/UncontestedChampion.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 
27. ^ "Pioneers Grand Master Nam Tae Hi". World Taekwon-Do Alliance. http://wtaonline.net/Pioneers/GMNamTaeHi.aspx. Retrieved 2011-09-07. 
28. ^ White, Thomas (October 2000). "Photo Explanation: Skill of Kyong Gong Sul Bope (Flying Side-Kick)". An Explanation of Traditional Moo Doe: First Edition. Oom Yung Doe, Inc., San Diego, CA. http://www.oomyungdoeschool.com/Handbook/Cover.html. Retrieved 2008-09-26. 

External links

• oomyungdoe.com: The official Oom Yung Doe web site
• Videos showing demonstrations of the 8 Martial Arts that Oom Yung Doe schools say they teach:
  • Ship Pal Gae
  • Kung Fu
  • Bagwa Chung
  • Tai Chi Chung
  • Kom Do
  • Udo
  • Aikido
  • Kong Su