1) He has become more alert. He notices what people are doing around him and talking about much more than before. Even in school, Ishan is doing a lot better as he is more present in terms of his attention.
2) He has become a lot more confident about himself and that translates into more willing to try out new things, more confident in talking and playing with his friends.
3) A lot of subtle changes in his gross motor skills, he learnt how to jump rope as he can jump with two feet now, he learnt balance on the scooter, he is able to hop on one foot so now he wants to play hopscotch, he runs less awkwardly, etc.
4) His reaction time is faster as he practices dodge, duck and other exercises with his Instructor.
5) His general mood also stays better as he loves to go for his sessions and loves the physical exercises and challenges his Instructor tailors for him.

We are very happy with the progress our son has been making and will totally recommend this training for all kids especially kids who have special needs.

-Ruchi J.

Printable version

Amanda O’Loughlin is a student at the Wakefield School of Oom Yung Doe. She shares how Traditional Moo Doe training has helped her relieve stress, improve her health, and find more happiness.

Patrick Cassidy is a student at the School of Oom Yung Doe in Somerville, Massachusetts.  He shares his experiences through six months of Traditional Moo Doe training.

Assistant Head Instructor Justin shares the benefits he has experienced during his Traditional Moo Doe training. He also describes how the training helped his mother recover from a stroke.

Jon Goode is the main instructor at the Somerville School of Oom Yung Doe.  In this video he explains how Oom Yung Doe has helped him over the years and why he chose to become an Instructor.

Problems with an adolescent gang in our area started me on the path to better health in May 2006. My nephew suggested the new School of Oom Yung Doe , which had just opened in Madison Wisconsin. I never would have considered traditional Moo Doe (martial arts) as a solution; I am 54 years old and was not in good physical condition. However, my nephew said age did not matter; anyone could do it. It sounded like a good idea, but the months passed

Finally in August 2006, deteriorating health conditions provided the final push to get me through the door. The free introductory lesson was enough; this was the answer. I have diabetes, arthritis, bone spurs, glaucoma, high blood pressure, etc. When I was first diagnosed with diabetes almost 10 years ago, I started cooking and eating healthy. I also exercised regularly, but obviously not the right kind or amount. My health continued to decline, which meant more medication and / or increased dosages.

I’ve never tolerated drugs very well. In fact, one new medication sent me to the ER with a reaction that almost killed me. The side effects from another drug were so awful that I opted to put up with the pain rather than the medicine (arthritis). So I was desperately seeking an alternative solution.

Now, less than 6 months later, I cannot believe the results! My blood sugar readings (diabetes) have never been this good! I can do stairs without wincing at each and every step. My blood pressure is better, my clothes are all too big. For the first time in 20-30 years, my health is not getting worse. My physical condition is actually getting better, and I have hope for more improvement as I continue my Oom Yung Doe practice.

There is a less quantifiable and more important benefit of Oom Yung Doe, which is difficult to explain. When my housemate and I walked into the School in August, our lives were terribly out of balance. We were looking for a way to bring balance back. The school teaches us how to achieve this sorely needed harmony of mind and body.

It has taken a lot of hard work, and a true commitment to reach this point. I am very grateful to Instructor Erin for guiding us over some bumps (actually more like huge boulders!) But the rewards are more than worth the effort, many times over. I greatly appreciate all the help and guidance from all of the higher belts; it has been an amazing experience.

I have just begun a journey to change my life through the training the School offers. I expect this journey will lead to a different and much better person; one that I hope will be able to make a positive difference in the world that surrounds us.

Rita Roemer
January 28, 2007
2nd section

My life had reached a kind of dull stasis about four years ago. I was working a job that didn’t challenge me, provided no future and I wasn’t doing anything about finding something better. Having recently graduated with a Bachelor in Music, I was not pursuing any of my dreams with any sort of vigor, and I wasn’t seeking out new experiences or seeking any of the opportunities (musical or other) for which I had moved to Boston originally. I wasn’t depressed, I was just kind of floating waiting for something to happen I suppose. It was a classic wishing for something to happen and then getting distracted and trapped and forgetting to follow through with those goals. It also affected my relationships as I was also just floating through them, not challenging or seeking anything new out of them.

Then one Christmas as a present I was given a 2 month program at the school in Davis Square . I had always wished to try some sort of martial art but again never actually followed through with it. I started noticing I had more energy after only about a week or two of practice, and I would start getting excited about going. I think I went 6 days a week for the first 2 months of practice before signing up for the degree program. In the last two years of practice in writing this I’m seeing how much I’ve accomplished. I now work the job I wanted originally coming out of college, which I credit to the incredibly focused energy I would have after practice allowing me to start writing music at 10:00 or 11:00 at night which was the only free time I had. I play in several other music groups around Boston , and most importantly have found some great relationships with friends and family. The reason I’ve been able to do all this is because I can see myself clearer and see the pitfalls that I would normally fall into. Instructors would always say that the practice room is the place to challenge yourself, and test your mental strength to carry on, because unlike the real world, there are no irrepairable or painful consequences if you are not strong enough. I find this to be absolutely true. There is literature in my school with the translation explained as “forged in flame”. This always rang the most clear to me, as through the movement and forms I would be able to push myself further and further not through pain, but through giving myself good enough excuses to stop. Each time there was a seemingly brutal Pal Gae practice, I would feel the swirls of excuses, pain, and every other thought I had during the day start to form a barrier where my mind would inevitably have to crash into. However, each time I could break through and find my focus and find the strength to keep my breathing, keep my eyes, and keep my thoughts clear, I would leave the practice room with an overwhelming sense of pride and warm feeling, even if I couldn’t really walk very well. That strength has carried outside of my movement, I started to notice this when I would work 5:00 in the morning to 6:00 at night, and then go to rehearsals from 6:30-1:00 in the morning for 2 to 3 days in a row for about 2 months. I would normally start to feel sorry for myself and quickly build up a lot of stress and a negative shroud around myself hoping for other people’s sympathy at how hard everything was, but that was not the case. With my practice I still had plenty of energy, I never got sick during that period, and even though at that point in time I was still working the job I despised, I kept a very positive outlook and was able to manage the stress.

I feel more human and more natural than I ever have, and I feel more connected to others than ever before, and that is why I keep practicing and plan to continue.

After going to the weeklong and practicing the meditation practice, I’ve discovered a new feeling. I have never felt any sort of connection to something greater, believing that everyone was detached from each other. In my meditation I started trying to connect with nature, and meld into it. After about two weeks of the meditation, one night I had some sort of epiphany. I visioned myself sitting in a forest by the water, and I removed everything that was not in a state of nature from my mind. I could feel other life breathing, with the thought that we were all put on this planet with nothing, and we would eventually all leave, and that was something that every living thing shares. With this bond I felt a sense of comradery with other life, and I felt an energy surround that. I then suddenly and completely relaxed like there was a cool breeze that just washed everything in my head away, and there was absolutely no stress. I started breathing, breathing that energy into me, allowing it clean me, and each breath felt like I was becoming more and more with the trees I was sitting by. I can return to this peace now each time I meditate depending on how much time I have.

This is one of the reasons I want to teach other students. I am coming around to realizing that there is nothing else as important as the bond we all have with each other. To be able to heal and help anothers health is more important than anything else. Teaching also teaches me more about my character than anything else I’ve ever done before. It challenges me to challenge others without letting them give up on themselves, which is a problem I’ve always had. It also challenges me to have confidence I’ve not previously had. I am also better learning how to connect with people, and how to reach them through teaching them movement. Some of the best feelings I’ve had have been after a lesson where I’ve given a hand.

Nick Warseck

When I began training in Oom Yung Doe almost 6 years ago, I had hoped to achieve many goals, but little did I know how much of a life changing experience it would be. I had just moved to Minnesota to start a new job, and since I was moving away from all of my family and friends, I wanted to find something to be involved in. I thought that martial arts training would be a good choice since it would not only improve my physical condition, but would help to strengthen me mentally, too (especially my confidence). I also thought that it couldn’t hurt to learn self defense since I was a young woman living on my own in a larger city.I found Oom Yung Doe in a phone book ad, and went in to take a free lesson. At the end of the lesson I remember thinking “I’m not sure if I can do this, but I have to try”. There were many challenges. My coordination was poor, and memorizing movement was very difficult for me. Instructors would have to show me the same movements again and again, but they never gave up on me and always taught with great patience. At first I doubted myself quite a bit, but gradually I began to grow and improve in every way. Not only did I lose weight, and improve my strength, coordination, and flexibility, but I improved mentally as well.

I began to pick up movement on the first or second try, rather than having to see it half a dozen times. I improved my mental focus and concentration. I began to sleep better, gain more energy, and deal with stress much more effectively. And most of all, my confidence grew immensely. I began to carry myself differently. Even my voice began to sound different, stronger. I went from someone who was timid and nervous speaking in front of others, to becoming an Instructor capable of teaching an entire room full of people. But the most extraordinary improvement was in my health. Since I was a young child, I had suffered from severe asthma and allergies. I used to wake up at least once (sometimes several times) a night with severe asthma attacks and would usually need to wait for at least an hour, gasping for breath, until the minimal 4 hour time period between inhaler doses had elapsed. Gym class or any sort of playing that involved running would lead to an attack, and usually I would end up watching from the sidelines. Every time any sort of illness circulated, even a minor cold, I would get it.

And a simple cold always meant a much more serious condition for me, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. I was diagnosed with pneumonia 8 times during my childhood. As I reached my 20’s, my asthma gradually began to improve and I became sick much less frequently, but it was still an issue particularly during allergy seasons and illnesses. In my late teens and early 20’s, I saw other health conditions start to emerge. I developed acid reflux disease and needed to take a prescription antacid daily. If I missed even one or two doses of the medication, I would become so sick that I could barely eat. And although I had always had a lot of headaches, I started to have migraines, too. But now at age 31, after 25 years of taking an average of 4 or 5 medications at a time, I can proudly say that I am completely free of all of my medications. I have been taking the herbal tea every day, and 2 to 3 chi herbal meditation baths a week (as well as my physical practice) in substitution for my medications for one year now, and I am free of all of my symptoms. I haven’t had a migraine in at least six months (in fact, I rarely have headaches at all), and I now have two cats that sleep with me every night without any sign of asthma or allergies. And I have also gone over a week without using the herbal products when my order was delayed without getting sick at all. I now know that my medications were covering up my symptoms, but with the help of traditional Moo Doe knowledge, which has been used for health and longevity for centuries, I am now healing. I now have the peace of mind of knowing that I can improve and maintain my condition for the rest of my life without the risk of harmful side effects from prescription medications. And I have peace in general, since my training has given me calmness and has helped me to better face many challenges and deal with the many changes in my life over the past couple of years. All of these reasons are why I have chosen to become a Moo Doe Instructor, so that I may help many people to find a better quality of life. I am continuing to learn and grow everyday, and I have found great meaning in my life through the ability to not only improve my own life, but to be a part of passing knowledge which is benefiting the lives of others. So now I think back to that first lesson when I wasn’t sure I could do this and I laugh at myself, because even though I have so much more to learn, I have come so much farther than I ever thought I could. I now know from experience that anyone who truly wishes to improve their lives and conditions through traditional Moo Doe training can achieve it as long as they are willing to apply themselves.

Instructor Erin Huntley
2nd Degree Instructor School Owner

My name is Kent Rice, I’m a 40 year old electrician, father of two, Carl age 12 and Lyn age 10, and husband to my wife Leslie age 45. A couple of years ago I began to feel the wear and tear of construction work on my body. Old injuries, circulation problems and stress caused me to miss work all too frequently. I became moody and hard to get along with at home. Then, an auto accident left me injured, in pain and unable to work. I couldn’t do much more than sit in a chair. I had been through physical therapy and though it helped some, I was still in pain and a long way from returning to work. I called the Oom Yung Doe school and spoke with the instructor. He asked about me, why I called and what I was looking for.

After a full explanation of my injuries, the instructor gave me a few special movements and started me with Tai Chi Chung and Qi Gong breathing. After a few days of practice, the agonizing pain in my lower back was gone. After a month or so, I was able to return to work. My doctors and other care givers were surprised at the turn in my recovery and attributed it to Oom Yung Doe. I began to see other benefits of Oom Yung Doe and signed up for black belt training.

I soon started my children on black belt training, and my wife started Tai Chi Chung. As we all continued to practice, our family life began to improve. I had more patience and we all started to show more respect for each other. My wife’s complaints of low energy and work related pain faded and were replaced with a more youthful and energetic vigor. My children began to show more consideration for others and were able to concentrate on homework and household tasks. We all began to use what we learned in the practice room: patience, hope, concentration, make an effort, and applying this knowledge to our daily lives. We enjoy practicing forms together. Oom Yung Doe has refocused our family.

At the present time, I am a 6th section, soon to test for 1st Degree. My wife is about to test for 4th section on black belt training and my children are 4th section, on to test for 5th section. Life at work has completely changed. My strength and circulation have improved so much I feel and move like a 25 year old men on the job. I no longer feel stress at work or home, which has improved my communication skills greatly. Our family life continues to improve as we all continue to practice Oom Yung Doe. I hope to be accepted to instructor training after I reach 1st Degree. I want the opportunity to help Oom Yung Doe grow in my area as much as I can. I hope other people and families like ours will find the calmer, deeper meaning of life we have through Oom Yung Doe.

Sincerely
Kent N. Rice

Opening a school has been one of the most exciting and challenging moments of my life. I have been constantly challenged to quickly learn and adapt to new things, move with purpose, and strive for success. I have always wanted to be a part of teaching others how to improve their life and change their own reality and circumstances. My own life has been a constant struggle not to succumb to the negative environment that I was surrounded with, and to look along the Chung Doe pathway of hope, courage, honor and enlightenment. I feel that I now have the opportunity to share with others one of the strongest systems of principle and knowledge that I have found. Through my experience of teaching and helping others, I have learned that the only way to truly understand yourself and others, is by building and sharing this knowledge to establish a long and healthy life of peace and happiness. Through helping others improve their lives, I have found meaning and purpose in my life, resulting in the peace of mind and happiness I never could find before.

Adam Buchanan, 1st degree black belt

When I went to the 2001 weekend seminar in Lakeland, Florida I did not know what to expect. But with the idea of spending the whole weekend with higher belts, I knew whatever came out of it would be tremendous.

When the morning session was over I was surprised that 3 hours had already gone by yet I was very energized. I find every time I attend a Sae Gae Moo Doe seminar my mind and body become more harmonized, and, at such an accelerated rate.

There is nothing that compares to the training from the weekend with International Instructors. It seemed like one weekend compared to 9 months of training in the school. The whole weekend was an amazing experience. Between the movements and conversations it is a complete mind and body experience that is unparalleled.

When I came out of the weekend, the movements I learned felt the most powerful I have learned in my training so far. It has been about a month since the seminar and I have been practicing the movements on a regular basis. Now forms and movements in my training are feeling more powerful and connected. It is such a great experience to be able to spend such a short time with International Instructors and get so much out of it. I look forward to next year’s weeklong and weekend seminars.

Beau Inman Winter
Springs, FL

In mid-April, 2006, a flyer arrived at my home. Usually, it would have ended up in the recycle bin or got plopped upon my table already laden with inches of read later mail. I am not sure of why this particular flyer caught my interest but it did! Being in a rather procrastinating frame of mind, to my own surprise, I telephoned the number provided and, after an initial hit and miss, I met with Assistant Instructor Nate Patterson, whom I called Nate, not knowing the proper protocol. The rest is history, a history still to be written….but it will be of a most positive nature, I am certain!

Just for some background, in October of 2005, I had a rather severe fall. My dogs, who are escape artists, with a combined weight of about 120 lbs., and who, after having been retrieved by me and put into their harnesses, (I had wrapped the leashes around my wrist to get a better hold and held the leashes very taut) pulled/dragged me hard on the way home. Having no leverage as I was wearing improper shoes, I went down unto the asphalt when they saw a dog across the street. I just could not free my wrist in time so I fell into the street with my right arm outstretched but I don’t remember much from that point on.

I was in a comatose state (as I was told later on…little solace… my beloved dogs sat right beside me and barked at everyone coming near), until, some time later, an ambulance arrived. I did suffer hematomas, brain contusions/concussions, bruised right side of my body, as well as a fractured humerus (at the shoulder), and brain damage. Black eye (I look good in purple but green and yellow…hmmm…not my color), hematomas all along my right side but luckily, no fracture of hip or wrist. After a few days in the hospital, arm/shoulder immobilized, I was stuck at home, unable to drive anywhere on my own, dependent upon some medical home care services my insurance provided, the kindness of friends and my children. I followed a regimen of go see this doctor, this neurologist, this orthopedic physician, go there, do that, don’t do that…but eventually, I had to discontinue the physical therapy ordered due to expenses that my budget did not allow (I am a retired employee of our local school system).

In March of 2006, after suffering a series of mini-strokes (paralyzing the entire left side of my body), again, I was hospitalized. Ct. Scans showed bleeding on the brain, to put it into non-medical terms. Another cat scan, MRI, angiogram, etc. were done but finally, I was discharged with undetermined cause. There I was, once again, without permission to operate my vehicle, with a rather high level of cholesterol to boot….all bad (even the good one). I was prescribed a statin-based drug. After two weeks, I could not even hold a postage stamp. I discontinued taking the drug and still shudder at the thought of having taken it. Next visit the doctor brought diagnosis of osteoarthritis, something I had not heard about before, in addition to other medical problems, i.e. high blood (long treated and controlled) pressure. I also have a benign brain tumor (Acoustic Neuroma) which affects my ability to hear in my right ear but mostly, it affects my balance….and then, there was the matter of neglected teeth needing repair…on and on it seemed to go. I wondered, it had been 40 plus years since I had been hospitalized (last was when I delivered my youngest child)…. What gives, I asked myself? My morale was at a very, very low point!

Back to the positive part though. After waddling in (I had left my cane in the car) to the school of Oom Yung Doe and having met with who was to become my future instructor, it was an almost instant decision on my part to participate in the two months program offered.

Now, after two months of almost daily sessions….What can I say? With the guidance and teaching of two Assistant Instructors, as well as input from a visiting instructor at a higher level, with support of fellow students, friends, even family members, the range of motion in my shoulder is near where it should be, my balance has improved, my skin no longer has that sallow hue, muscles are regenerating, my balance has improved, my overall health has as well… perhaps even better than before (many days, I feel like I am in my mid-thirties rather than in my sixth decade of life). I no longer waddle and can skip down the aisles at my local grocery store. Better still, my energy level is higher than ever, my outlook is positive. The response I am receiving from others is absolute amazement and positive feedback.

The best yet though, after having lost a granddaughter in 2004 (she could only be with us for three or so weeks) I now can scoop up and hold my new 18 month old granddaughter. We go for walks, stepping on cracks (she calls them quacks), feed the fish in my goldfish pond, toss balls for touchdowns, and act silly as grandmothers are allowed to do.

I still freeze up and wander in circles when I become frustrated (the latter word that really is banished from my instructor’s vocabulary) but, in my estimation and, though not totally mastered, I can do some movements which I, previously, thought of as impossible.

Still, I have to work on calming my mind, abandon some self-destructive habits of long-standing. It may take a long time to achieve true balance of mind and body so to achieve harmony in my life. LIFE IS GREAT where I am now and once again, enjoyable! Perhaps it was divine intervention. I am not particularly religious but I believe, it may well have been.

Just recently, I extended my association with the School of Oom Yung Doe in Largo and signed up for the senior degree program, not so much to obtain a degree but to keep in focus and learn the discipline that will keep me on track and on the right road. Challenges are ahead but, in my mind, I could not have chosen a better investment for the future to improve my physical and mental health

Mind, Body, Harmony!

Sigrun Sigi Donegan Largo, Florida June 2006

I have been training for nearly a year and have never felt better than I do right now. I am stronger and far more confident than I have ever been. As a nanny of four, I was discouraged to realize at 22 years old I was having trouble keeping up with the kids. Now after 11 months of training, the kids can’t keep up with me.

As well as the changes I have experienced physically, I have noticed a change in how I view things. I was very much an “I Can’t!” person for the majority of my life. I didn’t have much faith in my abilities, and was often second-guessing myself. Since I began training I noticed little by little that I was becoming much more of an “I Can.” person. If an instructor told me to do something, I no longer hesitated or wondered if I could do it, over time I just did it. Whether it was how high I could jump or how low I could get into a position I learned to trust my instructors as well as myself.

This quickly spilled out into my life helping me to become more of the self-sufficient, confident woman that I now am.

What most impressed me about Oom Yung Doe was that not only was I learning from skilled instructors, I was also given personal attention and instruction from Regional, National and International Level Instructors. Of all the martial arts that I looked into and attempted there were none that offer so much.

I have had the privilege of attending three International Level lessons since I began training and have been amazed at what I have learned. Each of the instructors knows who I am and where I am in my training. This multi-leveled attention and guidance has been a key factor in my progress as a student over the last eleven months. I can’t wait to see what the next year of training will have in store for me.

Samantha Bashor
3rd Section Student
Waltham, MA

I met with friend who is Chinese and a successful businessman in the food industry. Visiting his restaurant we spoke of martial arts over lunch. I’d been studying Oom Yung Doe for less than 3 months at the time we spoke. He had been studying with different styles and techniques of martial arts for a couple of years, a mixture of Kung Fu and forms of Karate. I thought to myself “some of the training methods he is speaking about make no sense to me.” I told him that I had looked around at various styles when I discovered Oom Yung Doe. After explaining my understanding of the 8 styles taught in Oom Yung Doe, he was intrigued. Realizing that I was at ground level in my training, I demonstrated 5 forms I had learned. To say the least, he was shocked and from his mouth came the words “I’m jealous. How could you learn all that in several months…those are high level forms of Kung Fu – I don’t even know those.”

Since I have started training in Oom Yung Doe, some of the immediate benefits have been increased flexibility, loss of weight (over 20 lbs), and stress reduction. My job is very stressful and after leaving my lessons the stress is completely gone. In addition, the training has gotten rid of the carpel tunnel pain I had experienced in my wrist and elbows from the constant daily typing I do. For the past 6 months the pain in my wrist has prevented me from doing many things I wanted to do.

What I discovered in studying Oom Yung Doe is this: It is a place where one’s ego has no place. The patience and fortitude of the individuals who, over the centuries, have given themselves to the study of mind and body through movement and techniques and the unique way of passing it to those who follow, is a strength of the Oom Yung Doe line of martial arts. Through practice, one can discover the benefits of Oom Yung Doe in health, self-defense, and a greater sense of self respect and respect for others.

Roger LeBlanc
1st Section International Degree Student
Software Support Manager

Since joining Oom Yung Doe, I have seen many improvements in myself with regards to my health, outlook on my life, and in my physical condition. My health problems stem from psoriatic arthritis. The treatment for this condition is medication management with drugs used in chemotherapy and continued physical therapy. I have also been involved in 2 recent car accidents where I was hit from behind injuring my neck and back. Between the treatments for the disease and additional medications to control the side effects, I was taking 8 prescriptions. After a year of therapy and 2 chiropractors later, I was still walking with a cane. The doctors couldn’t loosen my back muscles enough to manipulate my spine and relieve any of the pressure that I was feeling in my back. They said there was nothing they could do. I just had to live like that.

I enrolled in Oom Yung Doe because I read the testimonials of people like me that the school had helped. There was a man who had back problems and arthritis like me that talked about having a life again and working again. I’m currently a third section and I don’t walk with a cane any longer, I lost 20 pounds, and I’m down 3 prescriptions. One was blood pressure medicine that doctors told me I would have to take for the rest of my life.

Through traditional movement and some specific exercises the Oom Yung Doe instructors taught me, I’m able to enjoy my life again. And since the stiffness and pain are at half the level they were at, I no longer have such short patience with my family. When I was in pain, I just wanted to be left alone, but now I can enjoy my family and they enjoy me.

Oom Yung Doe is the third martial arts school that I have attended and by far the best. The other schools had their attributes, but they didn’t help my health, mental state, and physical condition like Oom Yung Doe. My family and I thank all the instructors and Grand Master “Iron” Kim for their guidance. I will always be with Oom Yung Doe. I even plan to become an instructor myself so that I can help others like Oom Yung Doe has helped me.

Thank You
]ames A. Yakita