Community Involvement

Oom Yung Doe Women's Self-Defense Seminar - July 2007

On Saturday, July 14th, 2007 a Women's Self-Defense Seminar was held at the Somerville School of Oom Yung Doe. Women from the Somerville area attended, along with women from Lesley University in Cambridge and Citizen Schools in Boston. Keliko Adams, a Lesley graduate student commented after the seminar, "I like to travel, and I feel much more confident that if I am ever in a situation where I need to defend myself, I will be able to." Oom Yung Doe schools in New England and around the country frequently offer free self-defense and stress relief lessons, as a way of helping improve our communities.

If you would like to attend a seminar, contact an Oom Yung Doe school in your area.

Boston 2005 Honorary Black Belt Award

It is an Oom Yung Doe instructor's mission to accept the challenge and responsibility to teach the traditional line of Moo Doe (Martial Arts) Knowledge, as it has been taught overthe centuries. It is their hope to apply the morals of Chung Doe or Correct Path to their lives. Someone who follows the Chung Doe path fully considers the consequences of their actions on others before making any decision. Chung Doe implants a good seed within a community, which bears good fruit of right communication, compassion and integrity for the next generation.

Each year instructors look into the community to recognize a leader. In his seven years as a state legislator, Representative Peter J. Koutoujian, a Waltham native, has emerged as one of Beacon Hill's most influential and well-respected lawmakers.

On the state level, Koutoujian, successfully directed the House to overwhelmingly pass a statewide smoking ban in October.

Instructors Sheila Graves and Maurice Vera present an Honorary Black Belt to Massachusetts State Representative Peter Koutoujian

He also filed legislation that prohibits schools from selling junk food and is currently working on increasing nutritional ducation along with an emphasis on physical activity our public schools.

In recognition of his commitment to improving the quality of life in our community, and especially in honor of his work to protect and educate our youth, The Instructors and students of Oom Yung Doe in the Boston area presented Representative Peter J. Koutoujian with an Honorary Black Belt at the annual New Year's Banquet on January 15, 2005.

Boston 2005 Distinguished Citizen Award

The Distinguished Citizen Award presented at the 2005 Oom Yung Doe Banquet is a good example of changing one's reality for the better. This particular award is most often given to someone who has exhibited tireless efforts to improve the community. This year's honoree notonly distinguishes himself as a diligent worker at the Boston Rescue Mission, but also by receiving and making the most of the same kind of care and guidance he is now offering to others.

From a very young age, Marty Miller was a drug user, was homeless throughout much of his life, and had very little prospects for his future. Then he had the good fortune to spend a night at the Boston Rescue Mission's overflow room. Marty has said, I stil remember how much they touched me with their love. They actually asked me how could they help me change my life.

In the years that followed, Marty freed himself of a lifelong addiction to drugs and found a faith that has helped him sustain his rehabilitation. He enrolled in college and was working at a trade in which he was finding success, when he decided that his calling was

Instructors Maurice Vera and Ben Zaroukian present the Distinguished Citizen Award to Marty Miller. (Also pictured is Vern Hickey, Community Relations Director for the Boston Rescue Mission.)

to turn around and give a hand to others like himself who were trying to raise themselves out of the depths of homelessness and addiction. Now Marty runs one of the Boston Rescue Mission Programs and has dedicated his life to helping others.

Since 1899, the Boston Rescue Mission has been helping homeless and poverty-stricken people pursue their dreams of a better life. The Mission operates Kingston House, one of Boston's oldest continuously running homeless shelters. Located in the heart of Boston, they provide meals, clothing, training, and service for as many as 200 visitors every day.

2004 Charity Drive

Once again this holiday season, the instructors and students of Oom Yung Doe are reaching out to help others in the community by supporting the Boston Rescue Mission. This year efforts will include a food drive at each of the schools; as well as instructors and students volunteering at the Kingston Street shelter, which is the largest overnight emergency shelter in Boston. On December 7th, three Oom Yung Doe instructors helped serve the three o'clock meal at the shelter and spent some time getting to know the staff. Instructor Sheila Graves remarked, "It's tremendously informative to actually go down and see the work that is being done and meet some of the clients and staff." To learn more about the Boston Rescue Mission and their programs visit www.brm.org.

Thanksgiving Baskets Charity with CCFC

November 2004

This Thanksgiving Oom Yung Doe teamed up with the Cambridge Community Fellowship Church when instructors and students from the Somerville school delivered over 30 food baskets to members of the community who wouldn't have had a Thanksgiving otherwise. Instructor Ben Zaroukian noted, "Some of these individuals seemed like they were new to this country or were having a tough time taking care of themselves because they were elderly. It was gratifying to be able to give them a hand."

2004 Weekend Training

Oom Yung Doe Students, family and friends were invited to participate in a recent Oom Yung Doe seminar. Excerpts from an article in the Somerville Journal follow.

The Blue Dragon movements featured at the annual Oom Yung Doe weekend seminar can be practiced both in and outside the water and help the practitioner bring in nature's energy and store it for good health and strength.

To view the entire article published in the Somerville Journal, click on the following link. Somerville Journal

Artbeat 2004 Festival

On Saturday, July 17th, instructors and students of Oom Yung Doe participated in "Artbeat 2004" sponsored by the Somerville Arts Council. An annual event during which artists and festival goers converge on Davis Square, transforming it into one of the area's largest and most innovative arts festivals. Large crowds gathered in Elm Plaza while students of all levels demonstrated forms such as Pal Gae and Tang Non. Dancing Dragon and Wan Soong Ee [Monkey Form] movements utilizing herbal equipment were also shown, but the highlight of the demonstration was the weapons forms such as Double Kom and Double Doe. Immediately following the demo, individuals from the crowd also came into the school and tried a self defense lesson. To learn more about the Somerville Arts Council, visit http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org.

Kennedy School of Government Self Defense Workshop

Oom Yung Doe Instructors were invited by the Human Resources Department of the Kennedy School of Government to present a self defense workshop at Harvard University. So on March 1st, 2004, Oom Yung Doe Instructors partnered with Harvard University Police Department Officers in offering an introduction to safety and self defense to the Kennedy School community.

Attendees were interested to learn the facts about assaults that had taken place in previous months. They were reminded that although there had been some recent attacks, overall the Cambridge campus had a very low incidence of personal crime and they were advised to utilize services offered by Harvard, such as the walking escort and shuttle service. They were also introduced to some principles of successfully escaping a physical assault. A few simple self defense techniques were taught that could be used regardless of strength or

Barbara Murphy, Instructors Doug & Sheila Graves, and Officer Amy DiVirgilio.

An instructor explains about targeting shock points on an attacker.

The Oom Yung Doe schools of New England are holding Free Women Self Defense Seminars each month at the different school locations. For additional details contact the school nearest you.

In one lesson a women can learn effective defensive and disengagement skills. The techniques taught at this seminar utilize a woman's natural strengths and abilities. Regardless of your age or physical condition, every woman has the ability to execute these movements. A blind women used these techniques to successfully defend herself against two attackers.

During the 2002 holiday season the New England Schools of Oom Yung Doe helped the Boston Rescue Mission (BRM) collect food and winter clothing accessories to help the homeless and less fortunate in the Boston Area. The schools served as a drop off points for donations.

"Students train in Oom Yung Doe to improve their mental and physical condition and overall quality of life. We encourage our students and people in our schools' communities to positively impact the lives of the homeless and less fortunate during the holiday season." states Rob Lucier - 4th Degree Black Belt, Assitant Regional Head Instructor.

The Boston Rescue Mission is one of the oldest working missions in Boston providing the basic necessities of life to those in need and programs to empower all people to become valued members of our society. "We are glad to be working together with the New England Schools of Oom Yung Doe to help us collect food and clothing for the homeless and bring awareness to the surrounding towns of Boston" comments Vernon Hickey Community Relations Director for the BRM.

For more information on BRM visit their web site at www.brm.org

The School of Oom Yung Doe participated for the second in a row in World Tai Chi Day 2002.  The event was attended by over 300 people during the course of the day. Various Tai Chi schools from the Boston Area held demonstrations and open lessons.

Tai Chi Chung, as taught at the School of Oom Yung Doe, is an ancient martial art that originated in Southern China centuries ago. Tai Chi practice with Gi Gong breathing improves one's health by improving the respiratory and circulatory systems, basic joint and muscle flexibility and overall muscle tone. The movements are practiced slowly without force or power, and can be performed by almost any person of any age or physical condition. Proper breathing along with the correct body movement is important in gaining the benefits of Tai Chi training. This exercise is known to increase mental strength and concentration and reduce stress.

The School of Oom Yung Doe presented information on the meaning of Traditional Moo Doe (martial arts) to approximately 500 students at the ESL College in Framingham. Every human being faces 3 challenges in life: Harmonizing the body, harmonizing the mind and harmonizing the spirit. With this harmony, we can achieve longevity, inner peace and an overall higher quality of life. Attaining this harmony has been the focus of Traditional Moo Doe for centuries.

In addition to the presentation, instructors and students demonstrated sequence and foundation movements to the ESL students.

It is one thing to listen to information and see a demonstration, but the main benefits of Traditional Moo Doe come from personal practice. At the end of the presentation, everyone tried some basic movements so that they could feel for themselves some of the benefits of practicing Oom Yung Doe.

The School of Oom Yung Doe was invited to participate in the 2001 Patriots Day Festival in downtown Boston . Roughly 100,000 people gathered for live music, numerous promotions, and of course to watch the finish of the Boston Marathon.

Instructors demonstrated movements from the 8 martial arts taught in Oom Yung Doe, and explained some principles of Traditional Martial Art training to interested passers by. In light of the marathon, the general public was given an opportunity to try the Gold Belt Formula for Foot Energy topical herbal formula. This energizing blend of herbs provides fast, effective relief for tired feet. Such herbal formulas have been used throughout the centuries to help Grandmasters and Masters of Traditional Moo Doe (martial arts) reach miraculous levels of skills and ability.

One individual who tried the formula wrote the following: "I have to say the product is amazing. I am a dance instructor for Arthur Murray in Natick, and it is comforting to know I have something to relieve the pain in my feet. A few sprays of this lotion leaves me with a cooling, comforting sensation - the throbbing pain within minutes is gone. 10 minutes later I have new feet! The pain is gone."

On Saturday May 19 2001, the School of Oom Yung Doe joined 5 other schools for the 11^th Annual Kick-A-Thon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Over 25 adult and children students completed 500 kicks at the school to raised over $3,600 in donations to support the Society's mission to cure blood related cancers (Hodgkin's disease, myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma) and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  The Kick-A-Thon had special meaning for several students who have family members suffering from Leukemia.  Jessica Mironeck, 6^th section student and Campaign Manager for the Society commented, "It is truly an honor to work with students and Instructors who are dedicated and motivated to raise money for a great cause." 

The event was part of an Open House and demonstration.  Notes Assistant Regional Head Instructor Rob Lucier, "the school uses this event to help raise donations for a very good cause while at the same time helping to educate the public on the importance of taking care of your mind and body to defend against diseases like cancer."  Money raised will be allocated to a variety of programs including research, patient financial aid, advocacy and back to school programs for children.  For more details visit the Society's web site at www.leukemia-lymphoma.org. We would like to extend a special thanks to the two biggest fundraisers Barbara Millett (adult student) and Nathan Nichols (child student) for raising $230 and $435 respectively.