John Kerry - Master of Shim Gum Do

[ABTB]

Kim Chang Sik had a brief period of popularity at the beginning of his career in Korea. Oddly, despite the nature of Korean society, his methods were not successful and his top students went elsewhere to seek sword knowledge.

He has been far more successful with it in the US than he ever could have been here in Korea.

There was recently a documentary about him and the Boston temple on the Korean edition of The History Channel. The documentary focused on Kim's Zen teachings, and the students' responses to the inclusion of 'martial art' in their lives. The non-martial purpose of the art was emphasized in most responses.

[Wounded Ronin]

What is Gum (sword)? An eminent teacher said, "There are two kinds of Gum; a killing Gum and a life-giving Gum." Breaking all demons, it helps us find the truth. Whether killing or bestowing life, without hindrance, it has complete freedom. Therefore, our Gum chases evil away, helps goodness, makes the correct way, manifests Great Love, Great Compassion, the Great Bodhisattva Way and fights for the cause of justice. Sometimes this Gum appears as a steel sword, sometimes a wooden sword, a fist sword, a mind sword or a no-name-no-form-energy sword. On the outside, it repulses enemies of peace; internally it cuts off our ignorance, makes our bad karma disappear, enables us to get complete freedom and to find the True Light.

The sad thing is that these guys probably have nothing on the likes of Musashi.


EDIT: OMG IT'S KEN FROM STREET FIGHTER!

[Jsun102]

hey antonanton-why dont you- stop typing- like this- so-people-can-understand- what the hell- you are saying- and also- there is the- concept-of-multiple- paragraphs- n00b-------------------------------------------------------------

[antonanton]

shim gum do is the biggest sham fruad BS of all time- i went to there temple and met master chang sik kim- he was a werid little korean guy who didnt seem like a master at all- everyone at the school was out of shape and none of them looked like fighters at all- i watched a second degree black belt who was about to test for third(ater 5 years of training) go through a bunch of the forms and they were laughable- he had no idea what he was doing- the school did no sparring and everything just seemed like bull shit- master kim had huge like ten foot paintings of himself everywere and he was really full of himself- and have any of you heard the story of shim gum do? its pathetic- its such a fuckin mcdojo- the story is that master kim didnt have any teachers in martial arts or anything- but he was meditating and was enlightened to the path of the sword- basicly he made it all up- theres all this stuff there to like- apperently no ones aloud to watch master kim train- if youdont belive me go check the school out yourself- any real martial artist would laugh at that bull shit

[Antagony]

That's cool. I have much respect for Zen.

[Phrost]

Test bump.

[Xango]

Teddy Roosevelt would kick John Kerry's Lurch-looking ass 10 different ways.

Vladimir Putin would pull his liver out of his body and eat it raw.

[blankslate]

be one with the campaign

[blankslate]

Putin wrote a book on Judo.

[Justme]

I have heard Putin is a black belt in Judo....Don't know for sure, but I heard that...

[IronBuddha]

although I browsed through a very good book about Zen and motorcycle repair. Now THAT is a true path to enlightment.

[IronBuddha]

zen is through the mind. if you need a sword, u're doing something wrong.

[blankslate]

I was stunned when I saw this story. But I think Zen is prevalent to some degree...You fine albert...

[albert]

Very interesting, all these political/martial arts connections (who ever thought Heinz ketchup and Zen swordsmanship could go together?). I've never heard of this martial art, and after reading through the website, I sort of wish I hadn't. I think I've become a MMA troglodyte.

[blankslate]

I hope this story pans out. That's cool. The first Zen Master President.