After about 6 more months I was presented with the opportunity to start my own school in a Bally’s health club.  I was not yet a black belt and had some reservations, but decide it would be a wonderful learning experience, and I felt up to the challenge. I took a good look at my knowledge and skills then came to the conclusion that I was ready.  (side note: looking back, I think I should have been made to wait longer before being allowed to run my own program.  I was not yet a black belt and had only been training for 3 years. At the time I thought I was chosen because of my unique ability. Now I think it was because I was available and there was a rush to expand.) After a year running that program, I was told by Master Kim that the quality of students I was turning gout was very good and that I should open my own school. (side note: I was still not a black belt)

Within several months, along with a partner who was also a student, several ranks below me, I procured a lease and opened up shop. We were the 3^rd academy to open and soon after a fourth opened.  It was not until 9 months after opening that I tested for my 1^st Dan black belt.  (side note: the JYMS black belt tests at that time where quite rigorous. 50 page essay, Written test that took about 5 hours to complete, Survival training test and a 12 hour physical test from 10 pm until 10 am. To this day I have seen few systems with such a complete testing process.  Several years later this process would fall to the wayside in favor of an easier, sometimes less than 30 minutes test.) It was rather tricky running a school and not being a black belt. Like OYD in Washington, I relied on the reputation of the styles founder.

Shortly after my partner and I tested for black belt he was pressured to leave our school open his own. Again, another rush to expand. Soon after he opened two more schools opened and the total was seven.  About a year later a school was opened in Missouri where Master Kim was from originally.

Actually, he was from Korea originally but Missouri is where he lived previous to Washington State.  While in Missouri, he and his father (Kim, Bok Man) had 3 TKD schools (Kim’s Tae Kwon Do).  He eventually left Missouri and moved to Texas where he worked with two other master on the development of a new system.  They eventually disagreed on too many issue and went their separate ways.  If you are interested in this period visit the chat forum at www.tukong.com . There are some rather interesting discussions on the similarities and origins of JYMS and TKMS.  Also of note is www.tukongusa.com .

Every thing was on the up and up. Schools were opening and the organization was growing quickly.  Looking back, I feel the growth was too quick and that has led to what could wind up being of the demises of JYMS.

More to come…