Martial Arts are a skilful hobby/sport which builds peoples’ self confidence, ability, discipline and increases fitness. Mark Sharman, 2nd Dan Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, has been teaching Karate in Rugby for the last eight months. He has been doing Tang Soo Do Karate for 15 years and is taught by Master Tony Johnson of Johnsons Family Karate.     

Mark says “I have been doing Tang Soo Do for the last fifteen years and thought to myself that I would love to pass on my skills and knowledge to anyone who would love to learn it. I currently teach at Harris Sports Centre and have a nice sized class; however, I had a phone call from a single parent enquiring about the class and how much it would be for her two children to join. When I informed her that it was £5.00 per child, per lesson she said that with two children she just couldn’t afford it. This is a more than understandable comment in this current climate.

I have thought long and hard about this since the phone call and have realised that my true passion for the martial art that I do is to pass on this skill to anyone who wants to learn it. KARATE IS A SKILL THAT KIDS SHOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF LEARNING WITHOUT PARENTS HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY. For a parent to pay for one child to have lessons at £5.00 per lesson, at two lessons a week, this would cost them £520 per year, £1040 for two children and £1560 for three children. This is excluding the cost of the Dobok, Membership and grading fees so therefore I am offering karate lessons twice a week FREE to anyone who would like to show the commitment to learn it. This is a saving of £520 per year per person, you only need to buy the Dobok at £25 – a one off cost, annual membership at £30 to Johnsons Karate Ltd – to cover insurance and pay for the grading as you do them at £20 per grading.  Belt grading is normally done every three months. There is absolutely nothing more to pay as I am covering the cost of the hire of the hall myself. Famous Martial Artist Chuck Norris also teaches Tang Soo Do to disadvantaged kids for free and this has also helped me to come to this decision. It would be great to get the kids off the streets and away from the games consoles for two hours a week to learn karate.

When I was young I was bullied very badly at school and had no way of protecting myself.  I lacked self confidence and because I was unable to deal with the bullies I missed an awful lot of school. My parents were not very well off with having four children, karate classes was an unaffordable luxury, even if it was something that would have helped me in the long run. Later on in life I decided that I wanted to be a confident person and to be able to look after myself (and my family) should the need arise. I am now married with two children and my wife and children also study martial art them-selves. This will help my kids to deal with life situations more confidently. Bullying does not only come in the form of hitting, it is also “name calling”, teasing and lots of other ways that kids can feel intimidated. It happens everywhere and I’m sure that parents would love to be able to give their kids the opportunity of dealing with this sort of negative behaviour in a positive way...

Read more in Combat Magazine available from WHSmith and all good newsagents

In a country where the martial art academies flood almost every city street, it is truly a daunting task to find genuine, traditional training. Even if and when you find it the kowtowing one may need to go through is obscene by 21st century sensibilities.  If you’re lucky you’re able to find such a master within a few years. Maybe less if someone gives you the right nudge. This has been one of my major purposes in writing about masters from South Korea.

Some of my more memorable contacts have been pleasant and understated. The martial arts are supposed to instill quiet confidence in you, not make you loud and obnoxious. It doesn’t take much to brag or condemn those not affiliated with you. Rather it takes true confidence to just focus on what you’re doing and let your skill, reputation and spirit do all the talking.

This particular article focuses on a Kumdo (Korean for Kendo) master found in the heart of Daejeon. He owes allegiance to no association, feeling technique and tradition is far more important that office politics. I find him to be a breath of fresh air. I hope you agree...

Could you tell us a little about your early years?

MOON: I was born in a small town called Hyun-Poong located in the south part of Korea. My parents were regular farmers and we also lived with my grandparents. I stayed there until I finished high school then I applied to get into a military academy as my family couldn’t afford a regular university. After finishing that I started my military service as an officer.

What got you into the martial arts?

MOON: During my training in the academy, Taekwondo was mandatory, but I also chose to do Kumdo at the same time.

What was the training like back then? When did you earn your first black belt?

MOON: At the military college, the focus was on “one hit - one kill” type of attacks rather than self-defence. Kumdo students didn’t use real swords at that time, just bamboo ones. Much later, 2006 actually, I got a 6th degree black belt in Joon-Chon-ryu which focused almost entirely on steel sword techniques...

Read more in Combat Magazine available from WHSmith and all good newsagents