Martial Arts Festival Displays Courage and Resolve
On August 25, 2015, the Martials Arts Federation for World Peace hosted a Martial Arts Festival in commemoration of the third anniversary of True Father’s Seonghwa (ascension). The event drew over 600 spectators who were in Cheong Pyeong for the Seonghwa memorial, including Global Top Gun workshop participants and Universal Peace Academy (UPA) cadets, who filled the gymnasium at the Cheongshim International Youth Center. True Mother, Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) Chairwoman Yeon Ah Moon and Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) International Vice President In Sup Park as well as distinguished leaders observed the martial arts demonstrations and encouraged the young martial artists.
In this Tong Il Moo Do (Martial Arts) event, 80 martial artists prepared a special dance and drumming performance, which made up the opening act and was dedicated to Hyo Jin Moon. Performers danced and drummed along to a musical ensemble incorporating True Father’s and True Mother’s voice, as well as popular anthems such as, “We Will Rock You” and “Eye of the Tiger”.
Those with more training did backflip kicks into wooden pallets and with blindfolds. They even punched through piles of bricks and cement. This festival represented a time of resolve and determination to inherit True Parents’ teachings and honor True Father’s great life and spirit.
Martial Arts Federation President Pyeong Rae Moon emceed the event, and Martial Arts Federation Chairman Kwon Jin Moon gave an opening address, through which he said, “August 2015 is indeed a meaningful month as we celebrate both the 70th anniversary of Korea’s independence and the Third Universal Seonghwa Memorial. Now that the period of offering mourning conditions for True Father has come to a conclusion, this Martial Arts Festival is a platform upon which we must all make the resolve to form a solidarity centered on our Heavenly Parent and True Parents for the unification of North Korea and South Korea, the hope of our people, and open an era of unification.”
He urged everyone saying, “In order to successfully achieve a peaceful unification and become the leading force in the Pacific Rim Era and a world based on the culture of heart, we must train our minds and bodies, attain body and mind unity and grow into mature people that excel both at martial arts and in literary work…. Let us become future leaders who spread True Parents’ ideology and spirit and contribute to the realization of a world of peace through martial arts.”
Director Lee Gi Seong offered an opening prayer, and FFWPU-Korea Chairman Ryu Kyeong Seuk gave a message of encouragement. He said, “At the Martial Arts Federation for World Peace Inaugural Rally, Rev. Sun Myung Moon emphasized that the path of true martial arts is one that restores the original role of the body and is one that trains the inner self and seeks to attain mind and body unity.” After talking about the history of Martial Arts Federation, which has expanded its foundation to forty nations today, Chairman Ryu said, “As martial artists that have both trained mind and bodies and character, I sincerely hope that you creatively and actively respond to the changes of this new age and work toward bringing about harmony and unity in this twenty-first century.”
In the following martial arts demonstrations, teams of young Unificationists re-created a story in their movements, demonstrating resolve and strength. The True Love Peace School team then gave a demonstration, followed by a martial arts performance by four UPA cadets using sticks and displaying discipline and courage. The Japanese Cheon-Bu-Eun-Go team also presented a special performance based on Hyo Jin Moon’s song, “Be Successful” to express their firm will to be successful for the sake of True Parents’ legacy.
The Seonjeong–Seonhwa Brothers International Team followed with a performance, their storyline conveying that they will pierce through the darkness and move on to become True Parents’ hope. Finally, martial art demonstrators of the Martial Arts Federation presented the essence of Tong il Moo do based on Divine Principle contents including the four-position foundation and give and receive action, by forming harmony between soft circular movements and strong strait-line movements.
All participants then stood up and sang together “Sarang He,” followed by loud cheers from the audience. This event, full of meaning and talent, was a beautiful, artistic and skillful display of determination to grow as a generation of leaders aligned with God’s vision and providence.
