Vic Martinov History by Andy Tyzzer
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 1:42 PM
Subject: Vic Martinov as Man of the Year
Hello everyone:
I hope you are all in good health and spirits and enjoying this incredible Summer like weather.
The previous message that I forwarded to you was from the Kwan Jang Nim of the Moo Duk Kwan urging us to vote for Sa Bom Nim Vic Martinov as Black Belt Magazine "Man Of The Year". Sa Bom Nim Martinov is in our lineage to the founding Kwan Jang Nim (Head Master), Hwang Kee. He is my instructor's instructor.
I would like to take a few minutes to let you know why this nomination is appropriate and important.
In the late 60's and early 70's there were many martial artists in the United States that got their Midnight Blue Belts (black belts) from Hwang Kee, the founding Kwan Jang Nim of the Moo Duk Kwan. Because of the difficulty in maintaining a connection with Korea and other reasons, many of these early Moo Duk Kwan practitioners in the U.S. created their own organizations.
In the mid 70's Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee and the Moo Duk Kwan practitioners in the U.S. were able to begin creation of a U.S. Moo Duk Kwan Federation which maintained a connection to the Korean Soo Bahk Do Association, World Moo Duk Kwan. Sa Bom Nim Martinov saw this as an opportunity to establish a vital link with the Moo Duk Kwan heritage and the Kwan Jang Nim. Even though he had created an organization of his own in the U.S., he quickly and gladly became part of the formation of the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation. Not all Moo Duk Kwan Instructors of the time made the same move.
Please allow me to relate my training during this time and explain why Sa Bom Nim Martinov's actions during this time had such a profound impact on our community in the present.
My first instructors in 1973 had a lineage that led to the Kwan Jang Nim. However, we never heard of Hwang Kee or the Moo Duk Kwan. My instructors at that time received their degrees from Chuck Norris. That's as far as our knowledge of our history went. In fact, Chuck Norris received his degree from Hwang Kee while stationed in South Korea.
The technical instruction was excellent and I don't think I would have made it through college if I hadn't been training. But something was missing. I really didn't know what it was until I met Sa Bom Nim Moonitz in 1986. He also got his degree from the Master Norris's organization in 1972. However, he, along with one of his instructors from the 'Norris System' decided to be part of the establishment of the U.S. Federation that maintained loyalty to the Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee. That instructor was Sa Bom Nim Victor Martinov.
Training with Sa Bom Nim Moonitz, I saw that the connection with the Founding Kwan Jang Nim created a more complete martial art experience. In addition to the excellent technique and discipline, the application of philosophy, history and tradition made the application of my art to my life more valuable. Maintaining a loyalty to the Kwan Jang Nim instilled a sense of honor to training.
Our programs at the Crested Butte, Gunnison, and Santa Fe studio's would not benefit our students and communities half as much if we did not have that connection with the Kwan Jang Nim. The high quality of our Moo Do (Martial Way) experience is a direct result of the actions taken by Sa Bom Nim Martinov thirty years ago.
Sa Bom Nim Martinov's model behavior is of value not only to our communities and our art, but to all martial arts around the world.
So I ask you to take a few more minutes to recognize a lifetime of leadership. Go to the address outlined in our current Kwan Jang Nim's email and complete the ballot. Thanks.
Sincerely yours in the Moo Duk Kwan (Institute of Martial Virtue),
Andy Tyzzer
p.s. After reading this I realize that it is written off the cuff and from the heart and should be taken as only my interpretation of history and experiences and could not possibly represent the collective opinion of our Federation and it's members.