Inside the Black Belt Way Inside the Beltway

[Bill Mattocks]

Cool story.

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/02/inside-black-belt-way-inside-beltway

For 45 years, the 79-year-old Rhee has driven to the Capitol before sunrise three days a week to teach martial arts and self defense to Members of Congress.
350 lawmakers have studied under Rhee. Many attained the level of Black Belt. Current Members of Congress who have been Rhee's students include Reps. Gene Taylor (D-MS), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), John Adler (D-NJ), Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL). Rhee taught Vice President Biden when he served in the Senate. Other high-profile students include House Speakers Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and Tom Foley (D-WA) as well as the late Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK).

Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/02/inside-black-belt-way-inside-beltway#ixzz11EypAKSe​

 

[seasoned]

This is a very cool story. Thanks, Bill, it was very informative and most interesting.

 

[bluewaveschool]

He transfixed the crowd when he crawled down on the floor to rifle through 103 pushups in 60 seconds. Rhee trumped that by breaking two boards with a front-kick as he stood on his other foot. While balancing a glass of water on his head.

Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/02/inside-black-belt-way-inside-beltway#ixzz11Fca737f

 

[l_uk3y]

That would have been awesome to watch. Amazing fitness level for any age let alone for 79. He would still be much fitter then a huge percentage of pro athletes in their prime.

 

[Carol]

Jhoon Rhee was, and is, a brilliant man. At a time when the dojo wars were going on and MA was something primarily practiced by younger men, Rhee was in Washington teaching TKD to elected officials, having their students appear at public festivals, and accommodating a more diverse student base.

That made for a heckuva foundation for the art to grow.

This was the commercial for his school in the late 70s through the 80s. Smart, smart man.

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[jks9199]

It's kind of forgotten -- but he also originated the now nearly universal foam kicks and punches.

Of course, sometimes I wonder if he should be thanked or cursed for that...