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Show - r expert in Korean martial arts, uses double kick to hit targets held by his father, Kap another student from Kuwait. left, and Ibrahim R him, C. Lim, Meet the little uncrowned champion of Korean martial arts by John Mooney Tribune Sports Editor OGDEN II Lim is the best in his class in the United States, but hell never have to defend his championship. But neither will he ever receive the millions from television a championship competition brings the champion. son of Kap C. II, the Lim, a Korean master of martial arts with studios in Murray, Pleasant View and Ogden, is so good he doesn't have any competition. But this is just as well, because the Korean martial arts of Hapki-D- o and Taekwon-D- o do not stress combat competition. Our training teaches one merely to protect self, family and country, not to compete, Kap explained. SOME 1,500 YEARS ago, these martial arts were developed in India as protection against wild animals. Now we are scared of human beings instead of the wild beasts, Kap laughed. There are many forms of the Oriental martial arts, he continued. nine-year-o- ld n strikes classic defensive pose in arts which n compestress form rather than tition, but dad says R is nations best at his age. person-to-perso- In Japan it is called Karate and in China its Kung-FBut our teaching differs in that we never engage in u. combat We do not consider our teaching as training for competition, which then becomes a sport We practice mind and body control so why do we need competition when we are competing against ourselves? We teach and we d know one kick or punch can end the battle, so why compete? When you get in a lot of kicks or blows, you are not practicing martial arts, he added. KAP IS SERIOUS about preserving the art form as against the competitive urge to put the knowledge on display in combat. One of my students entered a competition in Denver without my permission and he won. He returned with his prize and beamed, Master, self-defen- well-place- I won. Instead of sharing his enthusiasm, I barred him from the gym for one month as punishment We dont Tribune Staff Photos by A1 need, nor tolerate competitive use of the arts we teach," he continued. The Korean martial arts are judged on form, he explained, although pupils may work out with the teachers. I spar with II because there is no one his size who would be a fair sparring partner, Kap added. But I guarantee there is no one his size who can provide him a work out. But our public competition is of a demonstration nature and pupils are judged by the effectiveness of their e. MY SON HAS been into Korean martial arts since he was three. But I have no intention of developing him into a competitor. I am satisfied that he will be able to defend himself in case of necessity. Thats the goal of my teaching, to provide my students with the means of defending themselves, their families and their country. However, the family has one professional fighter in Kung Chul, Kaps brother-in-laand Ils uncle. Kung, Hartmann w |