One of my proudest moments this year was when I was awarded my 1st Degree Black Belt in Martial Arts! At the Black Belt graduation ceremony, I found out that our founder and Martial Arts Great Grand Master (GGM) Kwan Jang Nim Ernie Reyes had just published his autobiography. I was intrigued, and bought a copy. As a wonderful bonus, I got his autograph and a picture with him!
I couldn’t put the book down, and read it cover to cover in two days! I found many inspirational stories in KJN Ernie’s Martial Arts journey spanning more than five decades. I will share some of these stories in this article, and how you can apply some of his learnings in your own life.
There’s always a way
KJN Ernie was born to Valentina (Mama) Reyes and Ernesto Reyes in 1947. His parents went through a tough journey after immigrating to the US from the Philippines. They worked really hard and were only paid 15 cents an hour in those days. Even though money was tight, they made sure KJN Ernie got a good education in a Catholic school.
One thing that his mom drilled into his young mind was that there’s always a way, no matter how tough the situation is! KJN Ernie was excellent at physical education, which was one step towards his lifetime success. He went on to graduate from San Jose State University. It was here that he met his lifelong friend and Martial Arts training partner, KJN Tony Thompson.
Life’s tough blows can be blessings in disguise
Basketball, not Martial Arts, was KJN Ernie’s passion during his initial days at the University. He loved basketball as a kid and had got better and better playing with his friends at school. One day, tragedy struck! He sprained his ankle badly, and was unable to play basketball for a while.
While KJN Ernie was very disappointed, this tragedy turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Turns out, this accident was what led KJN Ernie to do Martial Arts. Eventually, it became his career and lifetime passion. This incident shows that you can take advantage of the situations around you — even if they look bad — and totally turn your life around. You can squeeze something out of even the worst of all situations.
Never take things for granted
KJN Ernie learned many valuable life lessons from his teachers, including the Korean Great Grand Master Dan Choi. GGM Dan Choi took KJN Ernie to Korea in 1977 to train for the World Tae Kwon Do Championships. While they were in Korea, GGM Dan Choi made sure that KJN Ernie didn’t stay in a five-star hotel. Instead, he had KJN Ernie stay with his friends in their humble home.
While GGM Dan Choi’s friends welcomed KJN Ernie like a family member, KJN Ernie had to sleep on a mat on the floor. The house was hot and sticky with no air conditioning, which cost a fortune back then. The bathroom was a hole where you had to squat, and baths were taken by throwing buckets of water on your body. These were all very different from what he was used to back home in USA.
Even though the circumstances were tough in Korea, KJN Ernie was very grateful to have great Korean Tae Kwon Do masters to learn from. He learned not to take things for granted. These life experiences contributed to his stellar performance under adversity in the 1977 World Tae Kwon Do Championships in Chicago. Although he got injured while training, he fought through to become a bronze medal winner and the Team USA Captain!
Work hard and the world will find you
KJN Ernie’s entertaining Martial Arts demos had raised the interest of a Hollywood producer. However, the team coordinator lost the contact information of the Hollywood producer. Undeterred, KJN Ernie and his son, KJN Ernie Jr, continued to train hard for the demos. As luck would have it, they got a chance to do a demo to the same producer six months later. The producer was so impressed after seeing this stunning demo — in her office, no less! — that she signed them up immediately.
KJN Ernie and KJN Ernie Jr were able to meet and work with many Hollywood celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Rock. They also became celebrities in their own right! They starred in famous Hollywood movies like The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Last Dragon, and Surf Ninjas. This goes to show that your hard work will lead to the world finding you. Be patient, and you never know how things will turn out.
Stay focused and pursue your dreams, all life long
KJN Ernie is still on the Pursuit of Mastery, even at the age of 75 years! He meditates, does demos, and writes in his journal, along with his daily intense physical training. He has also fought his way through cancer! He was awarded the 10th Degree Black Belt, which is the highest rank for a Kwan Jang Nim. He has been on the Path to Mastery for over 50 years, and has made some wonderful achievements along the way.
KJN Ernie is an inspiration for all the people who want to make their dreams come true. He inspired me to start training for my 2nd Degree Black Belt in Martial Arts. Now you can also start your own Pursuit of Mastery!
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