Master Lee Jeong Seo of Seoul received an invitation to live in Germany in 2004. He currently lives in Frankfurt, where he operates the Chung sports center.

MAJ - Martial Arts Journal (.com) asked about his story and his views on the various forms of martial arts available in Korea and Germany:

I was met by a tall muscular man, walking with a slight limp and wearing a suit jacket and a broad smile, in a comfortable reception area on the ground floor of the Chung sport center. In the background, hardcore bodybuilders pumped iron and Master Lee’s 13 year old son sat in the office playing video games.

After a few minutes of chat, we started with some preliminary questions:

How old were you when you became a student of the martial arts?
Lee – Nine or ten. I went to the local Taekwondo school. I wanted to learn how to fight.

Why?
Lee – I was always tall. I stood out above the other children, and they teased me and hit me. I was weak. My heart was weak and I had a lot of fear. I had to fight, but I didn’t know how. That is why I learned Taekwondo. But, I got more than I bargained for – I became fascinated. Training became my mission.

You made a transition at some point from Taekwondo to Taijichuan and Hapkido. Why?
Lee - Eventually I decided that Taekwondo taught me to kick. But this was a traditional style and the punching techniques were stiff and ineffective – more for show.

I wonder – what differentiates a martial “art” from a sport?
Lee - You tell me where to draw the line. Can you? I know that here in Germany there is a distinction between fighting arts and fighting sports, but there is no such differentiation in Korean. Taekwondo can be a sport, or it can be art. Kickboxing is the same. Look at the Olympic games held recently in China. Gymnastics, for instance: is it a sport or is it art? I think it is the same thing.

So, why did you stop practicing Taekwondo?
Lee – At Myongji University, I met a professor who was talented in Taijichuan. I spent a lot of time learning from him. I also started kickboxing, for the punching. My level of fascination was still high, and I wanted to branch out. As a matter of fact, I am still very curious. If I found a style today that I thought could teach me something I don’t know, I would find a teacher and begin to learn. But back then I actively sought out information and training in a diversity of styles.

Is there a style that your would consider the most effective Korean martial art?
Lee – Hapkido. It has elements like Taekwondo and Judo and kickboxing.

What makes it different?
Lee – I have often asked others the same question: What sets Hapkido apart from the other styles? It shares similar characteristics with other styles, as I said before. But, for instance, we use joint locks. There is a historic reason for this. Punching or kicking might be just as effective, and much easier to learn, but when fighting someone wearing armor as in the past, impact techniques were no good. Armor has to bend in certain places for the person inside to move – so highly effective joint manipulations were developed to take advantage of this weakness.
Also, punching or kicking give you no control. You can punch someone and injure them, or knock teeth out, but you cannot control the damage. Using joint manipulation, you take control. Then you can allow your opponent to calm down so he will not get hurt, and the fight is finished. If not, you can injure or break the joint, with the same outcome. Either way, you have taken control of the situation.

Is there a “best” martial art overall in your opinion?
Lee – Some styles are very hard and aggressive, others (like Aikido) are very soft, almost like a dance. A good martial art must have both. My style of Hapkido is very powerful – and it takes power to use. The best martial art grows from personal experience. Personal reality. There is no “one” technique or style that will make you invincible. You have to be smart. Techniques can help, but to defend yourself is a mindset.

What is the most important aspect of a good martial artist, for you?
Lee – The martial arts are my life. Training is fun for me. That is important. But there is something more. Technique and power are important too – but the most important thing is courage! How do you gain courage? By training, hard and consistently. Continuing to train, even when you run up against obstacles. There is no technique that can give you courage. You have to learn to fight your demons. I can take the courage that I develop through martial arts training and use it in my everyday life. That is the most important thing.

Master Lee Jeong Seo came to Germany with a vision to create a network of schools and teachers throughout the country. He says that it will take time. “I want to concentrate on this one school first. There will come a time when my students are ready to go out and expand the organization, but I aim for quality rather than fast money.” Sportschule Chung has grown from 5 students to over 50 in just over one year.