Sa Bom Nim Jere Klein (Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan)

Sa Bom Nim Jere Klein

Dan Bon - 20766
Rank - O(5th) Dan
Studio - Liberty, New York and Ellenville, New York
Email address jereklein@hotmail.com

I started my training with Sa Bom Nim Young Ki Hong (Dan number 4142) in the summer of 1975 in Ferndale, New York. The building was not in good shape and I remember in the winter sliding across a puddle of ice that was in between the changing rooms and the Do Jang. There was a furnace in the studio that stood on blocks and I recall standing there alternately putting one foot under and then the other to warm them up. In the winter, the windows would frost over from the inside as the vapor from our bodies condensed on the them. In the summer, the smell of the chicken farms added a certain something to our training.

Master Hong spoke very little English back then but he communicated what he needed with his body. He was an intense and demanding teacher. Leave your excuses home if you were going to the Do Jang.

Gup testings were interesting. I can remember testing before C.S. Kim, Kwan Jang Nim H. C. Hwang and others at at least one testing.

Sometime around 1978 the studio moved into Monticello - in a former strip club. I can remember scraping the carpet that smelled of beer and whatever off of the flooring below. I remember coming into the studio one morning after our Christmas party to see Master Hong talking with Leon Spinks who was in town training for his heavyweight championship fight. I don't think that Master Hong knew who he was even with the missing tooth and a gold chain that if I recall correctly said "Leon." He came back later that week and I recall sparring with Master Hong so that Spinks could watch us in action.

I took my Dan test in that studio and failed the first time having been unable to do the running jump back kick to a board that was held by Brent Layman as he stood on a chair. I think I also messed up basic form 3 which I probably didn't practice thinking that I couldn't possibly mess it up. I received my Dan in November of 1978. My Dan number is 20766.

In Kee Hong, Master Hong's younger brother, arrived sometime around 1978. His Dan number is 7440.

I believe that both Hongs considered Sa Bom Nim H.C. Hwang as their instructor. Though perhaps In Kee considered Young Ki to be his instructor - I'm not sure of that.

In 1987, I became the first student of Master Hong to take the Ko Dan Ja test. I did not pass initially and I finally was awarded rank in 1988.

Unfortunately, Master Hong resigned from the Federation around 1993 and I began my association with Master Poppo around that time.

Written By Jere Klein (Dec. 2004)

Sa Bom Nim Klein retired from training December 2007.
Added March 24, 2008

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