By Charles Myung Shin Gavaran and Yeonphil Donna Jumawan
The Philippines emerged the overall champion in the Tong-Il Modo Online World Martial Arts Mastership tournament, hoisting the Filipinos’ indomitable spirit and skills with a total haul of three gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.
There used to be actual combat competitions before the Covid19 pandemic where Filipinos can display their endurance, courage, and passion.
With the use of online technology, the best in the world has a platform to display their wares.
Participants came from 13 different competitive regions in the world including the reigning world champion, Korea. The competition started in October and all Filipino participants qualified for the top eight finalists.
Winning gold for the Philippines were Jennifer Bertulfo in Female Individual Bon; Jennifer Bertulfo, Rogelyn Valdez, and Jhonie Buagas in the Mixed Team Bon; Jonel Decosto and Jemwel Peralta in the Male One Step Sparring.
Bagging silver medals were Rogelyn Valdez, Jennifer Bertulfo, and Wendy Atilla in the Female Team Bon and the pair of Valdez and Bertulfo in the Female One Step Sparring.
Taking the bronze medals were Raymark Bais in the Male Individual Bon; Bertulfo, Ceniza, Larga, Buagas, and Sayam in the Mixed Team Gi-Choom; and the duo of Francis Ebatabos, Jonathan Ebatabos in the Male One Step Sparring
The Online Worlds Martial Arts Mastership was officiated by the outstanding officials and world leaders of Tong-Il Moo Do; The Founder of TIMD – Great Grandmaster Dr. Joon Ho Seuk, the International President of World Tong-Il Moo Do Federation – Grandmaster Dr. Takamitsu Hashiko, The Executive VP and Gen Sec of WTMF – Grandmaster Dr. Venus Agustin and the Asia-Pacific TIMD President – Master Bernardino Villagante.
Dedication and hardwork
The feat required months of dedication and hardwork in training.
In an interview with their Assistant Coach Dea Subingsubing, she said, “It was quite challenging to participate because of the Covid-19 restrictions in our respective areas. But these didn’t stop our players from representing our country.”
She added that the key to their victory is their ‘constant online communication and evaluation’ based on the standards and criteria provided by the World Martial Arts Mastership Committee (WMC). “Whenever our players need to clarify something, they will immediately let us know and we tried to help them in the best way we could”.
Bertulfo shared her best practices after notching two gold and a silver medal, “First, time management sa online class ko and sa training. I always prepare myself kahit walang events. Kahit pagod ka na kailangan mong pilitin ang sarili mo. Willing din talaga ako sa mga ginawa ko kaya okay lang na mahirapan.”
(First of all, time management in an online class and martial arts training. I always prepare myself even if there are no prior events. Even if you are tired, you have to push through your limits. I’m also willing and passionate about what I’m doing so I don’t find it hard.)
She also advised aspiring martial artists to ‘continue what you wanted to do in your life and be who you are… accept your weaknesses and have the willingness to do what you’re doing.’
Strength and Values
Tong il Moo Do is not just a martial art, it’s a unified way of life. It balances and unifies both the physical and spiritual aspects of life. It has all what it takes to lead a meaningful life; passion, dedication, discipline, and will.
An art that practices unarmed self-defense techniques, Tong-Il Modo strengthens one’s mental and spiritual strength through building a sound character.
In Korea, “Tong-Il” means “unification” and “Moo Do” is often translated as “martial art”, so it literally translates as “Unified Martial Art.”
In a unified martial arts system, circular movement is the subject and linear movement is the object, and it gives meaning and value to both movements.
The Unification Principle where TIMD is rooted can be learned through its training and felt and implemented through the body.
The Unification Principle is the absolute universal values based upon the heart, true love, and conscience, which unifies spiritual and material values. Its core idea is the idea of “Loving Heaven, Loving Humanity, and Loving the Nation”. It is a new principle that can unify the mind and the body, help one to create a happy family, and to achieve a peaceful world with true love.
On January 5, 1979, Grand Master Joon Ho Seuk founded the ‘way of the unified martial arts’ or Tong-Il Moo Do, which was originally called Wonhwa-do, which meant “The Way of Circular Harmony,” but it was later renamed.
Originally inspired by the teachings of Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. Over the years, it has maintained its mission of educating martial arts practitioners who are not only physically and technically proficient but also equipped with spiritual values like self-discipline, filial piety, and service to others.
During the early 1980s, Dr. Seuk gave lectures on Unification Thought and organized exhibitions of Tong-Il Moo-Do on American university campuses.
There were many leftist ideologies exposed to university students in the United States during this time. When the first martial arts tour took place leftist students attempted to hinder the tour in any way they could. A great number of students, however, showed a great deal of interest in the lectures.
Growth in PH
One of the university student in America, a Filipino named Gerry Servito, found a unique way to teach values and was inspired by his time on the tour to become an instructor of TIMD.
He became a TIMD instructor and later was sent to another country to build the foundation for TIMD. His first mission was to go to the Philippines where he began teaching Tong-Il Moo-Do in the mid-80s and produced more than 100 young black belts.
They began to proliferate TIMD in the country and got thousands of students.
In a bid to provide instruction for all these students who want to learn TIMD, a Manila Headquarters was established. Additionally, several new branches were opened across the Philippines so that individuals could not just concentrate in one area.
Philippine TIMD students have grown into instructors and have shared a mission to spread the art throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America.
Tong-Il Moo Do Federation – Philippines launched its “Zero to Hero” project in 2017, targeting out-of-school youths to undergo three series of 120-day Tong-Il Moo Do Instructors Training Programs and Peace Studies within one year.
It was created with the goal of raising pioneer TIMD instructors who were assigned to 81 provinces in the Philippines, then to Asia, and eventually, the world.
“The growth of TIMD in the Philippines was a product of a total investment by those who understand the philosophy of TIMD because those I consider pioneers never give up and they understood in heart clearly the long term contribution of TIMD not only its potential contribution in sports but more importantly in the character development of the youth and the adult alike,” said TIMD Grandmaster Dr. Venus Agustin, adviser of the World Tong-Il Modo Federation.
Despite the difficulties in the Covid19 pandemic, TIMD-Philippines continues to grow and prosper. There are more and more online competitions locally and internationally, online access has made it easier to train.
“I have the hope that TIMD can make a difference when it comes to martial arts. I am looking forward that being one of the co-founders of the World Martial Arts Championships Committee (WMC) based in Chungju, Korea which was recognized by UNESCO as an NGO, we will become a member of GAISEF and recognized by IOC, and with its membership expanded in all continents. And also hoping that TIMD will soon become an official member of Philippine Olympic Committee.”