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Willie Lim is
presently 7th Dan in Tae Kwon-Do and Ryukyu Kernpo. He also teaches
Tai Chi and Balintawak (Arnis) professionally. He has been involved
in Martial Arts since 1960. He pioneered Tae Kwon-Do and Tai Chi in
New Zealand, teaching professionally since 1970. He has taught in
New Zealand, Australia, USA, Singapore and Malaysia. He is presently
based in Scottsdale, Arizona and continues to travel extensively to
reintroduce the old way of Tae Kwon-Do Karate.
“My specialty is
learning how to analyze a hyung/form and relate it to realistic self
defense. The essence of the art is in the form. This is how the true
technique were handed down, but present day instructors were taught
only the watered down system. Hyungs were analyzed alphabetically,
this is a very simplistic way, yet when we get to Black Belt we
still do things this way. In the original hyung/kata are the time
tested techniques of the master. It takes years of study to analyze
it and relate it to self defense and to make it work. By learning to
analyze all the body positions, foot work and hand position only
then can the real potential of the art be found. This then is
combined with the understanding of nerve centers and body reactions.
A hyung/kata is like a puzzle, what may appear to be an
interpretation of movement, may be the opposite. The master who
developed it, did so so that his techniques could live on. It took a
lifetime to develop his technique, it will take another lifetime to
discover all the hidden meanings and perfect their use. This is what
I specialize in”.
COMBAT: Can you
tell me a little about yourself?
WILLIE LIM (W.L.):
I started training in 1961 in Penang, Malaysia. For the first two
years I practiced Kyokushinkai Karate and also Tai Chi under Yeo
Cheng Hoe, one of Chen Man Ching's Malaysian students. Then in 1963
I went to practiced Taekwon-Do under C.K.Choi, a first generation
Korean instructor.
COMBAT: From
previous articles written about yourself, we understand you
pioneered Taekwon-Do in New Zealand.
Can you tell us about this.
Yes, I introduced
Taekwon-Do into New Zealand, through the University, in 1970. After
completing my degree at the university, I dropped out of my masters
program because Taekwon-do was expanding at such a rate that it
required all of my attention n. We originally started with 14
members and it grew to over 2000 members. During this time I started
the first full-time Donjang. This developed further into a full-time
leisure complex which is still in existence to this day.
COMBAT: New Zealand is quite geographically isolated. Did this
create any obstacles for you in the progression of your martial arts
knowledge?
No, in fact, just
the opposite. I brought many renowned martial artists from around
the world.
COMBAT.: Can you name some of them?
Yes, the
instructors included Hee II Cho of I.T.F. Taekwon-Do; Fumio Demura
of Shinto Ryu; Bill Wallace; Benny the Jet; Wally Jay; Remey Presas;
George Dillman and Bobby Taboada of Balintawak (arnis).
COMBAT: For, myself, coming from a strict Taekwon-Do background, we
were discouraged from looking outside of our own system. Did this
not create problems for you?
Heck no! As far as
I can recall I have always been labeled as somewhat of a rebel.
Knowledge is never the monopoly of any one system or style. All the
above assisted in the development of New Zealand martial arts and my
own personal development.,
COMBAT: Where are you based now?
I presently live in Scottsdale, Arizona,
where I teach privately and run seminars throughout the U.S.A., U.K.
South Pacific, Malaysia and Singapore.
COMBAT: Are you' still teaching Taekwon-Do?
No. Since meeting
and having the opportunity to train with Taika Seiyo Oyata, I have
taken time out to do research on the history and development of the
OPEN HAND FORMS. I find now that everything returns to the
traditional kata or forms.
COMBAT.: But is not kata a dying part of all the traditional
systems, practiced only as an aesthetic series of movements?
Definitely not.
Kata is the lifeblood of the style. The kata contain the life
preserving techniques of the Masters. These were well hidden within
the Kata and were only passed on to a privileged few (in some cases
the first born male).
COMBAT: We ore often told that it takes three to five years to learn
one kata correctly, but as we both well know, this is not the case
for the majority of us. Can you explain this?
Kata as we are
taught today is too simplistic, it dwells in. the realm of block,
punch and kick. Even when we get to Black Belt we are still
practicing elementary interpretations, only with more finesse and
power.
COMBAT: Presently there is a growing interest in the U.K: regarding
the Kyusho Jitsu angle of Kata breakdown. What are your thoughts on
this?
Block, kick and
punch is what I term as letter "A", Kyusho jitsu is letter "Z". No
educated person can have a complete alphabet with only letters A and
Z. What about all the letters in between? We require all of these
letters to give us a complete picture of this art. If Kyusho jitsu
is solely used for the interpretation of kata, then we miss the
whole myriad of life-preserving techniques of karate.
COMBAT: You are presently giving seminars in England and Ireland.
How do you feel this is contributing to the martial arts here?
I believe Karate/Taekwon-Do
in the U.K. has developed to a very high standard, especially in its
sporting aspects. The majority of martial artists are looking for
self-defense and it is the hidden side of kata where real self
defense is found. This is where my specialty comes in.
COMBAT: So you are saying that karate is not just in the realm of
the young and the fit?
Yes, definitely.
Karate is an "old man's art". In it are the time-proven techniques
of the Masters, in kata is the lifeblood of Karate. My own feeling
on the martial arts is that we have been taught what I term the
“crowbar principle”. It works if you are physically inclined. I
offer you the key; make your own choice. Remember, it took the old
Masters a whole lifetime to develop a kata, it will take all of us
who are genuinely interested a whole lifetime to rediscover them.
COMBAT: Does this system have a name?
I call what I do
"Classical Dimension”, giving deeper meanings, better
interpretations and practical self-defense.
COMBAT: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
Yes, Michael
Mullvaney, an old Taekwon-Do student who introduced me to Harry Cook
Seijinkai and Brian Towndrow, Kenny Walton of the T.A.G.B. I would
also like to thank all those who have attended my seminars for their
support.
COMBAT: You are leaving for home shortly, when do you hope to
return?
I hope to return to
the U.K. early 1994 and for those interested in what I do – and
honest approach to Kata, please contact Alan Jones on 0623 720453. |
