Martial artists compete at Arena Building

Nearly 200 Moo Sul Kwan students competed for trophies Saturday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau during the Lee H. Park Ways of Honor Martial Arts Championship Tournament. Among those at the tournament were Park's wife, Yung Park of Lancaster, Pa., and son, Richard Park of Louisville, Ky.

Grandmaster Park founded the Moo Sul Kwan Martial Arts Institute in Cape Girardeau in 1969 and also taught martial arts courses at Southeast Missouri State University. Park died in 1988, but his schools remain, carrying out his values and philosophies, according to his wife.

"We are honored by the loyalty of those who keep Lee's schools as a memorial to him," Park said. "He had such zeal and passion in life and his utmost interest was in education."

Park's son, Richard, agreed. "My father was always a fierce competitor, tough but fair, and he never did anything half-hearted," he said. "He put his heart and soul into building a school he could be proud of."

Master Alan Williams, a fifth-degree black belt, had 18 competitors from their school of more than 50, including one student with cerebral palsy. In addition to having his own school, Outerlimits, on the outskirts of Jackson, Williams teaches martial arts to students with a variety of disabilities at SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence in Cape Girardeau.

"The students with special challenges are the ones who truly put things into perspective," Williams said, "but we've always reached out to individuals to instill character, ethics and values in them."

Williams is often assisted by his wife, Jani, who teaches the young children in their school.

"The school has been a dream and a prayer come true for us," she said. "Investing in the lives of people is our highest desire. That's why we named our school the Outerlimits. We want to encourage students to go to their outer limit and beyond."

Moo Sul Kwan schools focus on the Korean martial arts of tae kwon do and hapkido and also have a judo program. Students range in age from 4 to senior citizens. One Lee H. Park Moo Sul Kwan student who competed Saturday was Janet Hinson of Morehouse, Mo. Hinson is a 74-year-old grandmother of five and a first-degree black belt at the Sikeston, Mo., Moo Sul Kwan school.

"I've always enjoyed watching martial arts," Hinson said. "But at 64, I thought, 'Why not?' I earned my black belt at 70 and lost 37 pounds in addition. It has helped my arthritis because it has built my muscles. It has helped keep me alert, and it keeps me concentrating so I don't go gaga.

"It also teaches me self-discipline and self-defense. I like the fact that I get to mix with all ages."

In addition to 15 Moo Sul Kwan schools in Southeast Missouri, there is one in St. Louis, 11 in Colorado and one in Florida. Park also founded the American Martial Arts Sports and Education Association in 1981. The association worked with the Lee H. Park Moo Sul Kwan schools to sponsor Saturday's competition.