It's taken me a while to try and get all thoughts about this school into a short review. There are many great points to say about the instructor and even other students that I will not be able to really include within my review. The best thing I can say to start off this review, is just to try. Just try it. Take a free trial class (or 2), or, if you don't feel ready for that, start off with a self defense session or two (12:30-1:30 Saturdays, $10 drop in - contact the school first).
I have never taken a martial art, never gave it a second thought. Sure, I've watched those movies when the martial art stuntmen/stuntwomen do their thing, but once again, never thought another second about it. Never really cared. Now to be honest, I can't say I now am a complete 360 to that regard. I can't say I follow much of the martial arts, but I am aware and I do care. I do care in what I do and now I also have more respect towards the Arts.
Sabumnihm Ippen is a wonderful instructor. He does really great with the kid students as with the adults. He cares deeply for the Art of Taekwondo and his students. He puts care into teaching his students the forms and technique correctly. This is a big number 1 for his school. The forms. Everyone can break something, which you do, do here, but learning the forms and techniques correctly is what he strives for. It is up to the student to try their best.
I have seen many keiki take one class and are eager and beg their parents to continue. The parents, that I have seen, have happy looks of surprise at their keiki. What is even better is when I see students start as small kiddos, stick around and are now graduating from high school. They must like something about this school! :-) The adults that come back time after time must see something too!
Sabumnihm Ippen, to me, is very patient when teaching. I myself know this first hand. I know I did not have any sort of coordination or anything in the beginning, but he was patient, and I think I've come a pretty long way from just over a year ago when I started myself.
The school does not take part in big 'ole tournaments; however, did host Aloha State Games. The school does get asked to do demonstrations, including, but not limited to schools (all levels, incl. college), Honolulu Korean Festival, Art After Dark, Keiki Run. It is not required of the students to take part BUT it would be greatly appreciated if students volunteered their time to support the school by either attending or being a part of the demo. Usually an okay amount of students represent the school at these events. Sabumnihm Ippen also offers free self defense seminars (contact the school for info) and has had the chance to do them at a handful of multiple locations.
The school is focused on teaching Traditional Taekwondo (and also self defense), probably the only school on the island to teach this way. Once again, though, I do not follow everything about martial arts so I could be wrong about this on the island. This school has people with different levels of knowledge and Sabumnihm Ippen accepts and teaches each level with dedication. He is strict, but not in the meanest of ways. He gets to understand each of his students, their strengths and weaknesses and tries to work with them on that. There are classes everyday but Sunday's and Sabumnihm Ippen still teaches on many holidays. I also want to point out that the prices for classes offered everyday are not so bad on the wallet!
Sabumnihm Ippen is also very dedicated in teaching self defense. Mostly to women, but men too. Some techniques are taught during classes; however, he does have a dedicated class every week for his students and outside people to learn also. Information about this class (classes) can be found on the school's website.
Also, as you can see the photos, every other month we have beach class! Of course with a BBQ potluck right after. That's fun :)
On a personal note, I came to this school as a gf of mine was already coming here. I'd hang around and did so for about 4 years. I'd kinda be their photographer and volunteered around with other stuff as my time allowed, before actually starting myself. After watching and seeing how Sabumnihm Ippen instructed and how dedicated he is to this Art and how he is towards each of his students, I felt like I wanted to be more a part of this school and to learn. I am definitely not too athletic lol and I have a desk job that I sit at for 9+ hours a day, so this was helpful to me by just being a bit more active in my life. The people that surround this school is just a plus :-)
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