Swinomish martial arts students and adult chaperones got a kick out of their recent 10-day tour of historical and cultural sites in South Korea.
Seven Swinomish Indian Tribal Community members, including taekwondo students Ruby Billy, Joey Joe, Kao Nguyen and Jonnie Joe flew 12 hours earlier this month on a full agenda educational trip that included visits to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Seoul Olympic Stadium, Korean Folk Village, Everland amusement park, the War Memorial of Korea and World Taekwondo Headquarters.
“I’d definitely go back,” said Billy, a 15-year-old black belt and La Conner High School student.
“I loved it, even though I nearly got eaten by a giraffe,” she joked. “One thing is, I learned to use chopsticks more easily.”
The incident with the giraffe, though not nearly as perilous as it sounds, occurred while the students enjoyed close views of animals at Everland’s massive zootopia. Just as memorable were the compliments on her martial arts form that Billy received from teachers at the taekwondo center.
Billy and the other Swinomish youths train under United States Taekwondo Association instructor John Alcorn, who formerly ran a gym in La Conner and is now based in Anacortes. Alcorn said taekwondo emphasizes rapid high-intensity kicking, agility and mental discipline.
And that’s not all.
“The focus is on the five values imbued into each student — courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and an indomitable spirit,” Alcorn said.
Alcorn said the students were grateful to the Swinomish Senate for its funding support of education and sports endeavors.
The opportunity to sightsee in South Korea, the birthplace of taekwondo — translated as “the way of the foot and fist” — made lasting impressions, said tour chaperone Jenny Peters.
“It’s something the kids will never forget,” she said. “They made lifetime memories. We were kept really busy. Every day was something different.”
The stop at the DMZ, the world’s most heavily armed border, was chilling. Peters said the 2.5-mile wide buffer zone includes infiltration tunnels and observatory decks.
“It was crazy,” said Peters, adding that photos weren’t allowed in certain areas of the DMZ tour.
The local group more than made up for the DMZ photo ban with an abundance of pictures at other venues such as palaces, museums, green tea plantations, bullet trains, restaurants featuring Korean cuisine and colorful botanical gardens.
“When we went to their national gardens guess what we saw?” Billy said with a grin. “Tulips.”
The spring weather was likewise familiar.
“The weather was like home,” Peters said. “It was raining.”
Language was another story. The Swinomish entourage was accompanied by a tour guide, the aptly named Bruce Lee, who provided invaluable aid managing the language barrier.
Lee introduced the Swinomish visitors to Korean cherry blossoms, among the trip’s many highlights.
“Korea is famous for its cherry blossoms,” Peters said. “We were told there were no cherries on the trees, just blossoms, and they only last for a week. Luckily, we were there that week.”
The history and techniques of taekwondo were at the forefront of the tour.
A sport that originated more than 2,000 years ago, it’s known for its dynamic kicks, powerful strikes and disciplined self-defense techniques. Building both physical strength and character are priorities.
Korea’s history spans over 5,000 years. During modern times, it underwent 35 years of Japanese colonial rule from 1910-1945. After World War II, Korea was divided, leading to the 1950-1953 Korean War and the current separate nations of North and South Korea.
Peters, like Billy, would look forward to another South Korea visit.
“I’d go back in a minute,” Peters said. “It’s full of educational, historical and cultural memories.”
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
