Grand Master Han and Master Han Tell Us of the “Two Faces” of Our System.

The First Face Almost Destroyed the Organization and All that Grand Master Han had Worked So Hard to Create. Because of Selfishness, Greed and a “What’s In It for Me Attitude” Those of Us Training Today Were Almost Never Allowed the Privilege.

The Second Face is the Amazing Organization In Which I Train. An Organization Based on Fostering Each Members Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Development, Servitude to Our Fellow Man and a Deep Abiding Faith.
Grand Master Han is the Founder and Leader of the World Youn Wha Ryu Association. Master Yujin Han is His Son and Serves a Central Role of Martial Arts Training and Spiritual Growth of the Organization.

Grand Master Han and Master Han are Inspirational Examples of the Positive Impact that Faith can Have in a Persons Life. It is Apparent Within Moments of Interacting With Our Students and Instructors that Our Growth as Individuals, Leaders in Our Communities and Within the Organization as a Whole is as Equally Important to Us as Our Martial Arts Training.

In Master Han’s Words: Our family’s background is Buddhist through my grandparents.

However, in coming to America, the Buddhism was more cultural and not practiced in our family. We attended Christian churches off and on because that was where many of our Korean friends congregated, but we were not Christians. I think as early as I can remember, we, especially me, recognized that we were “sinners” and that we needed some sort of a Savior.

However, the reality of Christ coming to earth to die for my sins did not make sense and register fully in my heart until around Easter of 1985. After being exposed one Sunday to the Gospel, as presented through certain passages in the Bible – I believe they were these…

Romans 3:23 “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. I realized that I’m part of this “ALL” and I too am considered sinful and separated from a holy God.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. I realized that because I have sinned, I would not only die physically but also spiritually.

Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. Even though I’m sinful, and even before I cleaned up, Christ willingly and effectively paid for my sins.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.

I understood that I just needed to trust in who Christ is and believe that what he did, he did for me too, and because of his dying for me I can enjoy eternity in heaven with God. My life was never the same. I had begun my journey of faith. I talked to my family, but they were not inclined to make the same decision yet, but I knew that God had a time prepared for them too. In fact, two years later in 1987, during one of the pastor’s messages at the church they attended, both my mother and father went forward to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This was the start of their journey of faith, but while they believed, the depth of their decision and the weight of God’s promises and power did not become fully apparent to them until a number of years later.

My parents were in my prayers year after year, not for their salvation but rather that they would fully realize the implications of their salvation and start whole-heartedly living for God.

After living away in Chicago for six years from 1998 to 2004, I remember coming home and being completely floored when I discovered the great faith and devotion to Christ in my parents, especially in Grand Master Han. It was from that realization that I felt more compelled to take a more active role in the Youn Wha Ryu Association.

As he reflects upon his life, Grand Master Han tells me that God’s hand was upon our organization and on him all along, but everything would happen only in God’s time and way. I have never seen such peace in Grand Master Han as I have seen in him during these past several years. He testifies to me that he is completely trusting in God and that he is exactly where God wants him and doing exactly what God wants him to be doing.

I am so thrilled at Grand Master Han’s progress in his walk of faith. I know that whatever he put his hand to, he has always excelled, but in this I find the greatest thing of all, as he excels in his faith and devotion to Christ in his personal life, in our family and through the Grand Master Han Martial Arts Association. The six principles that he instituted perhaps 15+ years ago arose out of a difficult time in the organization, when pride, selfishness and greed threatened to unravel everything he had worked so hard to build.

I believe God gave him these simple principles from His Word, as a prelude and a guide to inspire and guide thousands of lives in the organization today to the glory of God. Now, as we look to the future, we are trusting God not just for the growth of the organization but also for the missionary outreach of the organization through the likes of training centers, supply stores, real estate ventures, and overseas missions. As Grand Master Han likes to say, “We are all God’s children. We are all under God.” And that is the source of your vision, strength, and success. To God be all the glory!