Dan Allebach: Grandmaster MacKenzie, what can you tell me about your earliest beginnings and interests in the martial arts?

GM MacKenzie: I remember as a preschooler, watching wide-eyed the Yudo ( Judo) classes at my local YMCA on the eastside of Indianapolis. I wanted so badly to join the classes, however my parents didn’t allow it. Over the years, I was persis-tent in asking again and again for permission. My favorite movies as a youngster included Billy Jack (I later met Tom “Billy Jack” Laughlin in Las Vegas and we shared a memorable lunch together) and Bruce Lee’s Game of Death featuring DoJuNim

Ji Han Jae. Both films highlighted Korean Hapkido. Little did I know that Hapkido was to become my art and Ji Han Jae to become my personal teacher...it’s funny how karma works! Early on, I had studied some boxing and wrestling. What I really wanted, however, was to study traditional Asian martial arts. As a young boy, I developed a number of illnesses and was hospitalized numerous times. I had four surgeries during those young years, one related to the serious bone disease osteomyelitis, in which I nearly lost my left leg. The doctors were able to save my leg, but, the damage was extensive. It was at this time that my parents, in an effort to encour-age me to rehabilitate my leg, finally allowed me to train in the martial arts. This was in the 1970s and what I was to learn was then called ‘Korean Karate.’ It included Tae Kwon Do (Song Moo Kwan lin-eage), Hapkido, and kickboxing. This proved to be the perfect therapy! In the beginning, learning the martial arts was very painful and difficult. With my leg pain constant and extreme, and major challenges with balance, strength and flexibility, quitting would have been the easy choice. My passion for what I was learning along with my innate drive to achieve my black belt, disallowed quitting as an option…I was in this for the long haul!

When did you first realize that, perhaps Korean martial arts would become a lifetime pursuit for you?

Grandmaster Ken MacKenzieHapkido’s Founder Ji Han Jae’s American Son

An Interview by Master Dan Allebach

Grandmaster Kenneth P. MacKenzie is a certified ninth-dan black belt in Korean Sin Moo Hapkido. In ad-dition, he holds a master rank in Tae Kwon Do and various black belts in other traditional martial arts. He lives in southern New Jersey and, while operating his five full-time martial arts academies, serves DoJuNim Ji Han Jae as the President to the World Sin Moo Hapkido Federation. Having given over 1000 public pre-sentations and seminars, and as an international seminar instructor and motivational speaker, Grandmaster MacKenzie has been seen around the world in newspapers, magazines, books, and on television. He holds a B.A. Degree in Law & Justice and has studied at Drexel University and Glassboro State. His volunteer experience includes that with the YMCA, Red Cross and Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. It has been announced that Grandmaster MacKenzie has been nominated by DoJuNim Ji Han Jae for promotion to tenth-dan black belt and is among a selected few who will lead Sin Moo Hapkido into the 21st century.

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What had once been an interest, soon progressed beyond even a hobby. In an era where it was still a mystery to most of the public, the martial arts had indeed become and would remain my lifestyle. At the age of eleven or twelve, I knew that it was for me. I had selected the martial arts as my ‘Do’ (way or path), and they had chosen me back. By the age of fourteen, I had already set my sights on someday becoming an instructor, and I dreamt of owning my own school.

Were you a martial arts competitor and what are your feelings about tournament competition? It is important for martial artists to challenge themselves. The competitive spirit is part of the hu-man spirit. For achievers, it’s what drives us on and allows us to discover our greatness in life. While the biggest competition is always with ourselves and from the inside, being challenged by another forces us to reach down deep within, pulling out our very best spiritually, mentally and physically. As martial artists, we must strive to be better today than yes-terday. This is how we grow as individuals. I remember my first tournament. I lost my very first match. With that match, and the many to follow, I learned a lot about myself. I learned to train harder every day, to build greater knowledge, and to push my limits. Without a doubt, I learned the most from those matches where I was not the victor, always going back to the drawing board and seeking to better myself.

In my early days of competition, I traveled with champions such as Steve Ayscue, Bob Ott, Carl Hettinger, and Dan Allebach. I used tournaments as a ‘measuring stick,’ allowing myself to evaluate my own level of skill and conditioning. Soon, I began winning…and winning big. I went on to win over 500 matches, hundreds of trophies, several national titles, and numerous grand championship titles in both fighting and breaking (Kyuk-Pah). While I did both contact and point fighting, the full-contact events seemed more realistic and were always my favorite! While many of my opponents went down for the count…over twenty years of competition, I was never either knocked down or out. In 1995, I achieved a world record break, go-ing through 28 concrete blocks using a double knifehand strike. I later went on to win three gold medals and world titles in Korea in full-contact Hapkido fighting. As a promoter, I hosted the ‘Best of the Best’ Nationals for ten years. I now host the annual Gold Medal TaeKwon-Do and Hapkido Federation’s ‘All-Star’ tournament every winter and continue to support outside events as both a referee and arbitra-tor.

What important masters have influenced you?

That’s a big question with an even bigger answer. The most important influence on me as a martial artist has without a doubt been DoJuNim Ji Han Jae (founder of Hapkido and Sin Moo Hapkido). I have enjoyed training under him for my entire adult

life. He considers me his “American Son” and true disciple. I was also very fortunate to have experienced training with General Choi Hong Hi, Tae Kwon Do’s founder at an ITF training event and dinner in Arizona. This was a great honor indeed. Other strong influences would include Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee (father of Tae Kwon Do in America), Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, Dr. He-Young Kimm (Han Mu Do), World Champion Bill Wallace, and World Champion Joe Lewis. My earliest instruc-tors, Harry Watson (under Song Moo Kwan Grandmaster Byung Hoon Park), Danny Doyle, Ray Doman, Bruce Hart, Sr., Master Richard Ken-vin, Master Carl Beaman, and Professor Frankie DeFelice gave me a solid foundation. In addition, a number of my contemporaries, including Mas-ters John Godwin, Robert Ott, Scott Yates, Perry Zmugg and Juri Fleischmann, have allowed me to expand as a martial arts master. Senior Grandmas-ter Rudy Timmerman of Canada has paved the way and demonstrated to me the joys and possibilities of a lifetime in Korean martial arts. Martial arts busi-ness guru Fred Mertens has supported my growth as an academy operator. World famous master and mentor Robert Ott is my true martial arts brother and has shown me the true meaning of pilsung and the indomitable spirit.

Outside of your primary style of Sin Moo Hapkido, what other martial arts systems have you experi-enced?

First, allow me to make a point. Mastery is para-mount. I believe that the chop suey approach to martial arts can be flawed. It’s difficult to become the jack of all trades. Digging deep into one may be the wiser choice. While I was fortu-nate that my first school taught Tae Kwon Do, Hap-kido, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu, and that the arts seemingly worked together in harmony, I recom-mend narrowing down one’s focus and

education in the arts. Sin Moo Hapkido is my primary style. I have en-joyed both good fortune and opportunity as a first-generation Hapkido/Sin Moo Hapkido student under the founder. For me, there has and continues to be no better privilege than to learn directly under and from the source. For comparison, I have also experienced Hapkido under other varied and elder masters, many while in Korea. I have experienced and appreciated other Hap-kido-related arts such as Han Mu Do and Kuk Sool. Having trained in and taught the art since the 1970s, I am also a master-instructor in Korean Tae Kwon Do and have studied both the ITF and WTF (including at the Kukkiwon) styles. I have enjoyed learning more about Tang Soo Do from Hall-of-Famer, Master John Godwin and had the honor of meeting Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin and the late Grandmaster Hwang Kee. As a full-contact fighter in the 1980s, I trained in Burmese Bando, Muay Thai, American kickboxing and French Sa-vate, becoming one of the first Americans certified in that art. While in South Korea, I trained in TaeKyun, Mu Yee Eh Ship Sha Bahn, Yudo (Olympic Train-ing Headquarters), Olympic-Style WTF Tae Kwon Do, Sun-Do, Sun Moo Do, Kum Do, Kuk-Sool, and Buldo Moo Sool. In North Korea, I experienced pure ITF Tae Kwon Do and trained alongside the North Ko-rean athletes at the Tae Kwon Do Palace. While there, our team gave the first-ever Hapkido/Sin Moo Hapkido demonstration in North Korea and toured the ITF museum. Visiting Japan, I experienced Daito Ryu Aiki-Jitsu, KyoKushin Kai Karate-Do, Aikido at the Aikido Hombu in Tokyo, ITF Tae Kwon Do at

the Japan ITF headquarters, and Kodokan Judo. While in China, I enjoyed Tai Chi, Shaolin Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple, and Gung Fu in Beijing.

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I know that your relationship and position with Hapkido’s founder, DoJuNim Ji Han Jae, is a close and unique one. Can you elaborate?

DoJuNim Ji Han Jae and I first met back in the 1980s (DoJuNim says 1985), an encounter that he refers to with fondness and a smile. Forever seek-ing the secrets to the martial arts, I attended a large event in the northeast and had immediately recog-nized DoJuNim’s face from the Bruce Lee movie Game of Death. He was the guy with the gold belt! At the time, I was a 280-pound full-contact fighter who owned and operated his own dojang. Viewing one of DoJuNim’s basic techniques, I asked what I thought to be a simple question: “Sir, does that technique work on even a large person?” Much to my dismay, the question was taken as a challenge. Moments later, I experience more pain than I had ever imagined. I couldn’t believe that a man of such slight physical stature was able to inflict such pain on me, and with such lightning speed and accuracy. In physical agony, I was more than intrigued. I was hooked and had to learn more. I continued to attend every session that DoJu-Nim Ji Han Jae offered. He kept a curious eye on me, too. On the last night of the three-day event, DoJuNim asked me to sit with him. He went on to explain that the night prior he had seen us together in a dream. He suggested that it was our destiny and that our relationship was to expand greatly. He was right. I soon began following him around the country and world. Every time, I would show him my Sin Moo Hapkido skills and my ambition to further master them. In turn, and partly because of my ‘Nak-Bup’ experience and ability to fall well, he

would choose me as his partner every time. On one occasion, and in front of a wide audience of martial arts students and masters, DoJuNim told me, “just as every student wants the best teacher…every teacher wants the best student too.” He would go on to announce that this represented our unique relationship. Hungry to learn, I took his words to heart. DoJuNim appreciated my dedication, loyalty and quest for both knowledge and training. I ap-preciated his generous instruction and wisdom and was eager to support him in spreading the art. In the mid 1990s, DoJuNim decided to relocate to New Jersey so that he could be closer to me, my schools and students. I flew to California and drove his packed van over 3000 miles across country. The opportunity of having DoJuNim so close has been one of good fortune. I am proud to have hosted over 125 seminars with DoJuNim, and trained in many more. Along with Masters Scott Yates and John Godwin, I have had the opportunity to enjoy more hands-on training hours with DoJuNim than anyone worldwide. Honoring DoJuNim Ji Han Jae, my students and I have hosted World Sin Moo Hapkido Federation banquets and founded the annual International Hapkido Summit. In the 1990s, I served as the Secretary General for Korea Sin-Moo Hapkido and President of the North American Sin Moo Hapkido, since replaced by the new governing body, the World Sin Moo Hapkido Federation. With the help of my black belts, I have organized large scale events for DoJuNim celebrating his: 60th birthday; 50th anniversary in the martial arts; 70th birthday and; 50th anniversary of Hapkido. At the 2009 In-ternational Hapkido Summit, Sin Moo Hapkido’s 25th anniversary was recognized. Perhaps the greatest honor bestowed upon me is that DoJuNim considers me to be and calls me his son. In 2005, DoJuNim bestowed upon me the title of Chung Kwan Jang (highest Grandmaster). More recently, I have accepted greater responsibility as the President of the World Sin Moo Hapkido Fed-eration, a position requiring greater service to the extended Hapkido/Sin Moo Hapkido family.

In your youth, did you ever imagine that you would someday become a grandmaster in the arts?

Too many people live with limited thinking and a lack of belief in their own potential. You must first believe. Only then can you achieve! I remember being told as a teenager that, because I was not Korean-born, I could never become a master. I have never believed in such limitations! Rather than fix-ate on impossibilities, I search for possibilities. The black belt represents a firm grasp on the ba-sics. Many traditional schools in and out of Korea only consider you a real martial artist once you have attained black belt status. Mastery is the ability to perform, fully teach and scientifically explain every movement, theory, etc. One cannot become a master until he or she has promoted at least 24 students to the black belt level, one representing each hour of the day. The privilege of grandmaster is reserved, and rightly so, for those few who have truly dedi-cated their lives to the pursuit of excellence in their martial art. They must have attained a certain age, level of maturity and wisdom, along with many years of formal study in the arts. In addition, they must have produced a minimum of six masters from the ground up, their own students. It is the responsibility of black belts, masters and grandmas-ters to expand and propagate their respective arts. In my experience, reaching these levels was not the primary focal point. Instead, it was the pursuit of excellence and daily challenges that excited and motivated me. The thrill was in the journey itself. With high rank comes great responsibility. Masters and grandmasters must always respect their posi-tions as role models, mentors, and leaders. In many cases, we are like second-parents to our students. In addition, it is our responsibility to serve and care for the elder grandmasters, in my case DoJuNim Ji Han Jae, and to serve as curators for our arts.MIn my years as a martial artist, I have never requested a belt promotion. In my opinion, this action would have been dishonorable. It was always my instructor’s decision to suggest and nominate promotions. Several years ago, DoJuNim promoted me to my ninth-dan black belt in Korean Sin Moo Hapkido. I reflected back upon my long and per-sonal journey, knowing that I still have a lot in front of me. I also realized that this was cutting-edge, as I am both American-born and Caucasian. The moral

of the story is this: We are all born with a set of tools…it’s what you do with them that makes the difference.

What can you tell me about your ‘MacKenzie’s’ schools?

At the age of only 19, I first opened my dojang (MacKenzie’s TaeKwon-Do & Hapkido Institute) on November 12, 1983. It was located in a local YMCA. At that time, it was open to only children and was the first in the United States to specialize as such. Today, my schools serve nearly 1000 active students ranging in age from three to 85. With a compliment of eight full-time staff and multiple part-timers at five locations, I offer specialized programs for preschoolers, children, teens, boys and girls, men and women. I am proud to teach some 175 black belts weekly along with 15 active master-instructors, including Scott Yates, a World Hapkido Games gold medalist and the youngest ever to have attained eighth-dan under DoJuNim Ji Han Jae. My schools also serve as the official head-quarters for Sin Moo Hapkido. Partnering with Masters Scott Barnabie and Dan Allebach, and with the support of talented Masters Bob Turley, Dr. Mark Fabi, Bill Taylor, Jeff & Tina Blackman, Andrew Lesser, and Rich Williams, I have enjoyed the expansion of my New Jersey based organization (www.GoldMedalFamilyKarate.com). I also have students who maintain professional sister-schools including Pierson’s TaeKwon-Do & Hapkido in New Jersey and LaVoice’s Lion’s Den in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is nice to know that we have so positively impacted the lives of thousands, with most Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido schools in southern New Jersey able to trace their lineage back to my organization.

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Do you feel that children can really learn the martial arts?

Yes, of course. My first school was only open to youth. It was the first martial arts school in the United States dedicated specifically to children. Of course since then, we have expanded to all age groups. Even as a teen, I recognized the benefits to youth: focus, goal setting, self-discipline, self-control and self-confidence. Over 10,000 children have gone through my program since 1983, many of which have gone on to great achievements in life. I now have black belts who have graduated from every Ivy league university, and several from the likes of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, etc….all a true testament to the benefits of Hapkido train-ing for youth. I have always approached my youth programs much as I imagine the ancient Hwa-Rang (flowering youth) of the Silla Dynasty must have. I believe in building the whole person, with patience, one step at a time. My own son and daughters have also studied the martial arts. My son Dustin, now 17, has been training since the age of two under my top student, Chief Master Scott Yates. This relationship allowed for Dustin to enjoy a normal student-teacher rela-tionship with Master Yates while sharing his joy of training with me, simply as ‘the dad.’ Years ago, Hapkido was deemed appropriate only for students age 13 and older. In 1994, based on the recognized success of my youth programs, DoJuNim put me in charge of developing a viable Sin Moo Hapkido program for kids. An ongoing experiment and always evolving, the all new World Sin Moo Hapkido Federation children’s curricu-lum takes into account the need for extra safety measures, spotting, tumbling, and age-appropriate training. The evolution of this curriculum was completed by Masters Yates, Zmugg and myself, in Graz, Austria in June 2009. Today’s generation of Sin Moo Hapkido kids represent the future. I expect them to take the art to the next level.

How do you feel that success and being a profes-sional martial artist makes you a better martial artist?

Living the life of the full time martial arts profes-sional has enabled me to spend all of my time

perfecting my craft while sharing it with others. I have enjoyed the freedom and time to dedicate to reading, writing, research, curriculum develop-ment, meditation, and practice. Financial freedom has allowed me to travel, help others, give generous donations, grant scholarships, and provide my fam-ily with a life of dignity and opportunity. Success is often the result of the combination of hard work and working smart. As the popular martial artist, businessman and motivational speaker Chief Mas-ter Robert Ott (www.CertainVictory.com) says, “You must first learn to take care of yourself before you can effectively take care of others.” This is good advice.

Have you trained in Korea?

Yes, indeed I have. My first trip to South Korea was in 1997. I was invited and most honored to join Dr. He-Young Kimm’s Hapkido and Han Mu Do group in touring, training and competing in Korea. I returned with Dr. Kimm in 1999 and again in 2002 with DoJuNim, each year winning the gold medal at the World Hapkido Championships. I recall DoJuNim telling me at the World Champi-onships that “Lions make lions, and rabbits make rabbits.” What he was telling me was that I could not allow myself to be defeated and still claim to be among his top students. Losing was not an option. For this reason, I have never lost in international competition. In 2005, I joined Dr. Kimm and Grandmaster WooJin Jung, TaeKwonDo Times Publisher, on a special and rare ambassadorship to DPR North Korea for the 50th anniversary of Tae Kwon Do.

There, we visited the Presidential Palace, Children’s Performing School, Tae Kwon Do Palace (ITF), Tan-Gun’s Tomb, and a Buddhist temple. Six of my students and I performed the ITF tul (pattern) Tan-Gun at the foot of the tomb honoring Korea’s legendary founder. I also participated in a meeting between other Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Han Mu Do leading masters representing both the ITF and WTF. Discussions included improved relations and future cooperation between the two Tae Kwon Do governing bodies. In 2006, I returned with col-leagues to South Korea, where we toured the entire country and participated in seminars with Grand-master In Sun Seo. During that trip, I was able to assist Chief Master Robert Ott, who is blind, in ‘seeing’ the sights through my eyes. This experience in fact ‘opened’ my eyes and allowed me to truly experience the beautiful people, mountains, rivers, landscape, art, architecture, traditional garb, etc., in great detail as never before.

I understand that your Sin Moo Hapkido training has led you to travel the world. Where have you been and why?

There were two distinct things that occurred that seemed to have opened the doors to the world for me. The first was becoming DoJuNim Ji Han Jae’s worldwide assistant. The second was winning the gold medals at the World Hapkido Games in 1997, 1999 and 2002. My travels have afforded me the opportunity to further my training, experi-ence other cultures and languages, compete, and teach Hapkido worldwide. To date, I have visited the following countries: South Korea; DPR North Korea; China; Japan; Finland; Sweden; Denmark; Holland/Netherlands; England; Italy; Germany; Austria; Slovenia; Croatia and; Canada. I have additionally traveled to 45 states within the U.S. I have found that the martial arts can serve as ‘the common language’ amongst people. This remains true even when politics, religion, and language serve as barriers. The martial arts really do have the power to break down walls, and ironically, to ultimately bring people together!

What are some of your most memorable moments in the martial arts?

There are so many! Among the most memorable are all of the long talks with DoJuNim Ji Han Jae on Hapkido history, his life experiences, philoso-phy, techniques and planning. I would also include: earning my black belt ranks (the old-fashioned way); winning gold medals at the World Hapkido

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Games and the All-Korean Martial Arts World Championships in full-contact fighting; winning my last full-contact kickboxing fight with Bill ‘Su-perfoot’ Wallace as my cornerman; meeting, train-ing with and enjoying dinner with General Choi Hong Hi; creating memorable moments for both myself and students each and every day; teaching, mentoring and guiding students towards their black belts and ultimate success in life.

Outside of the martial arts, what other things, including family and friends are important to you? Do you enjoy any hobbies?

My children are the most important thing in the world to me. When people ask who I consider myself to be, my answer is simple: ”I am both a father and a martial artist.” Before you can under-stand others, you must first know yourself. It is good to know who you are. My son Dustin (17) is a Tae Kwon Do black belt and is working towards his Sin Moo Hapkido rank. My daughters Heidi (15) and Tabby (13) are beautiful and are talented athletes. I am fortunate that each of my kids are honest, loving, academically inclined and physically gifted…I am indeed a proud father! Through thick and thin, it is your family that is always there. Both my mother, Babs, who I lost to cancer in 2007, and my stepfather, Don McDermott, were always there to support me every step of the way. My father D. Kenneth MacKenzie and stepmother Elisa are my biggest fans. I thank my mother for my stubborn and persistent nature and my father for my physical gifts. I am also rich in that I am surrounded by the best of friends.

My first hobby is everything martial arts. I col-lect historical pieces, traditional weapons and have accumulated a vast library. I have over 1000 books, more than 450 of which are martial arts books, many signed by the author. My grandmother was a librarian and I learned to value literature at a young age. I have also always been a classic car enthusiast. My current collection includes a 1954 Austin Healey 100-4 BN1, a 1955 Chevy, and a 1968 Jaguar XKE. I hope to someday race vintage cars. In addition, I have two other unusual hobbies: Col-lecting WWII memorabilia and pinball machines. I am also an avid swimmer, and enjoy motorcycles, camping, skateboarding and traveling.

What is your vision of the future for Korean mar-tial arts?

While Tae Kwon Do gained great popularity and continues to thrive, I believe that Hapkido/Sin-Moo Hapkido is just coming into its own. In the coming decade, I look for Sin Moo Hapkido to gain wider appeal. As the President of the ‘World Sin Moo Hapki-do Federation’ (www.WorldSinMooHapkidoFeder-ation.com), DoJuNim Ji Han Jae’s world governing body for Hapkido, I intend on expanding the art, and bringing unity to the many Hapkido/Sin Moo Hapkido factions. Regarding the future, we all have some good work to do ahead of us. As many academics would agree, mankind faces greater global challenges today than in any other time in recorded history. Disease, war, poverty, starvation, downward-spiraling global economies, global warming, etc., are but a few of the real concerns. Even with this, the martial arts spirit remains one of unshakable optimism. Optimism dictates that the best is still to come. Together, one student at a time, I believe that we as martial artists and teachers can take the lead in rebuilding this world…a better world, one student at a time.

For more complete histories on Hapkido/Sin Moo Hapkido and DoJuNim Ji Han Jae, membership in-formation and event schedules, etc., please log onto:

www.WorldSinMooHapkidoFederation.com

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