Korean immigrant finds American dream alive and well

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers CORRECT FORM—Yong Shin, right, gently spars with Logan Farrell, 9, during a white-belt class earlier this month at Shin's Tae Ryong Taekwondo School in Camarillo. It was nearly 30 years ago when Yong Shin left family and friends behind in his native Korea in search of a new life in America.

But his dream of success would prove more daunting than he could have imagined: The young immigrant lived in a cardboard box for months after arriving in Los Angeles.

A minister who discovered Shin living behind his Koreatown church found him a home and a job. But Shin, who could not speak English, knew working for minimum wage in a sewing factory would not put him on the path to his dream—teaching tae kwon do in his own studio as he'd done in Korea.

Determined to achieve his goal, Shin took on two additional jobs, leaving him with only four hours a day for sleep. To keep expenses low, he ate one meal a day—a hamburger—except when his church served food after Sunday services.

Two and a half years later, with nearly $5,000 saved, Shin went to a bank for a business loan but was turned down. In Korea he'd owned a successful business, but in America he had no credit history. Shin confided his problem to a church member, who loaned him $3,000 and co-signed on a loan at the very bank that had rejected him earlier.

Working during the day and searching for a building to rent at night, Shin eventually discovered a small storefront on Pickwick Drive in Camarillo. Despite being a day laborer with no credit rating and earning minimum wage, Shin convinced the building owner, who came from an immigrant family, that he would be successful. The owner took a chance and, in August 1982, Master Shin, at the time a sixth-degree black belt, opened the 800square-foot Tae Ryong Taekwondo School. (The title of "master" is generally earned at the fourth-degree level.)

Unable to afford rent on both an apartment and the studio, Shin lived for a while in the warehouse behind the studio, pumping gasoline during the day at an Oxnard station and distributing advertising fliers at night.

Branching out

Word spread about the new classes being offered, and his clientele began to build.

In a few years, Shin had so many students that he had to expand into the warehouse in back and, later, the vacant space next door.

Today, the 5,000-square-foot Tae Ryong Taekwondo School has about 600 students, said Shin, 55, who taught himself to speak English. He opened a Thousand Oaks studio in 1994.

Tae kwon do is popular because it promotes discipline, focus and a positive attitude, Shin said. His students learn not only self-defense but a way of life. The name "tae kwon do" comes from the Korean words for "foot," "fist" and "discipline" and suggests using the body to stop fights and encourage peace.

Over the years, Shin has been a high-ranking official with a state tae kwon do organization, an Olympic-level referee, and the coach and manager for several state and national teams in worldclass competitions. Shin was also an official U.S. team delegate at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

But Shin wanted to concentrate on teaching the next generation of tae kwon do enthusiasts, so after the Olympics he resigned from all of his positions. Business has been booming ever since.

He opened a school in Simi Valley earlier this year and expects to open another in Bakersfield by the end of the year.

Method and philosophy

His teaching method and philosophy are the reasons that Shin's schools appear to be thriving while other tae kwon do studios have folded, according to two of his instructors and one of his students.

Nick Quan was 6 when his parents decided learning tae kwon do from Shin would give him focus and structure. Shin teaches his young students to respect their parents and teachers, to behave themselves in and out of the studio and to get good grades in school. Shin lauds students who do so; those who don't risk losing a belt, a blow any student wants to avoid, Shin said.

Quan, who's now 28, said he appreciated what he was learning and, to be at the studio more often, began working for Shin, first by cleaning the school, then helping instructors.

"I saw nothing but success if I kept it up," said Quan, a college graduate and general manager of the Camarillo school.

Shin's philosophy of respect and mental discipline influenced the direction Chad Moore and his brother, John, chose for their lives. About 15 years ago in their Massachusetts hometown, the brothers joined a tae kwon do class that was taught by a former student of Shin's. The instructor had received Shin's blessing to teach his techniques and philosophy, a customary gesture of respect.

In 1994, when Chad and others in the class attained firstdegree black belt, Shin invited them to California for a visit. Impressed, Shin offered Chad a job as an instructor. Chad worked for Shin until last year, when he opened his own studio in Saugus. Chad, now a fifth-degree black belt, perpetuates Shin's philosophy and techniques at his studio, which also bears the Tae Ryong name.

In 2000, when John came out for a visit, his brother's success inspired him to take up tae kwon do again. John stayed in California and trained under Shin. Two years later, he earned a black belt and began working for Shin.

"Our lives changed because of the opportunity Master Shin presented to us," said John, now a third-degree black belt. "It's turned into something bigger and better than we could have ever envisioned at the time."

Shin teaches not only the physical aspect of tae kwon do but also its mental discipline, John said.

"His style of teaching is second to none," he said.

'Never give up'

In the five years that Lisa Sullivan has been taking classes at Shin's Camarillo studio, she's gone through a divorce and watched family members struggle with devastating illnesses. Tae kwon do classes, the close friends she's made there and Shin's example of triumph over circumstances has helped her through it all.

"It's really an honor to have him as our instructor," said Sullivan, who's advanced to the point of assisting tae kwon do instructors in class. "He's been an inspiration to many, many students."

Shin said his experience of working hard to become successful after moving to a foreign country, where he didn't speak the language or have family, money or a job, makes him the right person to tell students young and old of the importance of setting shortand long-term goals.

"Never give up what you started," Shin said.

Not one to be idle, Shin— who earned the title of Grand Master when one of his students became a Master—has continued his advancement in the sport. On Oct. 31, he tested and earned the ninthdegree black belt at the World Taekwondo Federation headquarters in Seoul, Korea.

"I came home with a happy face," Shin said. "The only change is my pride—I reached the top."

What does the future hold? Shin said he's satisfied with life— happy to have more time to spend with his wife and two teenage sons. But he hasn't slowed down much. Shin teaches one day a week at each of his three schools and at Chad's Saugus studio. But no matter what, Shin said, he'll remain devoted to his students and the sport he loves.

"Tae kwon do is my life," he said.