Click Thumbnails to View Larger Photos
The Songahm Vision Tour began at the birthplace of the American Taekwondo Association, Omaha, Nebraska with the man responsible for bringing the Eternal Grand Master to America, Chief Master Richard Reed.
Approximately 200 black belts from the Nebraska-Iowa-Kansas-Missouri region attended the landmark ceremony to honor the Vision of Songahm Taekwondo, Grand Master Soon Ho Lee's lifetime of service to the students and instructors, and to welcome Chief Master In Ho Lee as the Grand Master Nominee. Also in attendance were special guests and Founders' Council Members, Chief Master Robert Allemier and Chief Master Bill Clark. Other high-ranking seniors were Chief Masters Robert Jager and Steve Westbrook, Senior Masters Roger Terrell, Daniel Longoria, Jack Wenenn, & 7th Degree Masters Mark Prosser, Mike Kassebaum, and Shane Sanders. In total, 18 Songahm Masters were in attendance to usher in the ceremony.
The event began with a video introduction of the Songahm Vision Tour. This incredible video tells the story of how one single idea can become the world's largest martial arts organization with the right vision, leadership, and discipline. This was followed by the traditional workout of Songahm One led by Grand Master Soon Ho Lee in the 4 directions of the Earth: East, West, North, and South. Songahm One in the 4 directions of the Earth was a tradition started by the Eternal Grand Master Haeng Ung Lee in 1983 atop Songahm Mountain when the new philosophy of the Pine Tree-Rock and the poomsaes were introduced. The Eternal Grand Master's desire was to spread Songahm throughout the world in all directions of the Earth.
The Grand Master Nominee - Chief Master In Ho Lee - took the class and led the students to a high-powered, energetic Taekwondo workout. His class planner included sparring drills, traditional taekwondo drills, and over 100 push-ups! Students in attendance were heard saying "I haven't had a workout like that in a long time..."
After the workout with the Grand Master Nominee, the students sat down to watch the video introduction of the traditional Soap and Candle Light Ceremony along with a description of the Scrolls of Songahm. The Grand Master Nominee then lit his candle from the flame of Grand Master Soon Ho Lee's Candle to symbolize the flame of knowledge was being passed onto him. At the end of the ceremony, all of the black belts were given a commemorative Songahm Vision Tour Candle. They were asked, "what will you do with the Songahm Flame of Knowledge? How will you continue the vision started here in Omaha?"
All of the 5th Degree Black Belts and higher rank were also invited to partake in the signing of the Scrolls of Songahm. They were given an original copy of the scrolls signed in Omaha.
The final portion is the element of the Master Ceremony and the Songahm Star Presentation. The video explained the Master Ceremony and how the Grand Master Nominee – Chief Master In Ho Lee will perform one of the 9 steps from the Master Ceremony, at each Tour stop. As it is with the traditional Master Ceremony, the first step is "Vision", the Sounding of the Gong. The Grand Master Nominee sounded the gong 9 times, slowly, to begin the Songahm Vision Tour. This ceremonial element was followed by Chief Master Richard Reed's presentation of the first piece Songahm Star. At the end of the Songahm Vision Tour, should Chief Master In Ho Lee fulfill his journey to Grand Mastership, he will have attained 8 pieces of the Songahm Star. At the World Championships in June, 2011, he will be presented the last piece of the Songahm Star which will physically be pieced together on stage during the Opening Ceremonies.
Following the Songahm Star Presentation, Grand Master Soon Ho Lee presented a piece of calligraphy art to Chief Master Richard Reed. The calligraphy was performed live and took 10 minutes to complete. This very special piece of art is created in "Han Jah" or old-style traditional Korean characters. The meaning of the characters was translated by Grand Master Soon Ho Lee as "the birthplace of the American Taekwondo Association." It was a gift of gratitude from the Grand Master to Chief Master Reed.
Senior Masters Terrell and Longoria then made a special presentation to Grand Master Soon Ho Lee on behalf of the Masters from the region, to show their appreciation for the lifetime of sacrifice and leadership he had given to them as the Grand Master. The special plaque symbolized the Past, Present and Future with the pictures of the Eternal Grand Master, Grand Master Soon Ho Lee, and the Grand Master Nominee – Chief Master In Ho Lee.
The event in Omaha ended with an autograph session. Grand Master Lee and Chief Master In Ho Lee spent another hour meeting 200 black belts and parents. Then, the region's school owners hosted a delicious barbeque lunch to the special Masters in attendance. The kickoff event of the Songahm Vision Tour ended where it all began, a quick visit to the original location of the first ATA School ever built in Omaha.