Shop Talk is a weekly column featuring locally owned and operated businesses. This week, we talk to Raymond Mannion, the head instructor of Oneonta Taekwon-Do in Oneonta.
How long have you lived in the area?
I'm originally from Suffern, New York, but my family and I moved here in 2003.
Tell me about your business:
We teach original, traditional taekwondo. Taekwondo is an unarmed Korean martial art, which was given its name in 1955 and has become one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world. It's not only kicking and punching, but a way of thinking and living. Our students experience improved awareness and self-control while developing self-defense skills and flexibility, and losing weight.
Describe a typical day in your business:
Our classes begin with stretching and a little warm-up to get the body loosened up. We spend some time trying to master punching, kicking and blocking. Then, we take turns hitting the heavy bag and other target pads. We practice the original taekwondo patterns, such as Chon Ji, Dan-Gun and Do-San. We usually end class with some drills for self-defense or free-fighting.
Where do you see this business in five years?
In five years, we will have several black belts and between 40 and 140 students. Having hundreds of students practicing taekwondo is going to have an impact on the community, because it changes people. The tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and the indomitable spirit are learned and internalized, and therefore carry over into people's lives and businesses.
How did you get started in this line of work?
I started taekwondo training when I was a teacher in South Central Los Angeles. It was just after the riots, so I thought self-defense would be a good idea. When I relocated back to New York, I found a teacher I consider to be brilliant. Grandmaster Suk Jun Kim is a ninth-degree black belt, and was my teacher for about 10 years before I moved to Oneonta.
Just over five years ago, I ran a classified ad looking for people with whom I could practice taekwondo. A man named Brian Davis responded to my ad and we started training together. He is now a second-degree black-belt. After gaining a few students, we decided to rent a studio underneath the Autumn Café in August 2007, which has allowed us to grow to over 20 students.
Describe a memorable moment in your workplace:
Two summers ago, we attended a camp with 70 other students ages 5 to 65. The most memorable part of it was reading essays written by my students. Reading how my students have benefited from practicing taekwondo was very rewarding and fulfilling. I know my master instructor was smiling when he read them, because it is obvious that his teachings have passed down to my students through me.
What is the hardest thing you have to do?
For me, the hardest thing is helping new students earn their first belt promotion. In the beginning, things feel very awkward and people are worried about looking foolish. I do my best to work with new students by giving them two private lessons in the beginning and then slowly introducing new techniques during class.
Another important part of being a good teacher is resisting the urge to teach too much. Students have plenty of time to learn and master the various techniques and develop personally. If I try to teach too much, students get turned off. So, it's hard to know when to teach and when to let the student figure it out for him- or herself.
The most enjoyable?
Seeing the students get promoted. Nobody is given a belt without earning it. The students understand this. Only by practicing and mastering the techniques can students get promoted.
How do you define success for your business?
I know I have done my job when I see my senior students treating new students the way I would want to be treated. My master instructor ran a school where discipline was taught by way of example rather than through lecturing or yelling at people.To me, success is seeing students demonstrate a passion for taekwondo practice.
What are some advantages/drawbacks of doing business in this area?
If I depended on taekwondo to earn a living, it would be a drawback living in such a small town.
I think the intimacy of downtown Oneonta offers a tremendous advantage. In addition, I think the people in Oneonta are generally well-mannered and respectful. This makes it easier to train them as martial artists.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
Martial arts schools are like colleges. Students have to spend a little time at the different schools to get a sense of what each has to offer. Our ways of teaching and practicing are different than other schools in the area, but all martial arts are dedicated to self-improvement through self-discipline and the practice of self-defense. Being a part of an international organization under the guidance of my grandmaster offers us a large family of support. Students can go to California or Australia and be welcomed with open arms in another school.
What advice would you give to someone trying to enter your field of work?
Many martial artists become teachers because they want to break away from their instructors. So, to someone thinking of starting a school, I would ask them to consider their intentions and motivation. In my opinion, the purpose of having a school is to further the teaching of our master instructors. Make sure you can focus on the growth of your students and place that above personal attainment.
Teaching can also take away your time for personal practice. I think a teacher has to first and foremost remain a good student and dedicated practitioner. My advice would be to make sure you schedule time for your own development.
For more information about Shop Talk, contact Cassandra Miller at cmiller@thedailystar.com or call 432-1000, . 255.
