In the practice of martial arts, it is often as much about mental discipline as it is physical discipline.
Following that guidance and what he’s taught to students over the years, Seoungmin Rim, aka Master Rim decided he was going to do whatever it takes to keep his teaching going during the covid-19 pandemic.
Rim, who owns four Taekwondo gyms, two in Calgary, one in Airdrie and Red Deer, has taken up the challenge of delivering lessons online. Some live and some recorded, in order to give the best feedback possible to students.
He was skeptical at first, but it has gone off well so far.
“When our four locations closed, including our headquarters in Red Deer, it was devastating for everybody. I didn’t know what to do. I never experienced anything like that. When I was able to refocus and reorganize my thoughts, I wanted to maintain relationship and contact with my students,” Rim said.
While stuck at home, he said kids and parents alike need to do their best to get up and get active any way they can, so he was hoping to help.
“Our students can continue to train, which is beneficial for their mental health and physical fitness,” he said. “Everybody is stuck at home, myself, too. If you keep eating and don’t train, it’s hard to have self-discipline. You’re not going to be physically or mentally healthy.”
But he didn’t stop there. Rim decided that after getting most of his existing students on board, he wanted to offer his teachings to others. In doing so, not only did he feel it was important to help people with a mental and physical distraction during these tough times, but he wanted also to give back in another way.
Rim will be donating all proceeds from his latest online lessons, which are available to everybody, to Food Banks Alberta.
“Because of the support of our students, I realized, I could survive and I have food on the table but I realized who are in need more than myself and our school. So we decided to donate 100 per cent of our new student memberships toward the food bank,” Rim added.
The classes for new students are $49 for the first month, with access to virtual classes with a certified instructor as well as unlimited classes and recorded sessions.
“We need to give accessibility to as many people as possible, so we lowered the price of the Kickstarter program, kids and adults, they all need something. I strongly believe this will relieve their stress and help them to keep physically and mentally healthy,” Rim said.
For families looking into the program, more information can be found at www.masterrim.com/.
