May 5, 2020:
Yesterday we began grieving the loss of our dear friend, counselor, teacher, confidant, and martial arts master, Master Lim.
I first met Master Lim when I was 25 years old, and he and his son have been teaching my family his martial art, Moo Lim Do, since early 2015. In many ways Master Lim has been like a father to us (and his son like a brother). I had frequently gone to him for help and advice on many of life’s turbulent turns, and had shared with him many of our most private family matters, and hid nothing from him whenever he asked questions. I often would seek his wisdom on what he felt like I should do as I met each challenge of life, and his insights were often profound.
Master Lim was Presbyterian, and a man of deep and unshakable faith in God. As our families came to know one another more deeply, he would occasionally share his faith and conviction in God with my family, and this created an opportunity for us to learn in many different ways that we will never forget. He has blessed my family in ways that will last forever.
Before coming to the USA in the 1970’s, Master Lim survived two wars— the Korean War, and the Vietnam War (where he taught Martial Arts to the Korean Special Forces, and fought on the side of the USA). He brought his family from Korea in the 1970’s and sought for and acquired US Citizenship at that time. During the 1980’s he was widely considered by the Korean Kuk Sool Wan Association to be one of the world’s best martial artists.
We will deeply miss him, and it is our desire to honor his memory by continuing his art, through his son Master Il.
The Korean culture bows to one another rather than shakes hands, and in Korean, the command “Chai Yut, Kwan Jang Nim Ge Te He, Kyung Net” means “Attention, Face the Master, Bow”.
To you, Master Lim, we will be eternally grateful.
Chai Yut, Kwan Jang Nim Ge Te He, Kyung Net!