'The goal is not a full cup, but an empty cup' (22 photos)

For more than a quarter century, martial artists from around the world wishing to learn from the global grand master of the Kong Shin Bup style beat a path to Rudy Timmerman's little dojang at 181 Gore Street in Sault Ste. Marie.

Yesterday, the spiritual home of Kong Shin Bup moved from the Sault to Portland, Oregon, as Timmermans, in a surprise announcement, passed responsibility for the 3,700-member global martial arts family to his 27-year student from Portland, Chong Kwan Jang Nim Kevin Janisse.

Saja Nim Rudy Timmerman, considered the official custodian of all knowledge of Kong Shin Bup, conveyed the seals to Janisse in an historic and emotional ceremony at the Riuniti Hall.

Shown are Timmerman and the Janisse family (Matthew, Debbie, Kevin and Samuel) at Timmerman's house yesterday afternoon.

Timmerman will continue to work with Janisse to pass on all that he knows.

As reported earlier by SooToday.com, ninth-dahn black belt Timmerman turned 70 this weekend and also celebrated 60 years in the martial arts, with grand masters from around the world in town to honour him.

What was known only the grand masters was that Timmerman planned to announce the passage of the Kong Shun Bup system in the same way his master and the originator of the form passed it to him 26 years ago.

"We'll continue documenting and getting a permanent record of the whole Kong Shin Bup system," Janisse said. "Our ultimate goal is that nothing is lost of our form.... The goal is not to go to your grave with the most. The goal is to go to your grave with the least because you've passed it all on. That way, everyone else benefits from your life. The goal is to empty your cup."

Timmerman said he felt that health issues made it time for him to pass the responsibility of carrying the knowledge of his art to a younger, more fit person.

He thought about it for a long time even before discussing it with Janisse.

Timmerman said that his master, Pak In Shyuk, entrusted him with the seals to the art in 1984 so Grandmaster Pak would be free to focus more on other pursuits.

So this weekend, Timmerman did the same.

Out of respect for his master, Timmerman did not take on the title of grandmaster of Kong Shin Bup until Grandmaster Pak died in 1995, although he carried out that role in every way since he was given the seals in 1984.

"I have students in all the corners of the world," Timmerman said. "Not every country, but pretty well every region. I don't accept students in places I don't want to go and teach.... It's partly because of self-preservation but also because I don't want to sell something I can't service."

Timmerman said he could probably have many more students by now, but the demanding Kong Shin Bup style is not for everyone.

Kong Shin Bup includes training in acupressure healing techniques, meditation, breathing, forms, weapons, punching, kicking, throwing, archery, horseback riding, falling, acrobatics, joint locks, water techniques, pressure points and a broad selection of self-defense techniques designed to be totally compatible with each another.

Excellent physical conditioning is needed to execute many of the 3,600 techniques taught.

Loosely translated from Korean, Kong Shin Bup means empty cup, empty body or open mind.

It's the philosophy that one must clear his or her mind to focus completely on the task at hand, thereby accomplishing physical feats that others might find incredible.

"It's a very difficult style and not many people stick with it," Grand Master Timmerman said. "Also, I'm very picky about the students I take on."

The students he has taken under his wing have become like family to him.

Timmerman finds it difficult to step back, but he isn't going to disappear, just changing his role.

Now, he will travel once again, as he did in his youth.

But this time, instead of travelling to seek out instructors and training opportunities, he'll go as a guest to instruct other instructors.

Meanwhile, Janisse will be documenting what he's learned so far from Timmerman while tending to the family, including his own household, which holds a combined total of 12 dahns.

This weekend Janisse graduated to seventh-dahn black belt.

His wife Debbie graduated to fifth-dahn black belt, and his 16-year-old son Samuel graduated to second-dahn black belt.

Matthew Janisse is Debbie and Kevin's younger son, aged 10, and he's not quite a black belt yet, his father said.

"If I could process everything I'm feeling right now, my head would probably explode," said Janisse. "Grand Master Timmerman is not only a phenomenal teacher but a very dear friend."

Janisse says he isn't ready for the great responsibility that's before him. but he's acquiesced to the wisdom of his master, at the same time hoping for many more years of opportunity to learn from him.

Janisse said he's encouraged by the other masters, who tell him there are times when they don't feel ready either.

But with Timmerman's continued guidance, he's ready to take on the challenge with their support.

About half of the students who were tested this weekend in the Sault were successful and Timmerman was circumspect about the outcome.

"Some may quit all together," he said. "It depends on how the news is presented to them."

He said a student who has a passion for the art, a strong desire to find a way to succeed, to overcome any obstacle and who recognizes failure as an opportunity for growth, will come back, try again and probably pass the next time.

Also, if a student fails to pass his or her grading, said Timmerman, it's at least as much a failure for the instructor.

"I will go back to them [the instructors] and talk to them about how they could have done better. But for now, the student suffers for it," Timmerman said. "I always give them [students and instructors] the resources they need to succeed."

After a social yesterday at the home of one of Timmerman's students, most of the visiting masters and students departed.

The overall feeling of the weekend of intensive seminars can be summed up by one instructor who told his students: "You're probably feeling overwhelmed by all that has been thrown at you this weekend, but you will have found some things that you really like or are excited about," he said. "Write them down before you forget them."