A NEW form of martial art called Tong-IL-Moo-Do has started in Honiara with hopes to demonstrate the art in the upcoming 2023 Pacific Games.
Tong-IL-Moo-Do (TMD) Oceania chief instructor and adviser Master Seti Suafa told Star Sports that TMD is a unified martial art that is centered on the Unification Church philosophy and ideology (unification principle).
Master Suafa said it is technically a mixed martial art that has started 40 years ago in Seoul, Korea.
Master Suafa, who is based in Samoa, is in Honiara following the invitation of New Hope Academy School to introduce Tong-IL-Moo-Do in its school curriculum.
He said the school wanted to include it because martial art creates the culture of respect – respect for teachers, peers, siblings – to achieve a better environment for learning.
He said some countries like the Philippines, United States and Korea have done it and have received positive feedback.
“I hope that we can put TMD in our school system here (Solomon Islands) as the main tool to introduce to the different martial arts as well,” Master Suafa said.
Master Suafa is a TMD black belt and while in Honiara he is conducting TMD classes at New Hope Academy School for interested members of the public as well as New Hope Academy School’s 350 students.
The annual membership fee is $30 to become member of the World Tong-IL-Moo-Do Federation (Solomon Islands Chapter) Martial Arts Federation and International Association of Youth and Students for Peace.
Meanwhile, Master Suafa said for TMD to be demonstrated in the 2023 Pacific Games “would be great”.
However, he said the focus now is to include it in the school system and hopefully “the school will have a chance to demonstrate TMD at the games”.
The TMD form of martial art was introduced in 1979 by Dr Seuk in Korea and inspired by Reverend Sun Myung Moon. Today the art is now established in over 60 countries worldwide.
In Solomon Islands it was first introduced in 2003.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
