Wisdom From Oz

Johnny Dooit’s Song:

The only way to do a thing Is do it when you can, And do it cheerfully, and sing And work and think and plan.

The only real unhappy one Is he who dares to shirk; The only really happy one Is he who cares to work.

From The Road to Oz, by L. Frank Baum, 1909: In which is related how Dorothy Gale of Kansas, The Shaggy Man, Button Bright, and Polychrome the Rainbow’s Daughter met on an Enchanted Road and followed it all the way to the Marvelous Land of Oz, encountering strange people and interesting adventures along the way.

My father read to me and my sister Diane, and we later read for ourselves, all 14 Oz books written by L. Frank Baum. There were more written by others after Baum died, but they didn’t come up to the standard his books established, according to both Dad and me.

I often think of Johnny Dooit when I am engaged in manual labor; he provides inspiration. I also learned to appreciate the value of tools and a can-do attitude through him, later buttressed by real life experiences.

The first book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the unforgettable movie made of it in 1939, are essential parts of my childhood. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” sung by Judy Garland, never fails to evoke tender feelings in me.

But, there is so much more to the full story of Oz. Here are the 14 books, in publication date order:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904) Ozma of Oz (1907) Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (1908) The Road to Oz (1909) The Emerald City of Oz (1910) The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1913)

Tik-Tok of Oz (1914) The Scarecrow of Oz (1915) Rinkitink in Oz (1916) The Lost Princess of Oz (1917) The Tin Woodman of Oz (1918) The Magic of Oz (1919, posthumous) Glinda of Oz (1920, posthumous)

You can access the text of all of these books online, here.

In addition to The Road to Oz another favorite of mine is Rinkitink in Oz, King Rinkitink of Gilgad is a Falstaffian character who rides a surly billy goat who talks, of course, and in a most disrespectful manner to everyone, including especially the king. There is a young man, the Prince of Pingaree, who accompanies the King to Oz, in order to escape his kingdom’s enemies and to seek help from the ruler of Oz. The Prince has three magic pearls that figure in his ability to overcome great dangers on his trip to Oz.

Prince Inga’s father, King Kitticut, had told him, before the King and Queen were captured by enemies: “Each of the three possesses an astonishing power, and whoever is their owner may count himself a fortunate man. This one having the blue tint will give to the person who carries it a strength so great that no power can resist him. The one with the pink glow will protect its owner from all dangers that may threaten him, no matter from what source they may come. The third pearl — this one of pure white — can speak, and its words are always wise and helpful.” To add spice to the story, the Prince has trouble hanging on the the pearls as he, King Rinkitink and Bilbil the goat search for the the safety and the help of the Land of Oz.

A major point in this book is that Dorothy Gale of Kansas is not the main character, as she is in so many others–and he is a boy. There is another book where the main character starts out, from our view, as a boy but is later transformed back into his original condition as Ozma, The Royal Princess of Oz. This occurs in the second Oz book, The Marvelous Land of Oz, the only book in which Dorothy Gale does not appear.

One of my favorite characters is introduced in this second book: “H.M. Wogglebug, T.E.” whom you see lecturing the assembled characters in the image on the left. H.M. stands for Highly Magnified (he escaped from a professor’s magnifying apparatus) and T.E. means Thoroughly Educated (after all, he was a living specimen for students and therefore lived at a university). This character exhibits all the pomposity and windiness of the quintessential caricature of a professor. I think Dad and I saw ourselves in him.

Dad started the tradition of collecting, keeping and passing along the Oz books to the generation that follows. Some of the books I held as a young boy (and my sister, as a younger girl) are now in the possession of my niece Vicki and her two daughters Shawna and Megan; and, also my youngest daughter Analiese and her nieces, my 7- and 11-year-old granddaughters Sydney and Sonya.

As you may sense, I could go on and on about the many and surprising array of characters in the Oz books, not all of them nice people, or even people at all.

I urge to read one to see if you can resist reading others, no matter what your age.

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The “Karate Girls” and Taekwondo

Sonya and Sydney prepared for their twice-weekly karate training

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In Korean, tae is to kick, jump, or strike with the foot; kwon is fist, or to strike with the hand; do is the way or the art. Together they became tae kwon do, the art of kicking and punching, using bare feet and hands as weapons. [Source]

A two thousand year old martial art form, Tae Kwon Do is one of the most popular forms of martial artistry. Tae Kwon Do brings forth traditional Korean combat in “the art of kicking and punching.” Practitioners employ a variety of blocks, kicks, punches, and open handed strikes in competition, training, and sparring. The combination of kicks that are employed is one of the characteristics of Tae Kwon Do martial artistry that sets apart from other forms of traditional Asian combat.

Early Koreans first developed Tae Kwon Do techniques as a compliment to their weaponry skills, making them versatile warriors and formidable foes. For hundreds of years, Korean martial artistry underwent mainstream changes, innovations, and cultural influences without settling into a definitive art form. In 1909, Japan came to occupy Korea, thus influencing Korean culture, including martial arts. Following World War II, Korean martial artists returned to a purer form of Tae Kwon Do without the outside influences Japanese martial art forms. During the 1950’s, modern Tae Kwon Do was developed. [Source]

I visit my grandchildren in San Jose, California at least once per year. Last year I was mildly surprised to learn they were both, then at ages 6 and 9, taking lessons in the TAEKWONDO form of “karate” (although, strictly speaking, this isn’t a Japanese form as the word karate implies).

I was thrilled to see them at their exercises, seriously intent on performing as well as their young bodies would allow them, under the well-defined, consistent and loving leadership of Mr. Moore, their teacher. I was even more impressed by the written and verbal discipline encompassing all the young students, around 20 per class by my observation.

[Image Source]

Upon entering the classroom all visitors are encouraged, and the students are required, to shout out “Hello Sir! Hello Ma’am!” This is the greeting to Mr. Moore and Miss Rose, his associate, both in proper Taekwondo attire. One takes one’s foot covering off before walking on the exercise mat that covers the most of the room. Visiting observers can forgo this by sitting on chairs just outside the mat’s perimeter. Before walking on the mat, barefoot, one bows in respect to the spirit of the room.

All persons are greeted by all others as “Mr.” and “Miss” or “Mrs.”

At the beginning and end of each class the students shout out these commandments which are inscribed on the mirrored wall of the classroom:

Sir! I will practice in the spirit of Taekwondo, with courtesy for fellow students, loyalty for my instructor, and respect for my juniors and seniors, Sir!

Sir! I will live in perseverance in the spirit of Taekwondo Having Honor with others Integrity within myself and self control in my actions Sir!

Mr. Moore and Miss Rose

Mr. Brett Moore appears to be in his early to mid-20s. His upper exercise garment bears this legend on the back: “Mr. B. Moore, California State Champion 2005, ATA”

On one day, every six weeks, the students, when entering upon the main exercise mat, will encounter a small mat on which is inscribed the lesson for the session. After bowing to the spirit of the room, the student will shout out the word or phrase on the mat:

Respect
(“it’s not what you know, it what you do!”)

Discipline
(“is to obey what is right”)

Self-Esteem
(“is the joy of being myself”)

Communication
(“is the link between the world and me”)

Belief
(“yes I can!”)

(Followed by “Sir!”)

On the outside windows of the classroom, visible in the photo above, are these words:

Karate for Kids Goal setting Self confidence Respect Self control

Karate for Adults Self Defense Fitness Stress reduction Weight Control

Victory Martial Arts was founded in 1993 by four-time World Champion Senior Master Von Schmeling. Three years later Victory Martial Arts (VMA) was named “School of the Year” by the American Taekwondo Association. VMA now has 23 schools and over 400 students. The stated purpose of VMA includes this: “Beyond attaining physical fitness and practicing self-defense, our philosophy in the teaching of martial arts (has) the fundamental goal to shape successful human beings—true champions—who will help create a better world.”

“Honesty is the first step to an abundant life.” (Senior Master Sergio Von Schmeling)

Now visiting more than a year later I am proud to say that both girls have advanced in their “belt” levels and continue to derive satisfaction from their discipline.

It is very heartening to this older fellow to see sound values and discipline being instilled in the young people who will be the workers, voters and leaders of tomorrow.

Thank you Mr. Moore, Sir!

Thank you Miss Rose, Ma’am!

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Victory Martial Arts
1375 Blossom Hill Road, #69
San Jose, Ca 952118
tel. 408-269-5425
AlmadenValley@VictoryMA.com

http://www.VictoryMA.com