Chosun Taekwondo Academy to shoot documentary in South Korea

WARWICK — Ordinary people doing extraordinary things — that’s how Master Doug Cook, owner and head instructor of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy, located on Main Street in Warwick, describes the martial arts pilgrimage he will be leading to South Korea this coming July.

With 30 local adults and teens participating, it is Master Cook’s seventh training and cultural tour to “the land of the morning calm."

But this tour will be different.

“Because of the nation’s innate beauty and the extreme challenges posed by a serious study of Korean martial arts, it has always been my desire to capture the dignity, strength and beauty of taekwondo in its nation of origin on film," Cook said. "Now, this dream will become a reality.”

Raising more than $10,000 in funds for the project in 10 days through an online Kickstarter campaign, a producer was hired, professional equipment rented and a script written to set the documentary in motion.

Vigorous training at world-renowned venues such as the Kukkiwon — center of taekwondo operations worldwide, the all-new Taekwondowon located in Muju, and Golgulsa Temple situated high in the southern mountains, will be balanced by cultural opportunities on Jeju Island and Seoul, the capital city of South Korea — all to be gathered through the lens of high-quality, digital cameras in the hands of a skilled craftsman.

Nevertheless, Cook is quick to state that the primary intent of the 2014 training and cultural tour is to further the martial arts skills of those attending and to bolster an amplified worldview of Asia in general.

“While cameras will be present during all aspects of the tour,” Cook said, “the students will be reminded to remain focused on their individual training routines and, later, to share their enthusiasm and thoughts visually.”

The hour-long documentary, tentatively titled "Taekwondo Training in Korea – Land of the Morning Calm," is targeted to be aired on public television, commercial networks featuring travel content, and at various domestic and foreign film festivals.

For more information regarding the documentary or the many comprehensive programs offered by the Chosun Taekwondo Academy, visit www.chosuntkd.com, or call 845-986-2288.