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Grand Master Suk Byung Park

Grand Master Park was a 5 time Korean National Judo Champion on his way to the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich when his arm was broken in a Judo match. Since that time, Grand Master Park has devoted his time and talents to teaching the martial arts; first as a professor at Youngin University in Seoul Korea, then as head coach of the Netherlands Judo Team and for the last twenty plus years in Billings, MT.

Grand Master Park is the living embodiment of the Olympic spirit. Grand Master Park's all encompassing philosophy is Jungdo. Jungdo is a Korean word translating to: right seeing, right thinking, right understanding, right doing.

With these words Grand Master Park was nominated to carry the Olympic Torch.

Following an old tradition, the flame that is the symbol of the Olympic Spirit, is ignited with mirrors. From Olympia Greece, the flame traveled to Atlanta GA, site of the 2000 Olympic Games. In Atlanta the first torch was lit by Muhammud Ali. From Ali’s torch, the flame was passed from hand to hand until the flame arrived in Salt Lake City where the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team ignited the flame of the XIX Winter Olympic Games.

And between Ali’s hands and those of the 1980 Hockey Team, the Olympic Flame traveled around the United States. On January 27th, the flame traveled through Yellowstone National Park on a snow coach.

The next day dawned white and cold in Billings. While shoveling snow in front of Park’s Martial Arts Academy, it seemed fitting that the Olympic flame was greeted by a snowy winter day.

Grand Master Park’s students, friends and family began lining up two hours early in the 10° evening air to be there when GM Park received the flame. One of GM Park’s original judo students from 1978, Michael Moore, came all the way from Rocky River Ohio to be there. Two of GM Park’s black belts held up a banner that said, “Congratulations Torchbearer Suk Byung Park.” The rest of us waved Olympic flags and cheered wildly. About 7PM, GM Park received the flame. He turned in recognition to all those students, family, friends and admirers, held the torch up high for all of us to see, and was off and running one of the final legs of the Billings Torch Relay. As he finished his leg of the torch relay, we could see the fireworks in the sky over the Billings Metra Convention Center and a light snow began to fall.

Talking about the torch run a few days later over dinner, GM Park said the Torch Relay was important to him because he got to share it with his students. As one of the many students, I say, "Thank you Grand Master Park for sharing!"

Steve Cropley, 4th Dan

last updated: 01/08/2008