Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles (Master Kim) and Jennifer Kim.
Charles (Master Kim) and Jennifer, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Master Kim: We’re a non-profit educational organization celebrating our 45th anniversary in Chicago this year! Back in 1972, my late father founded The Peace School here in Chicago. I worked side by side with him. He was a lifelong meditator and martial art Grand Master. Before coming to the United States, he had a school with branches all over South Korea but suffered from severe health issues as a very young man. He credited his full recovery to yoga and breathing techniques. After that experience, my father included the practice of yoga in all of his school’s martial art classes, unheard of at the time. He spent decades researching the origin of martial art and taught that its purpose was to create a strong body and mind in order to accomplish something positive for society and the world. His schools in Korea did not follow other Tae Kwon Do schools into the newly forming tournament system, as he saw the practice as a deeply meaningful art, not as sport or competition. My father meditated for several hours every day and was determined to come up with a meditation method more compatible with today’s busy lifestyles. Peace Breathing was the result of his life’s practice and research. He founded The Peace School because he truly believed that individual peace and world peace are intertwined, and that every person has both the ability and responsibility to help create peace. This continues to be the foundation of our classes, programs and activities. All this to say that we have a long and profound history!
Jennifer: We’ve got a great team of instructors who have trained here for 20+ years and who are just as dedicated as we are to the mission of The Peace School. It is thanks to this team and our volunteer base that we are thriving on Lincoln Avenue today.
Has it been a smooth road?
Master Kim: Over 45 years we have seen all kinds of changes. Martial art was booming when we opened in the early 1970’s, then interest declined, then came back again. We’ve seen similar ups and downs with yoga. Another challenge has been trying to overcome misconceptions some people have about meditation, and the difficulty people have with seeing the connection between peace and martial art. Another concept that can be hard for people to grasp is how individual peace of mind is connected to peace within society and within the world.
Jennifer: As a non-profit we have always kept our class pricing low, in service to the community. Things have not always been easy financially.
Fundamentally we are not business oriented. Instead we are focused on our mission of helping people learn how to live, experience and practice peace. That can make things challenging from a business perspective, but the mission has been strong enough to pull us through the lean times.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Master Kim: Our main classes here are Peace Breathing Meditation, Peace Yoga and Traditional Tae Kwon Do. People appreciate that Peace Breathing Meditation is simple to practice no matter your age, background, lifestyle or previous experience. It’s based on scientific principles and is not a religious practice. Our Peace Yoga classes embody what I feel is the true spirit of yoga, that of creating the energy of peace within our entire being. People feel rejuvenated and refreshed as they stretch, breathe and let the body deeply relax. Those looking for a workout get that and more in Traditional Tae Kwon Do classes. Each class starts with Peace Yoga. Tae Kwon Do’s vigorous, energizing and dynamic movements are challenging and forceful, and at the same time an expression of great peace. Men, women and children are all welcome and we have families that practice together. As a traditional martial art, we emphasize that this practice is not used for fighting, rather it is for developing the internal strength of peace. We also teach a separate course in Self-Defense for Women, providing effective moves as well as important safety tips.
Jennifer: Offsite we offer Peace Yoga at suburban park districts in Arlington Heights, Lincolnwood, Oak Lawn and Skokie. Back in the 1970’s we created a modified program that we still teach in nursing homes and senior centers. We often give offsite workshops at corporations and organizations ranging from Peace Breathing & Yoga to Stress Reduction to Self-Defense, and we have an after-school Tae Kwon Do program at a nearby elementary school. In 1978, we started our largest community project when we founded Peace Day in Chicago. We are proud to work in cooperation with the United Nations which established the International Day of Peace a few years later. Every year since 1978 we have put on a large public Peace Day event with the city, focused on peace for individuals, families, schools, neighborhoods, cities, nations and the entire world. We formed the Chicago Build the Peace Committee in 2008 and work with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, Consular Corps of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, ethnic and cultural organizations, and many others to expand the reach of Peace Day. Don’t miss this year’s event on September 22nd in Daley Plaza!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Master Kim: Chicago is in the heart of the United States. What better place to bring practices of peace! Unfortunately, people around the world associate Chicago with violence. But there are many hard-working and dedicated people and organizations doing their part for peace. There is always room for more peace workers.
Jennifer: The Peace School’s late founder always talked about making Chicago a Model City of Peace. Peace is related to all facets of life, so I think that any business or organization can find ways to make peace a focus in what they do.
Pricing:
- Peace Breathing Meditation for Beginners: 6-week course includes Peace Breathing book. $120
- Peace Yoga: 3 levels, Packages available. $10 drop-in.
- Traditional Tae Kwon Do for men, women and children, includes Peace Yoga. Packages available. $15 drop-in.
- Self-Defense for Women: 5-week course $75.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3121 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago IL 60657
- Website: peaceschool.org
- Phone: 773-248-7959
- Email: info@peaceschool.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/PeaceSchool
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