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Karate Junction is featured in the Minnesota Park Bugle

Forget about your cares, it's time to relax at the Junction

How many high school students would opt out of their senior prom to take a test? Not many.

For Deb Hall, though, taking her black belt test some 20 years ago in Silver Bay, Minnesota, trumped the prom-- and she's never looked back.

Since then, Hall has moved up the ranks, earning a fifth- degree black belt and the designation of "Master" in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan, a traditional Korean martial art. Now the owner and chief instructor of Karate Junction at Como and Snelling, Hall remembers finding her life's calling,

"I was 15 when I began training in martial arts. I loved it from the start and I trained a lot--seven days a week." Hall's rigorous dedication paid off when she took first place in both sparring and forms.

"It was unheard of to take first place in both," said Hall who was soon instructing at the karate school where she was a student.

"Looking back, it now seems amazing: Here I was, a 17-year- old, teaching adults who were CEOs and professionals in the community. Well, my confidence just grew. They learned from me, and I learned from them." Her expertise and rank didn't come without a price, though.

"I had my nose broken, then had it re-broken to fix it. The doctor warned me not to have it broken again or else" she laughed.

What is it like being a woman in the martial arts? "The further up (in rank) you go, the fewer women there are," said Hall. "And, yes, a few men were threatened, but then, part of the training entailed handling aggressive people. I was determined early on that nobody was going to put the brakes on for me--I wouldn't let anyone break me. I had to prove to myself that I could do it. Also, our founder said that discipline goes beyond your personal feelings. This has helped me keep everything in perspective."

The confidence is now something Hall passes on to others through her school and through various seminars she holds in the community. She believes that martial arts has something for everyone and, while she has an admitted bias for her style, she stated, "All styles have something to teach you." "Soo Bahk Do should not be confused with Tae Kwon Do (another popular Korean martial art)," she said. "Soo Bahk Do is actually based on ancient fighting and dance styles, and its meaning is equivalent to 'military fighting style.'"

Soo Bahk Do, she continued, is as much about philosophy as it is about fighting technique.

"It was founded by Grandmaster Hwang Kee in Seoul in 1945, and his son is now the Grandmaster," said Hall.

"Soo Bahk Do is not a sport; it's not about win-lose. It's about being adaptable, about strengthening yourself from the inside out and learning discipline and respect. There are five elements to our training: history, tradition, philosophy, discipline/respect, and technique.

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Our history is very important, just as important as learning technique. If people come here just to fight, they'll be disappointed. This is an all- around training."

The code of behavior plays out at Karate Junction, where Hall conducts an evening class. Deb Hall, owner of Karate Junction, demonstrates a few moves.

Although some students tower over her, she clearly is in charge. Demonstrating a joint lock and a takedown on a large man, Hall is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Students bow and address her as "ma'am" when she speaks or gives direction. "That's part of the tradition of etiquette and respect," she said. Hall's students are varied.

"It's about 50-50 men and women, and I teach everyone-- kids and adults," she said. "My oldest student is 65. I have one adult student with Down syndrome, and I also have taught people at Courage Center, so I'm used to working with people of all types of abilities."

She continued, "This level-- fifth-degree black belt--is equivalent to an academic master's degree. The test was nine days of extreme mental and physical conviction and, by the last day, everything had to be perfect and you had to demonstrate what you knew

Now I am charged with perpetuating the art and contributing to my community. Our style teaches you to be responsible--to give away what you have--and I'm responsible for sharing this information. If I can help one person gain awareness, that's a good thing." Hall is especially passionate about teaching children.

"The kids that train here are encouraged to get good grades and apply what they learn--the discipline--to the entirety of their lives," she said. "I tell them that they are not here to fight, but to be peaceful. Yet, it teaches you to stand up for yourself and not be bullied."

Karate Junction offers a diversified curriculum. Besides Soo Bahk Do, there are classes and seminars in judo, Wing Chung, Samurai sword, kickboxing, Pilates and Russian kettlebells. Hall is also a personal trainer and works with individual clients.

Besides being the main instructor at Karate Junction, Hall created the Art of Leadership Foundation, a nonprofit organization that does fundraising. She just gave her first check to Harriet Tubman Women's Shelter through the foundation.

Hall invites anyone to visit Karate Junction. "This is a great thing for people who aren't or never were active in sports," she said. "At least half of my students are not athletic, but they do well.

If you are hesitant, you needn't be. Besides experiencing an all- around discipline, students are safe here since control is first and foremost."

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