OU's School of Wisdom

Ohio University has many schools on its campus in Athens, Ohio. The School of Accountancy, School of Music, School of Nursing to name a few.

But, three times a week a handful of students partake in Ohio University’s “School of Wisdom.”

“Jido Kwan roughly means ‘way of wisdom school,’” said Dr. Greg Waller, the instructor and faculty advisor of Ohio University’s Tae Kwon Do Club.

The club has roughly ten members who attend the club’s sessions two or three times a week that are held in the combative arts room in Ping Center at the Ohio University campus.

Tae Kwon Do developed in the mid 1900’s and has deep Korean roots.

“My master, Kaebae Chun, came from South Korea to the U.S. to spread Tae Kwon Do,” Waller said.Chun focused on the traditional forms of Tae Kwon Do which Waller passes down to his students.

In an effort to make Tae Kwon Do an Olympic event, schools dropped traditional forms and focused on sparing according to Waller. Chun had even been asked to be an Olympic coach for the U.S. but declined, saying, “What I teach is an art form, not a sport,” according to Waller.

Waller, who started training in Tae Kwon Do in 1982 and is currently a 5th dan black belt in Jido Kwan, said, “I’ve tried to keep my master's philosophy and teach it to the students here to not only make them stronger physically but mentally.”