Gary Walcher raised his son, Austin, on two
disciplines that have uncanny ‘similarities.’
When their son Austin was born, Gary and Karen Walcher were filled with joy and love, and a measure of anxiety in raising a child.
Gary Walcher hoped that he would do a good job in sharing with Austin his own life experiences. He desired to guide his son through many of the obstacles that he knew Austin would face.
Gary Walcher raised his son, Austin, on two
disciplines that have uncanny ‘similarities.’
When their son Austin was born, Gary and Karen Walcher were filled with joy and love, and a measure of anxiety in raising a child.
Gary Walcher hoped that he would do a good job in sharing with Austin his own life experiences. He desired to guide his son through many of the obstacles that he knew Austin would face.
But being a new father and unsure how prepared he was to assist his son, Walcher sought ‘tools’ to help his efforts. When Austin was 5, the Walchers turned to the traditional Korean martial art, Soo Bahk Do (SBD), taught by instructor Larry Drehs through the City of Gardena Recreation Department.
Two years later, the Walchers found the Boy Scouts of America and Austin joined the local Pack No. 785. At that time Austin’s parents didn’t recognize the similarities of the two programs, and how together SBD and BSA would reinforce each other and become crucial in their son’s development by providing a strong foundation for his entire life, Gary Walcher said.
“As a youth, I was never formally a member of the Boy Scouts of America,” Walcher said. “I wanted to join the Boy Scouts, but limited family financial resources was the primary reason I didn't join; my parents didn't have the money to pay for scout uniforms, outings, etc. “
But undeterred, Gary Walcher took advantage of his friendship with fellow Scouts to realize the benefits.
“Two of my best friends were Scouts, and their father served as Scoutmaster,” Walcher said. “As a youth I ‘unofficially’ participated in many scout outings, and always appreciated the value of scouting.”
Walcher was determined to give his son the opportunities he never had. Austin joining the Scouts was a no-brainer, Gary and Karen decided.
”Many of the tangible aspects of life are easily taught to our youth, such as how to play sports, to emphasize doing our best and to instill a perspective that it is crucial to always try to improve,” Walcher said. “Also understanding the importance of academic success, the ‘Three R’s, and exploring the ‘how’ of life… but not much is focused on the ‘why’ of life. These concepts are critical on the road we travel.”
The martial arts, as in scouting, help to develop the right philosophical outlook on life.
Walcher learned that SBD practitioners live by a code, including the eight key concepts. These include five intangible concepts: honesty, humility, courage, endurance, concentration, and three tangible concepts centered on improving self-control: control of power, speed control, and tension/relaxation.
Additionally, Soo Bahk Do’s 10 articles of mental faith and training include loyalty, obedience, loving/caring, cooperativeness, respecting the elderly, faithfulness between teachers and students and also friends, justice/honor in the face of combat (courage), never retreating and always finishing what you start.
These combined with the attributes found within the Boy Scout’s Law, which are trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendship, courteousness, kindness, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent, along with the Scout’s Oath, which is a mission statement of sorts that centers around the BSA principles, which are; honor, duty and good citizenship, help solidify this helpful ‘tool’ for Gary, SBD instructor Drehs said.
“Soo Bahk Do is a martial art that is focused on self-defense,” Drehs said. “It teaches one many different ways to gain confidence in all manner of difficult situations. As a martial art, it is centered on the art of improving one’s confidence through the martial experience. Soo Bahk Do teaches methods of how to put an end to conflict, not only the conflict between people but also the inner conflict that we all have from time to time. Soo Bahk Do is a crucial tool to help make the practitioners more successful members of society. We start from inward to improve outward.”
The Boy Scout organization teaches the youth techniques and approaches on how to be better citizens, leaders and to be the best person they can be. The Boy Scouts are very focused on the potential of its scouts.
These two organizations are like two halves of a pie, the Walchers said. The values and skills they teach are highly complementary, and became two of the primary ‘tools’ they utilize to assist their son in his quest for manhood. Soo Bahk Do and BSA have been an invaluable combination for instilling critically valuable skills and values to assist in Austin’s development as a person and a leader.
“I never had any formal martial arts training, although training in Soo Bahk Do is something I'm considering now that I've recently retired,” Walcher added.
Austin is a great success story, the elder Walcher said of his son. “He is a happy, healthy 18-year-old young man who is currently attending college as a freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in Boy Scouts. He is also an Ee dan (2nd degree black belt-equivalent) and is on the path to become an instructor in Soo Bahk Do through the Jo Kyo process, a certification program to ensure the instructor’s full potential is achieved.”
This success story has motivated many of our students to follow this path, Drehs said.
“So much so that one of our instructors at Gardena Soo Bahk Do has not only had his children join the SBD community, but also has recently started with the Boy Scouts. These locally grown ‘tools’ are a long-standing attribute to what we as fathers and parents really want and hope for our kids, to be the best at whatever they put their hearts into,” he added.
Those interested in the Gardena Soo Bahk Do or to get more information can either reach out to the city of Gardena at 310-217-9537 or directly at the school’s website and or phone number, gardenasoobahkdo.com or 310-293-8156.
