Masters in Focus - Master Philip Ameris

Master Ameris - Karim, Thank you for taking the time to conduct this interview.

Karim Belgacem – One of your main responsibilities as AIMAA Technical Director is to plan and prepare our bi-annual camp. What can the students attending the 2010 Summer Camp expect?

Master Ameris – The 2010 AIMAA summer camp will be by far our best yet! First off it is the 30th anniversary of the AIMAA and also Grandmaster Cho's 70th birthday. Next, as always, the classes will be filled with outstanding instructors
teaching a wide variety of subjects. Master Darcy, Master Byrne as well as
Master Kirkwood and I will be teaching at least two classes each and the
highlight of the entire week is that Grandmaster Cho will also be teaching!

As far as the venue goes, Washington DC is one of the nation's most beautiful
places. There is so much to do and see and it is truly a great opportunity
for everyone to have a great time in our nation's capital. The University is
really nice and will be a great place to train. Camp will run from 8:00 am
till noon each day and then the rest of the day can be spent sightseeing and
having fun.

Karim Belgacem - You will become the first person in AIMAA history to test for the 8th degree at the camp. How are your preparations going?

Master Ameris – I felt very honoured when Grandmaster Cho told me I was testing at the summer camp and also a little surprised! One of the really important things students of the AIMAA should see is that each master who is 6th degree or higher has physically tested for the rank. Everyone sees them test. There is no such thing in the AIMAA as just being promoted or self promotion after so many years. This is an extremely important aspect of the AIMAA which I think sets us apart from many other marital arts organizations. I have designed a workout program that is in 3 month increments. Each ninety days I am changing my workout routine to improve a different aspect of my testing requirements. As always running and working out hard is something that has been instilled in each of the current AIMAA masters from Grandmaster Cho’s outstanding example.

I will do my very best on the day of testing and in preparation for the test to hopefully inspire younger students of the AIMAA to keep training hard and keep the standards that Grandmaster Cho has set in place for many years to come.

Karim Belgacem - What does testing for such a grade mean to you?

Master Ameris - It means so much but the most important thing for me is to honour Grandmaster Cho as his senior student and to never let him down. I have been with Grandmaster Cho the longest out of any student. I have learned so much from him and he is truly like a second father to me. I have been there and seen so many things that he has done not only on the physical side of Tae Kwon Do but more importantly how he has treated people. His heart is as big as the sky is wide, and his generosity is unbelievable. A lot of people have criticised myself and Master Darcy for being too loyal but I know I can speak for Master Darcy when I say it is not blind loyalty, it is the utmost respect for honouring our teacher for all he has done for us and given of himself for his students. It is due to appreciation, respect and love that we hold him in such high esteem.

Karim Belgacem - What has been the most important thing Tae Kwon Do has taught you?

Master Ameris - I thank God every day for the gift of Taekwondo. It has been the driving force in my life to over come what life can throw at you. I have been
training in the martial arts since I was 8 years old, I am now 47. It is
impossible for me to separate Taekwondo from my life because it is my life.

 
When I hear people saying that they are retiring from Tae Kwon Do it is hard
for me to understand that, because that is who you are. As long as there is
a breath in my body I will always be doing Taekwondo.

Karim Belgacem - With Grandmaster Cho's European Tour in mind and for those students new to AIMAA who have perhaps never trained or met the Grandmaster - what can they expect to learn from him?

Master Ameris - If you want to see what a TRUE master of the marital arts is do not miss this seminar. This is most likely the last time Grandmaster will be in Europe doing a seminar. His skills, even approaching 70, are unparalleled.

Just the other day I called him and he was training as always in the Do-jang. What can a student expect? The best, to be inspired, to be motivated, to see a legend!

Karim Belgacem - What is the most important thing you have learnt from Grandmaster over the years?

Master Ameris - Respect, loyalty, perseverance, indomitable spirit, courtesy,
integrity. This should sound familiar to all AIMAA students! It is our aims
to achieve. He has lived them so this is what I have learned from him. Also
to work hard and never give up. To always, as Grandmaster says each week I
talk to him for the past 30 years, "keep pushing"!

Karim Belgacem - What are your ambitions for the future?

Master Ameris - I have said this before and really mean it - to uphold, to the best of my ability, the teaching of my instructor Grandmaster Cho.

To be a positive example to my children and my students, to live a life that would make my parents proud. To stand up for what I believe and do my job as a Union
President to the best of my ability and always represent my members with
dignity. To always appreciate what God has given me.