Despite the fact that the loss of GM Park is recent and still painful, he asked us to move forward as quickly as possible in regard to his wishes and those of General Choi. Over the years, Grand Master Park and Grand Master Gorino spent much time discussing his Allied International Tae Kwon-Do Council, and its necessary place in the Tae Kwon-Do world. This included the direction his organization (A.I.T.C.) should move in.
Once Grand Master Park became ill, his talks with Grand Master Gorino became more focused on what he would ask of and expect of all of us. These talks also included his high-ranking Master Guang Song Li.
- In the final analysis, he told Grand Master Gorino his wishes/requests would be the following:
- He assigned Master Gorino to head up the Allied International Tae Kwon-Do Alliance.
- He promoted me, Master Gorino, and Master Li to 9th Dan
- He assigned me and Grand Master Li to assist Grand Master Gorino with the A.I.T.C.
- He asked that we use our vision and judgment to keep the A.I.T.C. alive and move it in the direction we saw fit.
Although this is not how any of us wanted to see things happen, we are humbled, obliged, and most honored to see his final wishes fulfilled. Of course, we consulted Mrs. Park and the Park family concerning all of these matters and they are in total agreement with his decisions. This breaks our hearts, but we believe that Grand Master Park is looking down on us and will be very happy as we move forward together.
