About Andy
The strength of technique can be seen in the postures that the instructors assumes.
Andy Hamer (& Maggio)
Master Instructor
After moving to Whitefish in the early '90s, I found the importance of community. Shy by nature, for me to be greeted by fellow residents and to feel the support freely offered by the people in this area made this an ideal place to call home.
My training started at Montana Martial Arts on Wisconsin Avenue in 1994. The instructor and senior members were women which impressed me as martial arts are always thought of as a male pursuit.
There was the Zen quality in and around the training hall, with shared meals and a beautiful garden, all of which carried the mystique of the training hall I had hoped to find.
My original instructor retired from teaching and offered the studio to the students. I ended up taking over the teaching role and eventually the whole business. We moved a couple times from the original location before we ended up at our current downtown Whitefish location where we have been for the past ten years.
I achieved my Master instructor level in 2012. Just like the midnight blue belt, this proved to be the beginning of a grand, new journey.
My pursuit has particularly expanded into the realm of Tai Chi and Qi Gong as the slower movements, still valued for their martial application, have a stronger value for posture and well being.
Philosophy
The goal of the Do Jang is to strive for harmony.
Inner peace helps foster resolution to external conflict. By finding a better sense of self physically, it naturally follows that one can develop a stronger mental stature.
By learning to join in the bowing and respect that Soo Bahk Do requires, personal strength becomes inter personal appreciation. The individual, the family and the community all gain from training.
We wear a traditional white Do Bok (uniform) and start with a white belt, all to represent the blank canvas and the opportunity to paint your new self.
As one progresses through the belt system, it follows the seasons. Soo Bahk Do has a reverence for nature. After the white belt of Winter comes the green belt of Spring, showing growth; the red belt of Summer, a time of ripening; and ultimately the midnight blue belt (black belt) for the Fall and maturation.
Each season has its role in the cycle of traditional Chinese Medicine. A true appreciation for the health aspects comes as one learns the importance of diet, the right foods for the particular seasons and how this is part of a true martial artist.