Family Name: The Ricker Family: Melissa, Jason and Stewart

As a family, Hap Ki Do has brought us together in a common interest. Like many families in modern society, our family is very hard pressed for time together. Melissa and I have both been working parents since Stewart was born and at the same time, we have been students struggling to finish college. We have obligations to bosses, co-workers, extended family, and friends. Because of all these pressures, the most important obligation (our own small family) has many times taken the back seat to the chaos of life. Hap Ki Do has become very precious to us because it’s one thing that we all participate in.

Specifically for me, Hap Ki Do has been a spiritual, mental, and physical challenge. When I first began Hap Ki Do in 1998, I was a young kid just out of basic military training and the USAF Security Forces Academy. I felt like there was nothing I couldn’t accomplish and it made me a bit cocky. Master Schreiner and Mr. Ormstead quickly put a stop to that kind of thinking by challenging my character and making me realize that there was always room to learn. They also showed me that no matter how “bad” you think you are, there’s always someone a little bit “badder” than you.

After 9/11, I had to take a long break from Hap Ki Do to fulfill my military obligation overseas. Shortly after returning, I developed an irregular heart rhythm that could not be diagnosed. It was a very frightening experience and it caused me to stop almost any kind of hard exercise for fear that I might have a heart attack. I lost a lot of confidence and got physically out of shape. It took years for me to get up the courage to return to Hap Ki Do. After my return, I leaned heavily on Grand Master Lee and Master Schreiner for guidance and it paid off. Now I am back to my old self, regaining my confidence and getting back into shape. I will be forever grateful for the support I have received from every instructor and student at KMA.

For Melissa, who began in 2004, the first big payoff of Hap Ki Do was that it brought our family closer together. It enabled Melissa and I to understand each other’s values and put us more on the same page in family issues. As Melissa progressed through the ranks, she began to feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence that she had never experienced before in her life. She has overcome many old fears and self-imposed physical limitations. Things like punching through boards and doing cartwheels have now become reality instead of fantasy. Now, as a Blue Belt, Melissa has the confidence to take on anything from an empty night-time parking lot to the intense stresses of work and family. And because of the opportunity to pray during every meditation period, she is experiencing a spiritual fulfillment and feels closer to God than ever before. The idea of earning a Black Belt has become a question of “when” rather than “if”.

Stewart’s experience in Hap Ki Do has been much like other kids. He enjoys the punching, kicking, and yelling as much as anyone else. As he gets older, he is starting to learn the values and moral lessons of Hap Ki Do. He is interested in becoming physically fit and always strives to do the right thing. As he faces the challenges and decisions of life, the question often comes up: “What would Master Lee think if he were here?” Stewart always tries his best when he hears that question. Hap Ki Do has helped Stewart with his experiences in school as well. The discipline has taught him to work hard academically. He also has the confidence to say what he feels in class discussions. Hap Ki Do has also rewarded Stewart with many new friends.

Hap Ki Do is a very important part of all our lives and we are honored to be a part of it. We are very excited to see what the future holds for this school.