Aside from his family, Tae Kwon Do has been at the center of Chris Devine’s life since he was 15. And for almost 15 years, Devine’s family has also been totally immersed in this Korean sport. With his wife, Kim, daughter Jessi and son, Jon, the quartet have taught countless youngsters and adults the exacting moves, kicks, spins and blocks that make up this mixed martial arts genre. Youngest son Joey is a student at Hamilton Tae Kwon Do, the school the Devines own and operate.
Tae Kwon Do (pronounced doh) is a combination of spinning kicks, blocks and jabs, all of which are generally done in a particular sequence against either an imaginary opponent or in testing, live opponents. The ultimate test of Tae Kwon Do is self-defense and in all classes, from the young beginners to black belts, this premise is foremost in the students’ minds. Tae Kwon Do has been in existence since the days of the Hwarang warriors in Korea over 2700 years ago.
Kim Devine handles most of the teaching these days. Chris, at 62 has retired from the day-to-day teaching. Well, sort of. While Kim is at the front of the class, Chris in on the side or in the back of the class doing paperwork and other things necessary for the school. But if he spots a student who is holding their hand in the wrong position, or kicking wrong, he quickly strides over and makes the correction.
“Chris handles the philosophy of Tae Kwon Do and why we use a certain technique at a certain time,” said Kim.
And although he is retired, it’s obvious Chris and Kim are a team. “Kim handles the social aspects in class. She takes away ‘class’ and just has students out there.”
Because many students begin Tae Kwon Do when they are quite young, by the time they reach their teen years, the students have become like family and or siblings. The youngsters have spent up to two thirds of their lives with the rest of their class and sometimes squabbles erupt. But Kim is right there to put a stop to it and refocus the group back on to Tae Kwon Do.
Chris was only 15 when he discovered Tae Kwon Do with a group of his friends when he was 15 years old, growing up near Queens in New York City. He said they sometimes practiced these ‘new’ moves on the golf courses in the area. The group has remained close even though they are scattered to the four corners of the United States. Some are also still involved in the martial arts and even come out here to judge promotions and tournaments.
Chris was drafted during the Viet Nam War and served in that country. He was critically wounded while overseas and told he would never walk again. He spent several months recuperating in hospitals. As someone who has always been active, and driven, he chaffed at his limitations and drove himself to get better. Now, one would never know that he doesn’t have feeling on the bottoms of his feet or that both femoral arteries were replaced. He said he figured out where the ground was and because he is barefoot when doing Tae Kwon Do, not being able to feel his feet doesn’t affect how he performs. He took up skiing a few years ago and said he had to figure out how to ‘feel’ the snow with his boots, bindings and skis on. But, with the same determination that got him through his war injuries, he has adapted to skis as well.
After moving out here, Chris worked for Garlick Helicopters in Hamilton for a few years but al the while continued to study and practice the art of Tae Kwon Do. He began his school in 1977 in Hamilton. He held it at several different locations around town but has been at the Canyons Athletic Club east of Hamilton since the club was built.
Chris has continued to study and advance in Tae Kwon Do. He is a 10th degree black belt in the Northeast Association. This is an appointed degree as he has passed all of the levels. The appointment comes from the Board of Black Belts of the USA Korean Karate Association.
Kim said she has always had a fascination with self-defense and the martial arts. She wasn’t sure when she started Tae Kwon Do but Chris, who has a photographic memory, supplied the date: January 10, 1992. She is a black belt in the Blue Cottage Style of Tae Kwon Do and will test for her fourth level black belt this spring in Las Vegas. This test is a full contact test and Chris will be her ‘opponent.’ The panel of judges will include a couple of fellows from Chris’ past, way back in Queens. They also have schools, have taught and are high level black belts.
“I’m more nervous that they are judging than I am about having Chris as my opponent,” said Kim.
Jessi Devine is 19 years old and is very proficient in weaponry which is one aspect the more advanced students work on. Kim said she will work with a weapon – a spear, a set of nunchaku or nunchuks, or a naginata (a long spear like weapon with a blade on the end). Using a weapon as a means of defense requires not only skill and strength but also the ability to visualize an attacker.
“When she is using the naginata, her lines are long and flowing and beautiful,” said Kim. “But when I watch her eyes, I can see the attacker and how she is defending herself.”
Jon Tristao, who has lived with the Devines since he was a boy, is 20 years old and currently deployed with the Montana National Guard in Afghanistan. Until he was called up, he was one of the teachers at Hamilton Tae Kwon Do. With him gone, Kim, Jessi and even Chris have to pick up the slack.
“It’s been a huge hole to fill,” said Kim. She went on to say Jon is very fast and can really spin and jump high. This type of athleticism inspires many of the students and especially those who are members of the Dragon Brigade.
The Devines work on four basic ideas while teaching Tae Kwon Do. They look for social growth, building character, physical fitness, and health enhancement. When these facets become a part of the student, community spirit and self respect follow.
The Dragon Brigade is the touring and competition arm of the school. About 43 members, from grade school age through high school age, compete in tournaments across the Northwest. From now until late May, the team will travel from Salt Lake City, Utah to Green River Wyoming to Frenchtown and Spokane. They compete in several events including forms, sparring, breaking (boards) and weapons.
The Dragon Brigade is a 501(c) 3 organization with all funds going towards funding to allow the members to participate. There are volunteers ranging from the bus driver to the seamstress and the room parents and chaperones. Many of the volunteers follow the bus and pay their own way to be on hand to help at the tournaments. If a parent is going and taking a team member, then Kim puts another student on the bus. In addition to tournaments, the team also participates in parades like the Fair Parade in Hamilton or the Creamery Picnic. This year they performed at the Adams Center at the University of Montana when the Harlem Globetrotters performed. This year they are planning on a trip to the Montana National Guard headquarters in Helena to show their support for Jon and others deployed.
“We’d like to find a well-to-do philanthropist,” said Chris. “If they could write us a big check, we would be able to do more and not have to focus on fundraising so much.”
Both Chris and Kim estimate they each spend about 60 hours a week, each, on fundraising, teaching, grant writing, and handling all of the different needs of the business. But their passion is still there.
“Seeing the growth in the students, that’s what it’s all about,” concludes Chris.
Hamilton Tae Kwon Do will have a new class for beginners starting April 2nd at the Canyons. Call 360-5420 for more information.