Master Sjef Lamens is head instructor of Tang Soo Do Studio Chung Shin in Bergschenhoek and Tang Soo Do Studio Velo in Wateringen.
He has trained over 20 black belts, whereto several 2nd and 3rd Dans.
In 1999 4 Dutch studios joined the International Tang Soo (Soo Bahk) Do Federation Moo Duk Kwan.
Sjef Lamens became Dutch representative.
The young organisation grows rapidly (now there are 8 studio's) and strives to a professional organisation.
On January 1 2005 the Dutch organisation rejoined the World Tang Soo Do association by request of Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin. Here fore the Netherlands Tang Soo Do Association has been founded.
Master Lamens is sometimes asked if it is responsible to teach martial arts in a society where senseless violence seems to occur every day, and if organizing tournaments does not help senseless violence to develop.
Master Lamens: "Everything is based on misunderstanding, Martial arts do not have anything to do with senseless violence.
Martial artists, so is proven by research, are not or almost never involved in violent situations.
To master a martial art like Tang Soo Do, discipline, self-control, perseverance en respect for others is needed.
This is not the case with people who execute senseless violence; they loose their self-control and have no respect for other human beings.
I even dare to say that training martial arts can stop senseless violence. A Tang Soo Do-ka is a self-conscious human being, who do not feel the need to be aggressive and by his self-conscious body language, prevents a potential aggressor to be aggressive.
Organizing tournaments does not incite to senseless violence.
It is not only a mutual competition but it is also a family day. Tang Soo Do unites people by training together and helps to conquer their own boundaries.
A tournament is not about winning or losing. Just by participating you win experience.
A tournament is a good way to test the development of Tang Soo Do in comparison with others."