Faculty retirements
Donald J. Burns
“When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the teacher is ready the student will appear.” This old oriental philosophical saying depicts the story of Don Burns’ teaching career at Indiana University and to his life in general. In his own words, Don expanded upon this philosophy: “The Korean term “kunja” can lead to an understanding of the philosophical foundation of the martial arts. Kunja is “a person of virtue, a true ‘gentleman’; a wise person”. We refer to the term “kunja” in order to bring to our consciousness the idea that we should always be striving for excellence and balance, not only with physical technique, but in the entirety of our lives, a life where it is important to respect ourselves and others. It is a commitment to STRIVE for perfection. I feel that it is important that students have opportunities to study all sides of the martial arts -- the physical sides (hurting and healing), the mental sides (philosophical and intellectual), and the spiritual sides (character development). Knowledge of all aspects of the martial arts will help a student to balance his or her development as a martial artist and, more importantly, as a human being.”
In 2006, Don retired from Indiana University, having overseen the largest martial arts instructional program in the United States. At the time of his retirement, the IU martial arts program typically enrolled between 1,500 to1,700 students per semester who participated in one martial arts course or another. In reflecting back on the program that he almost single handedly developed at IU, Don remarked: “One of our goals as teachers was to motivate students to want to continue the activity which we are teaching them after the class is over. I feel if I can get a student to join one of the martial arts clubs, start taking lessons at one of the martial arts schools in town, or in their hometowns, I have accomplished one of my major goals as a teacher. It means that I was able to stimulate that student’s interest in the martial arts over and above just getting a grade in class. I really feel a sense of pride when one of my students finally gets their black belt and starts to teach their own club or classes after they graduate and leave Indiana University.”
Don’s professional dedication to the martial arts began shortly after his upbringing. The oldest of eight children, Don was born in Menominee, Michigan in 1942, but later moved with his family to Green Bay, Wisconsin in the mid-1950’s. He began teaching and learning Judo in 1961 while in the United States Air Force. In the Air Force, he served as a Physical Conditioning Specialist, a Combative Measures Instructor, and a Massage Therapist. With a brown belt in Judo and as a second year undergraduate student at the IU Bloomington campus in 1967, Don began teaching judo for the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (H.P.E.R.). He graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Physical Education in 1969 and decided to continue at IU with graduate school. He received a graduate teaching assistantship to teach judo and fencing. In 1970, as a second semester graduate student, he was asked to become a part of the H.P.E.R. faculty as an Instructor and Martial Arts Coordinator. Two years later, he finished his M.S. in Physical Education and received his second degree black belt in judo from the United States Judo Federation (1972). Shortly thereafter, he co-authored a teaching textbook in Judo entitled An Introduction to Judo for Student and Teacher (1973; revised 1976) with Stephen Thompson. Always interested in the self-defense applications of the martial arts, he set out to expand his knowledge of other martial arts, and specifically, the study of Taekwondo, a Korean form of karate. Don received his first degree black belt in Taekwondo in 1975 and since then, received the seventh degree ranking in 2001. The fifth degree level is considered to be a “Master” level.
His book, An Introduction to Karate for Student and Teacher (1977), is used as a text for introductory classes. Like the Judo book, the Karate book was not only designed to be a basic skills and foundations text but also as a teachers manual to help inexperienced teachers to teach an introductory level course in Karate.
In 1974, Don added another martial art to his portfolio -- Hapkido. Hapkido is a Korean martial art which is like a combination of Judo, Karate, and the Japanese martial art of Aikido but specializes in street defense and police control techniques. The first Indiana University course in Hapkido was introduced in the summer of 1974, and Don was the founder and first instructor of the I.U. Hapkido / Self Defense Club in 1983. He received his first degree black belt in 1976 and seventh degree black belt in 1998. His book, An Introduction to Hapkido for Student and Teacher was completed in 1996. Since 1980, in Hapkido, over 340 students of Don’s have received their black belts. In Taekwondo, over 400 of his students received their black belts.
Don is the recipient of many honors and recognitions, and presently serves as the President of the United States Hapkido Federation. His list of awards includes: Outstanding Club Sport Advisor, Division of Recreational Sports, 2004-2005; Faculty Teaching Award, Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001; Black Belt (7th degree) United Taekwondo Instructors Federation, 2001; Black Belt (7th degree) United States Hapkido Federation, 1998; Seichem Master Tera-Mai Seichem, 1998; Touch For Health Instructor Energetic Life Balancing Institute, 1994; and Reiki Master Usui Shiki Ryoho, 1993.
Don also certified in many special schools including: Silva Mind Development, 1995; Energetic Life Balancing Instructor,1994; Touch for Health Instructor, 1994; Energetic Life Balancing Therapist, 1993; Touch for Health Therapist, 1992; Seifukujitsu Therapist, 1989; Japanese Restoration Therapist, 1988; and Massage Therapist, 1965.
During his retirement years, Don plans to be involved in a number of activities. He intends to complete three books with his daughter Jennifer Beebe, who has a 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo and a 3rd degree black belt in Hapkido. Jennifer Beebe, incidentally, will be teaching martial arts at IU in 2006-07. Don also plans to take more trips to Yosemite National Park to visit his daughter Bridget Rabon, who works as the General Manager of the restaurants and hotels in Yosemite Falls and lodge area of the park. One of Don’s true joys is his wife Janiece Jaffe, a jazz singer in the Bloomington area. With Janiece’s performance career, they will together enjoy many opportunities to travel, home and abroad. Don also plans to continue to be active with the Taekwondo and Hapkido clubs on campus, as well as workshops in massage and reiki and treatments to individuals.
James S. Skinner, Ph.D.
Dr. James S. Skinner was born and raised in the south but went to high school and university in Illinois. Since receiving his doctoral degree at the University of Illinois, he has worked in departments of physical education, physiology and medicine in the United States, Germany and Canada. He has held a number of positions in his profession including President of the American College of Sports Medicine and Vice President of the International Council on Sports Sciences and Physical Education. He has received honors from such organizations as the American College of Sports Medicine and the International Olympic Committee.
Dr. Skinner has been doing research on exercise and health for over 40 years. He has been principal investigator, co-investigator or the member of an executive committee on research grants awarded more than $50 million. Most notably, he is one of the 5 principal investigators of the multi-center HERITAGE Family Study, which is the largest study ever funded by the National Institutes of Health with exercise as the primary experimental factor. He brought this grant to Indiana University in 1996 for the last 1.5 years of data collection of the first 5-year phase. This 12-year study was conducted at five universities (4 data collection centers and one center for data management and analysis) and investigated the role of genetic factors on health and fitness of over 750 healthy, sedentary family members before and after a supervised program of exercise training. This has resulted in over 140 publications (all but one of which show an affiliation with IU). Another 50-60 publications are expected over the next few years as the PIs analyze the enormous amount of data.
Jim presently lives in the mountains of western North Carolina, where he continues writing, lecturing and consulting. His home is at 3,000 feet and is surrounded by hills, trees and lakes. He hikes regularly on the 300 miles of hiking trails and near the 250 waterfalls within a one-hour drive from his home. He also works with others to develop and maintain trails in the area where he lives.
Although he has traveled extensively (he has lectured in 57 countries), he plans to travel at least once per year to places he has never been but wanted to visit. As an example, this past year he spent 3.5 weeks on a safari in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This year, he will visit Tibet and western China after lecturing in Hong Kong and Beijing.
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