Where's the cheese

[Hyuga]

Hmm, looks like I have something in my eye

Goes off looking for his dad to hug.

[sanford_kelly]

Playing to win is different than playing not to lose. If you play not to lose, you start to doubt yourself, become scared, and your execution and end result will all reflect that. You must be confident in your abilities and play to win. Go for that combo, go for that uppercut, and go for the win.

I did very unusual things this past EVO. It was the first time I ever played Ken in a ST tournament. I also played in the 3S tournament for the first time in about 5 years. It was also my first ever EVO win. I was never scared and did more uppercuts than usual. I had a different mindset going into the tournament since up until August 4th; I was not going to EVO. Reasons are below.

Some of you have seen my father on Bang the Machine asking about the cheese. Hes a typical hard working immigrant working to support his family. He had some stomach pains and went in for a checkup in the middle of July. He then got diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer. Stage 4 is the most advanced stage of cancer. He also had the most aggressive type of cancer that spreads very quickly and needs to be treated immediately. There was already spread to nearby parts, including near his heart. The doctors gave him 1 year to live. As you can probably guess, this turned our whole familys life upside down.

Since that day, there were numerous changes to our familys life. Things were changing very quickly and a million and one things happened before the final plan was formed. We got opinions from 5 different doctors. Two suggested a major procedure to try and save his life. But he would basically be crippled after the surgery. Two other docs suggested he had no chance to live and to just live out the 1 year as best as he can. Their thoughts were the procedure was too risky as he had 15% chance of dying from complications while on the operating table, and numerous more risks afterwards. And the additional spread near his heart was very difficult to treat even after surgery is successful. Hence they did not think it was worth it to go for it. At one point that was the route our family was leaning towards. To let him just enjoy the last year of life as best as we could. After seeking out the opinion of a 5th doctor who recommended surgery, the decision was left up to him. My dad is a fighter. He did not hesitate at all and decided to fight.

He would get an operation where they would remove his entire stomach and affected surrounding lymph nodes. His small intestine will be stretched out up to his esophagus and the connection would be made. While that connection heals, he will get a feeding tube directly from his intestine through the side of his body where a machine can feed him. If the connection heals, he will be able to eat through his mouth. But due to no stomach storage, his diet will be very limited. No more fancy steaks and he will have to eat many, many times a day to maintain his caloric needs. Doctors estimated he would lose about 40 pounds. If the operation is a success, that would only address the original growth area. Chemo and radiation rounds will be needed to address the other spread. A long road to victory.

Since he will be unable to work afterwards, he sold his business. Being a trooper that he is, he worked up until July 29th and then handed over the keys on that date. His surgery was next morning on the 30th. The operation was estimated to take 8 - 10 hours. The doctors said if the operation is a success, he would be in ICU for about a week then regular ward for another week, and then if everything is okay he can finally come home. I took a leave of absence from work starting on the 30th. Im also in a MBA program and had my final presentation on August 4th and final exam on August 11th. I was about to drop out of my MBA program. Obviously, EVO was not in my plans.

A truly emotional time in our familys life followed the days leading up to the surgery. I cant remember the last time I saw so many tears. The operation took 9.5 hours. It was the longest 9.5 hours of my entire life. But thankfully, the operation was a complete success.

When I was able to see him, he had 13 tubes coming out of his body, including 5 directly out of his chest. He was unable to speak for pretty much all of next day after the surgery. He was always very strong, being an athlete for a long time in Korea. He was a Judo and Greco Roman wrestling champion. But I have never seen him that weak in my entire life. But being the fighter that he is his recovery was faster than expected. Each day he got stronger and stronger and he amazed the doctors. Although it took him 15 minutes and the assistance of nurses, he was able to sit up straight in just a few days. Just 5 days after the surgery, he said he was tired of lying in bed and wanted to walk. When he got up and walked 20 feet, he truly reminded me of Ironman. 13 tubes out of his body and yet he would not just lie down and be idle.

He knew about EVO coming up and knew I was not going. But that Monday after he walked he was in good spirits. He amazed everyone with his strength and speedy recovery. He talked to me and asked why Im wasting my time at the hospital when I have stuff to take care of. He basically said that he took care of his shit and now it was time to go take care of mine. Go finish my class, go to EVO, and go on with life. Go find the cheese.

That night on Monday I gave my final class presentation and bought my EVO ticket. The next day I prepared my final exam study materials and met up with Graham at night to cram in 4 hours of ST practice. The next night was CvS2 practice with Ricky. By Thursday I was EVO bound with a completely different mindset. Perhaps the other years I went to EVO trying not to lose. But it was different this time. Yes EVO is the biggest tournament in US that only happens once a year. But in the grand scheme of things, EVO is nothing. Its just a little tournament. I went in with that mindset and played as best as I could. EVO ended, I flew back at 5PM Monday, and went straight to take my final at 6PM.
My father is now recovering at home. His chemo rounds will start soon and the fight is still ongoing. But we will all hope for the best and support him in his fight.

Life throws curve balls at you but you learn to deal with it. That is exactly what my father did and what makes him so great. He doesnt drink or smoke and exercises regularly, yet this happened to him. But you cannot sit there and cry about it. You move on and fight. Thats what makes you a champion. I hope all of you will do the same in not just Street Fighter but all aspects of life.

I want to thank Kim ohayo1234 Hoang for talking me into writing this. This was a little too personal and I did not want to write about it, but he thought it might be good for people to read. I hope it can inspire and help some players. Thanks to all my family and friends for the support throughout the recent difficult times. Thank you Mr. Wizard for entering me at the tournaments at last minute. And of course all of SRK staff for all the support.

Thank you Albert and all of Keystone, you guys are the main reason for my success in Street Fighter and continued passion in the scene. Keystone is the gayest and happiest place in the world, no homo.

Thank you dad for showing me what a true champion is. The cheese is for you.

:karate:

[Alzarath]

Well… damn.

I don’t have anything to say except

:china: :rock:

[EveryFlowerFlow]

I remember at NCR seeing first hand the genius of Mr.Choi. Amazing player. I’m real happy someone like you won, best of luck to your family.

[skisonic]

simply amazing. thanks for taking the time to write this post.

it even makes up for how gay your guile is… yea i had to say it.

[MiLky]

Just want to thank you for posting that for everyone to read. It was a very moving write up. I wish the best of luck to your family, and nice job claiming two titles this year.

[nothingxs]

thanks for being a continuing inspiration to all of us and grats on your wins. now go own school up and get that cheese.

this definitely feels like it’s finally all come full circle after btm.

[exarchezekiel]

Amazing and by far the most personal read I’ve read on SRK.

Congrats Choi, I was rooting on for you the whole way through Cvs2 and like the others here have said it makes me proud to have you rep the US of A for us. I honestly look up to ya(yes I’m only 16 guys >.<)

But yeah I hope your dad makes a healthy recovery and you do good in your classes I wish you and your family the best.

Congratulations once again Choi Boi you really did get the “Cheese” this time.:china:

-EX

[afro_legends]

John, thanks for sharing that. You are a true champion, man. I wish you and your family the best of luck in the future.

[THE_0RKO]

good stuff.

from: the orko

[MarkMan]

Choi, good shit, You are your father’s son indeed.

CONGRATS

[EveryFlowerFlow]

John, thanks for sharing that. You are a true champion, man. I wish you and your family the best of luck in the future.

where were you at this year?

[vasAZNion13]

great read.

[Geese_Pants]

That was some powerful inspirational stuff…and you held your head up high and brought your A game to Evo.

Your victory pretty much made up Evo…and I would like to say thank you.

I wish I made to opportunity and say what’s up…maybe another Evo.

Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

[RoninChaos]

John, I met you a few years ago when I was rooming with Danny L from Vegas and trying to steal Watson’s wallet. You seemed cool, just didn’t really say anything. Cambell fuckin’ Tran said you were like that.

I never really write personal shit on here. I get personal, but not about me. Cancer is a mother fucker. I know what you’re going through. And that’s not on some old “Oh, I can sympathize cause my neighbor that I didn’t really know had it” type stuff. I watched cancer eat my father alive and suck the life out of his body when I was a kid. Cancer has killed practically my whole family. I don’t talk about it. To this day most of my friends don’t know what I’ve seen, or what it’s really like to be in a position where you watch someone you love, some one who’s strong… well, not be able to be strong. Watching my father pass was one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through. I held his hand long after he was gone. I miss him because we didn’t get the time we should have. Like you said, life throws curve balls.

Cancer killed one of my best friends too. People here knew him as Mummy-B. I’m sure you heard about him. Best guy I’ve ever met. I miss him terribly.

I’m a dad now. I want the best possible future I can have for my son and for the other kids I’m planning on having. I want them to have a future that’s free of the constraints that got laid upon me. Your father helped provide that for you, and that’s… well, it’s a hard thing to explain to folks that don’t have a kid. Things that you looked at in life as options suddenly aren’t options any more when you have a kid in the picture. It’s never about you, it’s about your children, and your father proved that by telling you to go do something that made you happy, despite his circumstances. Selflessness is a very, very rare thing these days. We could use more people that have that quality.

I know you didn’t write this for sympathy or anything else, which I’m sure everybody knows. You did an amazing thing, at Evo. But you know that. People are gonna be on your jock for a long time because of it. And you deserve it. But I didn’t post all this stuff, all this personal stuff just to tell you that you’re a great video game player. I wanted to tell you that you’re a testament to your father. I know that probably doesn’t mean anything to you since we don’t know each other, but I think that it should be repeated over and over again. I can only imagine how proud he is of you and the accomplishments you’ve made, even if he doesn’t understand why games would be important to you like he stated in Bang the Machine.

While I know you don’t know me, I’d like to put it out there anyway. If you need some one to holla at in a rough time, hit me up. I wish you well and I wish your family well. Cancer is a horrible thing, and life will always do some crazy shit to you, no matter how prepared you think you are. You keep your head up and don’t stop moving no matter what happens.

Take care.

-Leigh

[Som]

best wishes to your dad. winning evo like that is serious.

[EveryFlowerFlow]

I’m a dad now. I

:wtf::wow: Congrats man.

[defcon]

Thank you dad for showing me what a true champion is. The cheese is for you.

Holy fucking Win.

[pIGadOkeN]

I always knew you were in a class of your own. Sure, Ricky and Justina Wang are as well but you are different. I knew this before you wrote this inspirational story but this brought solidarity to everything you do. It was super crazy seeing you beat the best in CVS2 and take it in stride when I saw you at the MGM. My thoughts go out to your family and I’ll see you in Ohio if life lets it happen. You are the true life champion imo.

Until then sir…

[LEVA]

Congratulations for the win at Evo and for the best thread on srk i’ve ever read.
Best wishes to your dad and family, u deserve it!:tup: