The Sound of Freedom Isn’t Always Fireworks
Date: July 4, 2025
Location: Korean Friendship Bell, San Pedro, CA
We’ve been here before. We’ve walked these steps, stood under this vast sky by the sea, and felt something ancestral stir. Last time, I shared what this place reminded me of , my Korean Great Grandmaster and the quiet legacy of discipline that lives in me. But this time was different. This time… we came to hear it ring.
Have you ever heard what one of the largest bells ever cast in Korea sounds like?
On the Fourth of July, when the noise of fireworks usually dominates the air, we drove to this peaceful hilltop to witness something deeper, the ceremonial ringing of the Korean Friendship Bell.
There was a Korean drumline leading the opening, rhythmic, alive. The fan dancers moved like wind across silk. A crowd had gathered. People of all kinds, standing together in reverence, not just celebration.
We learned the story of this bell, how it was gifted to the United States on its 200th birthday. How it cracked when first rung and had to be recast. How it honors those who served. How it rings on four distinct frequencies. And how, in a time when freedom feels fragile and even dangerous to talk about, this bell still speaks.
They rang it 13 times. One for each of the original colonies. But the sound that came out… it didn’t just echo, it entered. It felt like it rearranged something inside.
They let us ring it too, me, Coach Cena, and Coach Formie. One hit together. One collective breath. Then they invited us to hug the bell. To put our bodies and our foreheads against the bronze and feel the hum. To receive the sound. To be changed by it.
Did you know this happens every first Saturday of the month? You can go. You can ring it too. You can reset your frequency.
Watch the Full Series
We recorded the experience in three parts:
Video 1: 13 Rings for the Colonies
Video 2: We Rang the Bell
Video 3: Dancers Ring for Peace
Mini Reflection:
As I edited these clips, I noticed something unexpected, the sound of the bell, especially hearing it ring over and over, began to slow me down. My breathing deepened. My body relaxed. I actually started to get sleepy (added note, it took me almost 3 weeks to come and add the third video). That’s the power of sound. These frequencies aren’t just heard, they’re felt. What you’re listening to isn’t just a ceremony. It’s a reset.
Plan Your Visit
Korean Friendship Bell, San Pedro, California
First Saturday of each month = ceremonial ringing
Public restrooms on site
Free parking
Basketball court
More from FormaFit Active
Read about our first visit to the bell : Legacy Beneath the Bell: Stillness, Strength, and a Walk Toward Peace| The Korean Friendship Bell
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