Benefits of Learning Hyung Exactly - - Chief Instructor's Blog October 2011

The previous two blogs discussed the evolution of learning hyung. It was noted that the first step to learning hyung is learning the mechanics. One aspect of the mechanic is learning and knowing the exact position and motion for each technique.

You may ask yourself, why hyung need to be learned so perfectly. In Gichin Funokohi’s The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his eighteenth principle is “Perform kata exactly: real combat is another matter.”

Funakoshi states, “Since techniques and methods of every kind have been woven into kata, and experts and masters from ages past have carefully preserved the various kata, kata should be practiced and performed in the same way they are taught.

Learning the techniques, motion, and transitions precisely allows one to develop discipline, control, more awareness of one’s body (since you need to learn to be aware when you are not performing a technique, motion, or transitions correctly). By practicing being precise, you will be more capable of striking or kicking an opponent exactly where you choose to strike or kick them.

Martial art masters that created hyung had applications and lessons in mind when they developed them. Many martial arts masters would study one hyung (kata) for decades to truly understand all the applications and the lessons to be learned from one form

Much of the history and knowledge of martial arts was never written down and from our Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do lineage perspective if it was written down, it most likely perished in World War II when the Okinawan Islands were practically destroyed. However, since hyung were created with applications and the spirit of martial arts in mind among others things, by studying and practicing you may be capable of uncovering this wealth of knowledge and the sprit left to us by masters a hundred plus years ago.

Regards,
Kelly

“Keep kata as they are without embellishing them.” ~ Ankō Itosu, (1831 –1915) Okinawan Karate Master and considered the creator of the Pinan/Heian/Pyung Ahn series

References
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi