In my April 2013 blog, I discussed the Kibon series and what
you learn from it. In my June 2013 blog,
I discussed the Pyung Ahn series. In my
October 2013 blog, I discussed Shipsu and in the November 2013 blog I discussed
No Pe Hyung. In this blog, I will
discuss the Mepojan series.
Note: If you are not a Black Belt I strongly
suggest you do not practice these concepts.
These are Black Belt concepts and assume you have the mechanics, power,
and energy to make use of them; else you may just confuse yourself and are also
not focusing on what you need at this time to advance. I share these more advanced concepts so
everyone has a bigger vision of where this art form can take them.
If the Kibon series is about learning to crawl and walk,
Pyung Ahn series is more about learning to run, Shipsu is about learning to run
with style, control, finesse, and independent of the physical body, No Pe Hyung
is learning to have power, control and style while maintaining constant focus,
then Mepojan is about short, compact moves that directs energy and minimizes
physical exertion.
The origin of this series is unknown but all research
indicates it came from China
to Okinawa .
In Okinawan the series is called Naihanchi (which means "fighting
holding your ground" according to some literature) and in Japanese they are
called the Tekki forms (which means “horse riding”).
As in the Pyung Ahn series, Shipsu, No Pe Hyung, Mepojan
series also helps students focus and practice linear strikes, practice throwing
techniques without reciprocals, combinations, staying centered and balanced in
techniques, and grounding.
- Horse Stance Outward Ridge
Hand
- Horse Stance Hook Punch
- Horse Stance Low Block
- Horse Stance Combination
Medium Block/Low Block
- Horse Stance Upper Cut
Punch with guard
- Horse Stance Inward Guarded
Low Block
- Horse Stance Combination
Outward Hammer Fist/ Hook Punch
- Horse Stance Stamping Side
Kick
Mepojan series also allows students to practice and master
short strikes
- Horse Stance Knife Hand
Block to the side of the body
- Horse Stance Inward Guarded
Low Block
- Horse Stance Upper Cut
Punch with guard
- Horse Stance Outward Knife
Hand
- Horse Stance Outward Knife
Hand
- Horse Stance Elevated
Forward Punch with knife hand guard
- Horse Stance Medium Block
with knife hand guard
- Horse Stance Stamping Side Kick
Another key to the Mepojan series is to learn and master
maintaining your ground as you move from side to side and transition into the
next technique. Hips should remain level
throughout these movements.
Mepojan series is also about minimizing the need of
extraneous motions in your moves and techniques to generate power. These techniques should be performed with
minimal or no upper body torso motion (e.g., twisting the torso) to generate
power. The power comes from the stance,
grounding, and energy projection.
Directing energy at will, independent of the physical, is another
key aspect of the Mepojan series. It is
one thing to master projecting energy, but are you projecting it exactly where
you want? Are you projecting it
independently of your physical body movement?
Examples are below:
- Horse Stance Outward Ridge Hand
- In the opening move to Mepojan One, the outward ridge hand should be practiced as an energy move to displace an opponent.
- Horse Stance Inward Guarded Low Block
- This technique should be practiced as an energy slice through an opponent’s collarbone and collapse them to the ground.
- Double Inward Punches followed by the Combination Outward Hammer Punch/ Hook Punch
- In the opening move to Mepojan Two, the double inward punches should be practiced as gathering energy followed by projecting it at will with the Combination Outward Hammer Punch/ Hook Punch.
- Stamping Side Kicks Outward/Downward away from the body
- In Mepojan Two the
Stamping Side Kick Outward from the body allows students to practice
projecting energy outside their physical body in order to ensure
effective, linear side kicks to the ground.
- Attack Stance Medium Block to the side of the body
- In Mepojan Three, the opening move Attack Stance Medium Block to the side of the body allows students to practice projecting energy in a direction independent of the direction of their stance.
As in the all other hyung students should also practice and
study the techniques and combinations in the Mepojan series in self-defense
applications, including the transitions.
There are many advanced concepts to be learned and practiced
in the Mepojan series and each one can be applied to concepts or techniques in
the basics or other hyung.
Couldn’t we practice short strikes even in Kibon Hyung? What about no reciprocals as a drill or
exercise in other hyung? How much
extraneous motion is in your other hyung that you can work to eliminate? Have
you examined where you are directing your energy in your other hyung? Are you conscious of where and how you are
directing your energy in all your hyung?
Regards,
Kelly
"When the student
is ready, the Master appears." - Buddhist Proverb
