There are hundreds of martial arts
to choose from. Some of the more wide
spread martial arts in the United States include: Aikido, Jeet Kune Do, Jiujitsu, Judo, Kenpo, Kung
Fu, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Karate, Krav Maga, Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do. And even with each of these there are different
styles or focuses. For example, our Han Moo
Kwan (HMK) Tae Kwon Do is different than World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) or International
Taekwondo Federation (ITF).
If interested in more details of
how WTF and ITF compare to HMK, please see my blogs in October / November 2015
(http://hanmookwan-svl-chiefinstructor.blogspot.com/2015/10/
and http://hanmookwan-svl-chiefinstructor.blogspot.com/2015/11/)
and April/ May 2016 (http://hanmookwan-svl-chiefinstructor.blogspot.com/2016/04/itf-compared-to-hmk-part-i-of-ii-chief.html
and http://hanmookwan-svl-chiefinstructor.blogspot.com/2016/05/)
So, how did I know that HMK was
the right martial art for me? In the beginning
I was looking for four things when I joined the HMK Club:
1.
Self-Defense Oriented
An art form that taught me
practical self-defense. I wanted to
learn skills to protect myself and possibly others and feel confident of the
skills I learned. I believe our style
has very practical self-defense: we keep it simple, linear and stress every
technique should cause damage, therefore making it effective. We also
practice self-defense and sparring on a regular basis where we grab and punch/kick
at each other to try to simulate a real attack.
I have heard of martial arts
clubs that teach self-defense but never actually grab each other, or practice sparring
where they do not actually hit each other.
For me, it is important that I practice the techniques gaining confidence
they will work.
2.
Exercise
A martial art that allowed me a
good workout and challenged my endurance, strength and flexibility. Our style has allowed me to get in a good
workout. When I first started out, I would drip with sweat just getting through
basics. What I did not know then, but
know now, is I also want to practice a martial art I could practice for many
years. Judo, for instance, with all the
throws is not necessarily a good martial art in your 40s and 50s. With HMK, I have been able to still be
effective after 25 years because (1) I have adjusted to what my body can handle
and (2) the energy side of the art form has allowed me still to be effective (and
even more effective) in my skill as I got older. Bob Rainie practiced until his late 80s, so I
know that I can continue into at least my 70s and still be able to practice some
aspects of HMK and benefit from it.
3.
Atmosphere/ Environment
A place to practice that was supportive
and had a sense of community. I was not
looking for a boot camp that pushed one even if the body was not ready for
it. I appreciate the fact that our club
stresses one should honor their body. I
was also looking for a place to meet people, so I appreciate that we get
together for awards dinners and have annual club picnics to gain a sense of community
among ourselves. I appreciate the
instructors are not paid, and part of what we do is teach as a means to give
back to our community.
4.
Personal Enjoyment
I needed to enjoy it. In the beginning I enjoyed the physical aspect
of it (the forms, the basics, self-defense, etc.). Twenty-five
years later, I still enjoy the physical aspects, but I also enjoy studying and
learning the history, philosophy, the essence of the martial arts.
Since I started, I have realized
there are two other attributes one should consider when starting and continuing
with a martial art.
1.
Competition Oriented
For me, training for and performing
in competitions was not and is still not important to me. Not that I am not competitive. I played competitive sports for most of my younger
years but this was not something I was looking for in martial arts. And if it was, then HMK would probably not be
the right style for me.
2.
Modern or Traditional
I have found that I enjoy the
traditional aspects of our Club and its lineage. I enjoy studying the history and culture associated
with HMK as well as being pure to the techniques and not evolving them. But at the same time, I also enjoy that our Club
has limited the formality. While we do
bow and have some Korean terms we use, a more traditional Tae Kwon Do club would
use more Korean terms during practice (including counting). Chief Instructors would be referred to as Master
or Grandmaster. There would also be less
discussion on the why and less ability to ask questions. It would be more Master Says, Students Do
sort of atmosphere. I believe our Club provides
a nice balance of preserving the traditional aspects with minimal formality
which I have found I enjoy.
For me, HMK is a good martial
art because it meets what I am looking for in the six attributes laid out above
and believe it will continue to be what I am looking for from a martial art for
decades to come.
Regards,
Kelly
“Understand that the
essence of martial arts is not the art itself, but what's hidden deep within
yourself.” ~ Gogen Yamaguchi (1909-1989), Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and
founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū Kai Association
