What is Energy? - - Chief Instructor's Blog April 2009

In our Club we teach students to tap into power two ways: through force and through energy.

Mechanical work is the amount of energy transferred by a force:
Work = Force * displacement.

In physics, mechanical power is the rate at which work is performed:
Mechanical Power = Work/Time = Force * displacement/Time
Mechanical Power = Force * Velocity (Speed)

Energy has always been a part of martial arts. The use of energy is martial arts has been discussed and documented from early on. In Japanese arts (e.g., Aikido, Karate), this energy is Ki (K-I). In Chinese arts (e.g., Tai Chi, Ba Gua), this is referred to as Chi (C-H-I). In this club we refer to it mostly as Energy.

Mr. Kim did not openly teach energy, but it was part of his practice. Any one that worked with him experienced his projection and explosion of techniques through the use of energy.

Energy when combined with good mechanics and focus (mind-body-spirit) can make one extremely effective and increase your power
Power = Energy/Time

Energy can take many forms
It can be direct,
It can be hard or soft
It can be circular or linear
It can be projected in many directions
It can be hot, cold, warm
It can be small or large
It can be used to heal, guide, and teach

Our goal in our Club is to be balanced so we are as effective as possible. To be balanced, we must have solid mechanics, apply force to techniques, and apply energy to techniques.

Mechanics are the foundation for all techniques. When students do not have solid mechanics and add any energy or force, they will not be effective. So, in our Club, mechanics is the primary focus for white belts since without that foundation, techniques will not be effective.

As students move to green and blue belt, the emphasis is to start adding force to their techniques. Again, there must be a balance between mechanics, refining the mechanics, and adding force. If students add too much force, they overstress the mechanics and are pulled off-balanced, they can burnout quicker and faster, and/or are more prone to injuries.

As student move to brown belt, the emphasis is to start to add energy to their technique while maintaining a balance of force and solid mechanics. To start projecting energy one must have focus and intent. As a black belt, it is expected that that energy matches the Han Moo Kwan philosophy (Han Moo Kwan is a direct, offensive, linear, harsh style; therefore, the energy and intent of the energy should be direct, offensive, linear, and harsh) is present in their techniques, while they apply destructive force and have solid mechanics.

Regards,
Kelly

“In our techniques we enter completely into, blend totally with, and control firmly an attack. Strength resides where one's ki is concentrated and stable; confusion and maliciousness arise when ki stagnates.” ~ Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), founder of Aikido