No Pe Hyung – What It Teaches You - - Chief Instructor's Blog November 2013

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. In this month’s blog, I will discuss No Pe Hyung. If the Kibon series is about learning to crawl and walk, Pyung Ahn series is more about learning to run, and Shipsu is about learning to run with style, control, finesse, and independent of the physical body, then No Pe Hyung is learning to have power, control and style while maintaining constant focus.

No Pe Hyung is based on forms that are called Rohai which translates approximately to “Vision of a Crane” in Okinawan and Meikyo which translates to “Bright or Polished Mirror” in Japanese.

As in the Pyung Ahn series and Shipsu, No Pe Hyung also helps students focus and practice linear strikes, practice throwing techniques without reciprocals, combinations, staying centered and balanced in techniques, and grounding.

No Pe Hyung may look simple and straightforward, since it is built on just a few techniques, but it contains several fun challenges built around the following techniques:
• Fighting Cat Stance with Raised Knee Combination Downward Knife Hand / Knife Hand High Block
• Horse Stance Right Downward Punch breaking the board
• Crescent Kick to the open palm to the 360 Degree turn , Execute Cat Stance Attack

The real challenges and what No Pe Hyung is trying to teach us is to maintain constant focus, shifting targets at the exact moment you need to, staying present in the moment, being aware of your surroundings at all times, while throwing straight, offensive power while maintaining ground.
• Perform upper body techniques at shoulders (integrated with the body) without losing ground. Examples include, but are not limited to:
o Natural Stance Upward Double Ridge Hand
o Transition from Cat Stance to Attack Stance
o Setting kick in place after Crescent Kick

• Stay grounded at all times and do not overground
o For example, after board break, if overgrounded, will have to unground to move to the Fighting Cat Stance with Raised Knee Combination Downward Knife Hand / Knife Hand High Block

• Maintain focus and force throughout form; especially after the board break
o Have intensity and focus to “dare” someone to attack without threatening motions. Examples include:
 • Two short steps forward
 • Fighting Cat Stance with Raised Knee Combination Downward Knife Hand / Knife Hand High Block

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times; be precise in your movements
o Perform board break without losing awareness around you
o Move easily and comfortable around the bricks and boards; always knowing where they are
o Be exact in your position and intent in where you place your foot after the Crescent Kick, 360 degree turn

• Be where you need to be when you need to be there
o Adjust your stance and your distance to be near the board throughout the form
o Be comfortable working in close proximity to the board

• Maintain constant focus, shifting focus at the exact moment you need to, stay present in the moment. Finish each move and do not be anxious for the next one.
o Complete Attack Stance Double Punches before transitioning back to the board
o Complete the board break before transitioning to the Knee Block Combination Downward Knife Hand / Knife Hand High Block

• Do not give up your advantage or ground. Anytime move “backwards”, need to maintain forward, offensive presence
o Transitioning into Fighting Cat Stance with Raised Knee Combination Downward Knife Hand / Knife Hand High Block, especially after the board break
o Cat Stance Attack after the 360 Degree Turn
o Cat Stance Attack performed moving backwards

As in the Kibon series, Pyung Ahn series, and Shipsu students should also practice and study the techniques and combinations in No Pe Hyung in self-defense applications, including the transitions and the turns.

All hyung have intentions and applications to each of their techniques and as you move through a hyung you can tell a story as you transition from one technique to another. For me, No Pe Hyung has one of the more straightforward and compact stories to tell. The key is too stay focused and be present for each technique.

In a future blog, I will describe the overall goals of the Mepojan series.

Regards,
Kelly

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable." ~ Sun Tzu (6th Century BC), Chinese General, military strategist, and author of The Art of War