Mastering Martial Arts- - Chief Instructor's Blog December 2014

In the November 2014 blog, I discussed the importance to research martial arts beyond the physical and the fact this was an important aspect to mastering a martial art.

What else is required to actually master a martial art? 

I recently read a book “Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment” by George Leonard who is a master in Aikido.  He describes five keys to mastering a skill:

1.      Instruction

2.      Practice

3.      Surrender

4.      Intentionality

5.      The edge

Many of these concepts we have talked about in class or I have written in blogs (although may not have used those terms), but George Leonard does a really good job of pulling these concepts together to really drive home what it takes to master a skill.

Instruction

For the most part this is self-explanatory. It is finding a credible instructor that you can learn from.  And as I have mentioned it can also include study from books, tapes, and discussions with people.  But as I have said you cannot master from books or tapes, and the one-on-one or group instruction is the best means to learn.  And most importantly it is the willingness to continue to learn, being open to learning, as I have noted in class and written about in several blogs. George Leonard writes “Lifelong learning is the special province of those who travel the path of mastery, the path that never ends”.

Practice

Why it may also seem obvious that practice is required to master a skill, to truly master a skill, practice is a way of life.   The “Do” in Tae Kwon Do means The Way; meaning the road or path.  I really like how George Leonard describes practice, “For one who is on the master’s journey, the word is best conceived as a noun, not something you do, but something you have, something you are.”  He goes on to write, “A practice (as a noun) can be anything you practice on a regular basis as an integral part of your life – not in order to gain something else, but for its own sake.”

Surrender

What does surrendering have to do with mastering a skill?  George Leonard writes, “For the master, surrender means there are no experts.  There are only learners.”  It means giving in to the process and letting go of your ego so the learning and the journey is the most important part.  It means being okay with looking foolish at times in order to learn, or taking several steps back to move forward again in time, it means being willing to be uncomfortable at times in order to get to the next level.

Intentionality

Intentionality is your mind set.  It is the attitude and energy you bring to the dojang each time we have a class.  As discussed in class and I have written in several blogs, thoughts are energy and our thoughts matter tremendously.  Your mind set is the difference in breaking a board or not.  Your attitude is the difference in how quickly you learn a new skill/form or not. 

The Edge

The edge is about pushing your limits (while staying safe and not necessarily injuring yourself).  It means pushing your power, your speed, your strength and challenging yourself.  You will not get faster unless you try to perform techniques faster.  George Leonard writes, “The trick here is not only to test the edges of the envelope, but also to walk the fine line between endless, goalless practice and the alluring goals that appear along the way.”

George Leonard also describes pitfalls we can fall into on our path to mastery as well as what can stop us from mastering a skill.  To either get you on a path of mastery, or keep you on path, I highly recommend reading this book as a resource.

Regards,

Kelly

“A man who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in his every action.” ~ Anonymous

“To take the master’s journey, you have to practice diligently, striving to hone your skills, to attain new levels of competence.  But while doing so-and this is the inexorable fact of the journey- you also have to be willing to spend most of your time on a plateau, to keep practicing even when you seem to be going nowhere.” ~ George Leonard (1923-2010), an American writer, editor, educator, and co-founder of the Aikido of Tamalpais dojo

References

1. Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment” by George Leonard

 

Why Research the Art Form Beyond the Physical - - Chief Instructor's Blog November 2014

A martial art is a physical experience.  You learn the techniques and forms by performing the techniques. You become proficient in self-defense and sparring by practicing.  So what are the benefits of researching it beyond the physical?  What is important about the principle, concept or history that could help one learn the techniques better, more thoroughly, than just performing the techniques over and over and over again until they are mastered? 

Let me be clear that researching the art form can take the form of reading, watching videos, “playing” with techniques to understand the applications and how you would best use them in a situation, talking and sharing your philosophy and understanding the art form with others.

I agree you cannot learn martial arts only by reading books or watching videos, etc. I would also contend you cannot master martial arts without researching it beyond just practicing the physical.

So what benefits can I gain from reading books?  For one, I think reading books from the master’s before us reinforces or exposes us to the essence of why martials arts was developed and it’s true nature.  It provides insights into applications and why techniques are performed a certain way.  It adds context.

Some things I have learned from studying the art form:

• From tracing the lineage of the forms of the Han Moo Kwan style I discovered the intent of the forms and what the master’s wanted student’s to learn from them. (For more on the origins of the Han Moo Kwan forms, refer back to the February, March, and April 2010 blogs).
• From researching application of techniques I have discovered insights into what the masters were thinking behind the concept of each form and the benefits and challenges in performing the techniques.
• By discussing the art form philosophy and principles with senior black belts and the Board of Directors I have a better appreciation and understanding of what Mr. Kim’s intent was and therefore can better preserve his legacy.
• From researching the techniques, I have learned why techniques are effective; I have learned how to best apply them (in various scenarios, etc.).
• By researching the art form, I have can better discern when I am not performing the technique well (when it does not feel right) and how to self-correct as opposed to needing someone else to tell me.

By researching the art form, I have learned how to Make It My Own, analyzing my strengths, spending time to understand when I would react under various scenarios to know what my tactics and strategies would be.  (For more on Making It Your Own, refer back to the September 2014 blog).

I think one of the most important aspects of researching the art form is it reinforces constant learning which is critical to learning and growing as a martial artist and eventually mastering an art form. 

Regards,

Kelly

"Given enough time, any man may master the physical. With enough knowledge, any man may become wise. It is the true warrior who can master both....and surpass the result." ~ Tien T'ai, school of Buddhism

 

How Martial Arts Has Helped me In Business- - Chief Instructor's Blog October 2014

Looking at the Club members over the years, it is not surprising to me that many Club members were either managers or leaders at work when they joined or have since become managers and leaders. 

So, you may ask how has martial arts helped me in my business life?  And what have I learned in martial arts that I have applied in the office?

I was recently introduced to a group of employees and a person mentioned that I was a Tae Kwon Do instructor as a fun fact about me.  One employee asked what about martial arts did I play or translate into the business setting.

I told them one thing I have learned is when to pick the battles, when I knew it was time to fight (not literally in the office, but more argue or try to persuade my perspective on others) versus stepping away or walking away or stepping aside.  Basically I have learned to read the situation better and learn when to pick and choose my battles.  I teach martial arts as self-defense and use it only if there is no other option.  Arguing or creating a battle in the office should be the last resort as well.  Trying to compromise or determining it is better to walk away and retaining strong working relationships is always preferable. 

Martial arts have helped me be more mentally and emotionally fit.  By being more mentally and emotionally fit and having more mental and emotional endurance, I have been able to work extended hours when needed, push through difficult tasks  and complete that last 10% consistently (you know, the 10% that tends to take up 90% of your time).

The focus and concentration I have learned in martial arts has definitely translated into my business life.  The ability to stay focused and concentrate on the task or meeting at hand and not let what is happening in other aspects of my life, what is happening across the room, or what lies ahead of me later be a distraction has been very helpful.  I believe this has allowed me to be more effective with my time as well as understand and comprehend information better.

Martial arts have also given me a lot more self-confidence in my ability.  Learning new techniques, concepts, and principles has given me confidence in other areas of my life including business where I feel I can take on new challenges and know I can learn them over time.  This has led to taking more risks in assignments in the past I may not have been comfortable taking on until I was more proficient.

I have also learned and been able to reinforce how important mind over matter is.  How important what we are thinking translates into performing well and not performing well.  In martial arts for example, if you do not think you can be effective against someone else in a self-defense scenario or in breaking a board, most likely you will not.  The strength is in the mind and if you put your mind in the right place, you can accomplish almost anything.  This also has led to more self-confidence.

Martial arts has taught me and reinforced looking at things differently.  There is not one way but multiple ways to be effective. 

Martial arts has taught me and reinforced the value of being open to new concepts.  Being open to new and different perspectives has translated to being open to diversity and inclusiveness in the work environment and not being judgmental. Think about it, if you are not open to someone else’s ideas and thoughts, basically you are telling people they have no clue or idea. You are judging them and assuming they do not know what they are talking about.

In martial arts you are always a student, even if you are an instructor.  Martial arts teaches us we can learn from everyone, white belts, green belts, blue belts, brown belts, and black belts.  It teaches us to remain open to perspectives from everyone.  In the work force this means being open to not just learning from Leaders and Fellows, but being open to learn from entry level professionals and everyone in between.  Everyone has something to share that we can learn from if we move through life always thinking we are a student.  By being open to learning from everyone in the business arena, especially as leaders, we come across as fair and inclusive.

Martial arts have also taught me that there is no room for ego.  If you have an ego and are on the street and need to use your skills, it may cost you your life.  In the workplace, especially in leadership, there is no room for ego.  If you are only out for yourself or think you know more than anyone else, people will not want to work for you or follow you.  Leaders that look after everyone else and are not about their own success but the success of the team or organization are more successful (at least in the long run).

Martial arts, like life (business or personal), is a journey.  Things do not always go as planned, or things may be harder than you first thought.  This is almost a daily part of the business world – not everything turns out as planned and how you react and how quickly you move things back on track can make the difference between being considered successful or not.  Martial arts have taught be to be more flexible and react effectively to scenarios that are not playing out as planned. 

Martial arts also teach and reinforce controlling emotions and not letting emotions control you.  This is critical in the business world as well.  Being known as emotional or hot-tempered does not usually translate well into being given new and challenging assignments or being asked to take on a leadership role.

Did I gain all of this the first week of studying martial arts?  No.  The first 6 months?  No.  These are things I have learned, applied, and translated over the last 20 years.  Some areas I applied sooner and other principles have taken more time, and some are still part of my journey to really integrate into my life.  I know when I started martial arts some of the concepts were too esoteric and I did not buy in to them completely at first, but over time I was more open and continued to open my mind to new ideas and concepts.  Some of these concepts and principles I am still not at a place where I feel like I demonstrate them consistently, but believe I continue to improve with each passing month.  And by being open with my strengths and areas of developmental improvement, I believe this translates well as a leader in business by being transparent and honest.

Some of you might be thinking maybe I have reached the rank I have in martial arts because I learned some of these concepts in the business world and applied them to martial arts.  That may be true as well in some cases.  What was the chicken and what was the egg? Bottom line is that by being able to apply and consistently live these principles and concepts in every aspect of your life and practice them until they are seamlessly integrated into who you are day to day has been beneficial to me both in martial arts and in the business world.

Regards,

Kelly

"Think of everyday life as karate training." ~ Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), founder of Shotokan Karate

Making it Your Own - - Chief Instructor's Blog September 2014

Over the years you have heard many senior instructors talk about making the art form your own.  For me, this concept of making the art form my own applies to several aspects of the art form.

Up front, I want to be clear that what “Making It Your Own” is NOT is changing the standard or the expectations of the standard at various ranks.  The standard does not change.  For example, a front kick standard is piston action using the ball of your foot as the striking surface.  If you would prefer to use swing kicks or kick with pointed toes instead, it is NOT making it your own.  This is a poor choice that does not result in effective kicks and can lead to your own injury.

While we allow for students to not adhere to the standard in the situations where a student has a physical limitation (structural, flexibility, etc.) or their body types does not really allow them to perform to standard, I would not call this “Making It Your Own”.  These are agreed-to exceptions from the standard with the Chief Instructor for a student to adapt the art form to their physical body while maintaining as much effectiveness of the technique as possible and keeping a student safe.  I will call this Adaptation of the Art Form.  We should always strive to perform the techniques to the standard as much as practical while working on physical limitations (like flexibility) to move yourself closer to the standard when possible.  In addition, students eventually become instructors; meaning they must be able to demonstrate the standard in front of a class or at least clearly articulate the proper approach.

Some aspects of “Making it Your Own” include your intention (mind set), cadence, and applications for techniques within a form.  Is a technique a block or strike?  Is the technique deflecting an incoming strike or damaging an opponent from a grab.  Most of our techniques have multiple applications.  Your preference of how to apply techniques and your intention when applying it is one aspect of “Making It Your Own”.  For example, as a white belt, we teach students to perform the form with consistent cadence throughout.  But as one advances, the cadence can be different to mimic your intention and interpretation of the form. 

Which techniques you choose to use, and your strategy in using the art form under various scenarios is part of “Making It Your Own”.  For a taller person with strong kicks, I would expect that in most scenarios they would defend themselves with kicks.  For me, as a shorter person, my advantage is working inside and using short strikes leveraging off of a lower center of gravity.  Would I tell every person those are the best Hand Moo Kwan techniques to defend yourself?  No, because they may not be for someone else and each person must discover for themselves their strengths and for what scenarios Han Moo Kwan would best serve them to keep them safe.

“Making It Your Own” will depend on the situation.  Sparring in class you may have a favorite technique that you may never practice in real-life.  Some people in class while sparring like to grab others to see how they react.  I would tell you I would probably never grab someone in a real-life scenario, giving up a weapon, unless I saw a huge advantage at the time.  How I would respond and my go-to techniques if my life was on the line versus stopping an attacker would be different as well. 

I would also say that as I get older and some of my strengths change, I adjust how I make the art form my own.  Also, as I move more towards energy and less physical force, this has also changed how I apply the art form.

The idea of and discovering how to “Make It My Own” is another reason I enjoy the art form so much.  There is always something new to discover about the art form and how I best can apply it for me.

How have you made the art form your own?

Regards,

Kelly

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” ~ Bruce Lee, (1940 –1973) American-born Chinese Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do

Be Flexible and Learn to Adapt Your Approach - - Chief Instructor's Blog August 2014

Do you approach every sparring match or self-defense scenario the same way regardless of who your opponent is?  Do you ever take into consideration who your opponent is before choosing an approach? 

In military tactics, this is critical to winning a campaign and this fact has been well known for centuries.  In Sun Tzu’s The Art of War [1] written in the 6^th century BC he states “Thus it can be said there is no standard military operation, just as there is no normal shape to water.  He who gains victory by skillfully adapting to the enemy’s strength and weaknesses is called exalted”.

And this may be common sense but how does this apply to martial arts and one on one scenario? 

Gichin Funakoshi addresses in his thirteenth principle “Make adjustments according to your opponents” in his book The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [2].

Funakoshi states, “One can understand the importance of choosing a strategy according to the enemy, of handling his “emptiness and fullness.”  This concept is not limited to the command of large numbers of soldiers but can be applied, in a narrower sense, to the technical aspects of combat in karate-do.”

So you may be asking “What is this narrower sense?”

For me, the narrower sense is due to the fact we are looking at specific people versus an army or large force and the tactics and strategy against a large group are more “narrow” than an individual or a few people. 

And you also may be asking and “How do I adjust?”

For opponents I am familiar with, I can make specific adjustments since I know their preferences and potential vulnerabilities.  I know some people like to come out kicking, so I am ready for a step aside.  I know some people like to try to catch kicks, so I may fake or be ready to turn a front kick into a side kick.  Some people like to do take downs, so when they move in I either take their ground away or go extra heavy so their technique is not effective.  For those that have tells, I take advantage of those in different ways, but one is to move in to jam the technique before it is effective.

For opponents I am not familiar with I would make more general adjustments.  For instance, long legged people, I will move inside and perform techniques that will break their balance since my center of gravity is so much lower.  For opponents that are larger and/or appear physically stronger, on the street I would quickly attack towards the groin or knees  or go towards the head to move their head back and possible get them to lose their ground.  And during the interaction, I would continue to try to learn more specifically what their strengths, vulnerabilities and tells are.

I believe if you play to just your strength it may go straight against the strengths of your opponent and then the outcome may be more uncertain.  If you play your strengths combined with weaknesses or vulnerabilities of your opponent, your odds have increased tenfold.

So next time you take the mat for sparring, take some time to think or learn the strengths, weaknesses and tells of your opponent and adjust during the match and let the outcome dictate if this was a good strategy or not.

Regards,

Kelly

“The wise man adapts himself to the circumstances.” ~  Confucius (551–479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history.

Reference

1.      The Art of War by Sun Tzu

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

Honor Your Body - - Chief Instructor's Blog July2014

There is a fine line between thinking you are toughing it out and honoring your body.  The distinction is clear, the line between the two is thin, and the difference is everything.

What do I mean by this?

Training and practicing martial arts can be very physical. It demands balance, flexibly, muscular and cardio endurance, and strength to name just a few.  And each day may be different depending on the amount of sleep, the stress of work, an injury, etc.  Each day when you come into the dojang you should check in with yourself and know how much you can be pushed.  I am not saying this gives you an excuse to slack off or not try, but you should be conscious of your body and what your limits are.

We study martial arts in part as a means to learn self-defense.  The number one rule in self-defense is not being chosen as a victim.  In order not to be chosen as a victim, you need to set boundaries and stand up for yourself.  If your partner is applying too much power, you need to request them to reduce the power.  If an instructor asked you to do something that causes pain in joints, or discomfort in breathing, or feels like it is straining muscles, you should stop and let the instructor know this does not feel right for your body.  If you are injured, know what activities exacerbate the issue and those you can do.

There are many things you can still do even if injured or recovering from an injury.  When I was recovering from my hip surgery, I mentally went through techniques and forms but did not do anything physical for the first few weeks.  Next I was able to do some upper body techniques in a chair or in a light stance.  Eventually I could move in stance and throw some light front kicks and turn away kicks and go through some forms with minimal force.  Each time I practiced, I slowly tested what my body could do and paid attention to what my body was telling me was okay to try or to add more force or power to.  The last technique I could do was side kick, because the pivoting on the base foot was a motion my hip muscles and joint needed more time to heal and strengthen in order to perform.  At first, I used the wall and very slowly performed the motion with no force at all.  Over time, I was able to throw the kick with some power and then with even more power. 

As I said in the beginning, there can be a fine line between toughing it out and honoring your body.  As instructors, we tend to push you to your limits to make sure you are progressing in the art form.  However, we do not know your body as well as you and rely on each student to know when they have come up to that limit. 

Train hard, push yourself to your limits, but listen to your body and know when to say no.  This is an important part of becoming a martial artist and living a key martial artist principle.  And by honoring yourself and your body you are not allowing yourself to be victimized by others or victimized by yourself.

 

Regards,

Kelly

"He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious." ~ Sun Tzu (6th Century BC), Chinese General, military strategist, and author of The Art of War“

 

Martial Arts Goes Beyond The Dojang- - Chief Instructor's Blog June 2014

The ultimate intent of becoming a martial artist is not an activity to reach a certain rank or something one does a couple times a week.  Since the beginning, almost every martial arts master has indicated that what you are learning is a Way of life.  In fact, the “Do” in Tae Kwon Do, Karate-Do, Judo, means “Way”. 

In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his eighth principle is “Karate goes beyond the dojo”.  Funakoshi states, “The objective of karate-do is to polish and mature both the mind and body.  The cultivation of one’s spirit and mental attitude begun during practice in the dojo (training hall) should not cease after the physical and mental exertions end for the day.  Rather, this should continue outside the dojo, in our daily routine.” 

I have mentioned in many classes that to master many of the skills in martial arts, they need to become part of your lifestyle and not just something you do 5-6 PM, 6-7 PM, or 7-7:30 PM Mondays and Thursdays and an occasional Saturday. 

For instance, grounding is not just something you do right before start practicing martial arts.  Being grounded needs to be part of who you are and how you move in every part of your life.  It is not just something you do in the dojang.  You will discover if you are always grounded that other physical activities become easier – lifting weights, gardening, etc.  You will discover that if you are always grounded you feel more relaxed and you are less reactive to the environment or people around you.

Continuous, “even” breathing is something you should strive to do always as well.  This includes physical activity or any situation where your breathing might get strained.  For instance, I practice even, continuous breathing not only in my other physical activities but also at places like the dentist’s office.  I try to remain relaxed and focus just on easy breathing the entire time.  As much as going to the dentist is not something I think I will ever enjoy, I have found it a much more pleasant experience by just focusing on my breathing.

We strive to be present in performing our techniques, forms, sparring, etc.  We should be present in every activity we do, whether it is at home, work, or in the dojang.  We should be present when we communicate with friends, family or co-workers listening and staying present for each word so we are sure we understand their perspective and what they are trying to say.  I find when I am completely present when communicating with others, I understand more, I learn more and there is less miscommunication which leads to less frustration from both parties.  We should be present when driving to work or the store which will keep us and those around us safe by not being distracted.  We should be striving to be present in everything we do, always.

We practice patience with ourselves and others in the dojang.  When we are patient with ourselves and stop trying too hard to master or learn something instantaneously, we enjoy the journey more and appreciate the effort we put in to learn and master something.  We should strive to be patient with others in every scenario on every occasion.  When we are patient with each other we tend to have better interactions, less frustration, and more enjoyment. 

Eventually you stop thinking you are practicing a martial art, but you start thinking and acting like a martial artist.  There is a big distinction here.  One is something you do, while the other is who you are.  You start to carry the knowledge and skills interchangeably in the dojang and outside the dojang.  You see the relationships of how you practice and how you live and you strive for them being one and the same. 

You may be amazed at how this not only enhances your martial arts practice but also enhances your everyday life once you get to the point where the ideals and concepts you learn in the dojang are part of your “daily routine”.

Regards,

Kelly

"Although it is important to study and train for skill in techniques, for the man who wishes to truly accomplish the way of budo, it is more important to make his whole life in training and therefore not aiming for skill and strength alone, but also for spiritual attainment."~ Masutatsu Oyama (1923- 1994), a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate

References

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

 

Evolution of the Jump Kicks - - Chief Instructor's Blog May2014

Have you ever noticed that your jump front kick may not look the same as someone else’s in the Club?  Well, it may not and it might not supposed to.  What level are you comparing yourself with?  A White Belt or Blue Belt jump front kick should not look the same.  A Blue Belt and a Black Belt’s jump side kick should not look the same.

Why?

The jump kicks take a tremendous amount of balance, control, and force.  It is a very dynamic kick, so we teach it in stages so students can progress and not get completely frustrated.  The jump kicks evolve to take advantage of the skills as students progress.  What is critical is not if your jump looks different but are you demonstrating it the way that is appropriate for your level, you understand it will evolve as you progress, and you understand the goal as an advanced student.  Your instructor and/or coach will prompt you when it is time to take it to the next level. 

Let’s look at the evolution of the “jump” of the three basics jump kicks one at a time.  Keep in mind what is described here is the standard and does not mean variations are not performed depending on the scenario or intention – will discussed this more in a later blog.

Jump Front Kick:

At the Beginner level, the “jump” for jump front kick is taught more as a step since students usually do not have the balance yet for a more advanced “jump”.  The step is taught that the hips shift forward transferring weight forward to initiate the jump and the rear foot shifts to the side of the front foot (heel to heel).

At the Intermediate level, as students demonstrate more balance and control, the “jump” evolves to a foot replacement where the rear foot replaces front foot (i.e., heel of rear foot should move under and replace heel of forward foot).

At the Advanced level, where students are more grounded, demonstrate even more balance and control, the “jump” continues to evolve such that students will place the rear foot further forward and “jump” through the forward foot.

Jump Side Kick:

At the Beginner level, the “jump” for jump side kick is taught more as a cross step that creates a more stable base to throw the kick from.  The cross step is taught by shifting forward in Cat Stance  with rear foot crossing behind the front foot; turning the body 90 degrees  on the balls of the feet.  Depending on the student’s ability and the instructor’s determination of the student’s balance and control, their progress dictates how much time a student at the Beginner level practices the cross step before moving to a step. 

At the Intermediate level, as students demonstrate more balance and control, the “jump” evolves to a foot replacement where the rear foot replaces front foot (i.e., heel of rear foot should move under and replace heel of forward foot).

At the Advanced level, where students  are more grounded, demonstrate even more balance and control, the “jump” continues to evolves such that students will place the rear foot further forward and “jump” through the forward foot.

For brown belt and above, the “jump” in both jump front kick and jump side kick should look exactly the same.  A major advantage is an opponent should not be able to tell the difference on which kick will be thrown until the last second and you can determine at the last second which kick would be more effective.

Jump Turnaway Kick:

At the Beginner level, the “jump” for jump turnaway kick is taught more as a step since students usually do not have the balance yet for a more advanced “jump”.  The step is taught that the hips shift forward transferring weight forward to initiate the jump and the rear foot shifts to the side of the front foot (heel to heel).

At the Intermediate level, as students demonstrate more balance and control, the “jump” evolves to a foot replacement where the rear foot replaces front foot (i.e., heel of rear foot should move under and replace heel of forward foot).  In addition, at the Intermediate level, students should be taught to attack with the front hip; rotating hips approximately 45 degrees and transferring weight forward to initiate the jump.

At the Advanced level, where student  are more grounded, demonstrate even more balance and control, the “jump” continues to evolves such that students will place the rear foot further forward and “jump” through the forward foot while continuing to attack with the front hip.

Fast Jump Kicks:

As students continue to advanced, a fast jump kick is taught where the entire kick is initiated from the back leg with no weight on the front foot.  This may not be as powerful as the Advanced kicks above, but much faster and over time more power can be generated with practice.

Summary:

Many of our techniques evolve as we progress in the art form.  Mechanically, the jump kicks probably evolve the most.  It is simply part of the journey. 

Enjoy the journey.

Regards,

Kelly

"Behind each triumph are new peaks to be conquered." ~ Masutatsu Oyama (1923- 1994), a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate

What Energy Are you Bringing Into the Dojang? - - Chief Instructor's Blog April 2014

In January’s blog, I discussed the importance of the attitude and your mental state when coming into the dojang for each class.  This month I am going to take it one step further and discuss the energy side of it.

So, as discussed last month, your mental state of willingness to learn, being present for the instruction and willing to focus on learning and studying a martial art is critical every time you step into the dojang.

The energy you bring and the intention you set with your energy is also important.  Keep in mind that thoughts are energy and our thoughts matter tremendously when setting intentions and projecting energy.

Instructors:

Instructors should strive to ensure every student’s safety while participating in the drills and exercises of each class.  As instructors, it is important not only that we set up drills that are safe but we set an intention (project energy) that the dojang is a safe place to learn and study.  This by all means does not mean we need to always go light or never project force.  In fact, at times instructors need to project energy that could be damaging as a means of demonstrating the energy and philosophy of the Han Moo Kwan art form. 

It means being conscious of the selection of drills and projecting the appropriate force/energy (or taking to a level slightly above what a student’s level is) and at the same time have the intention we are in a safe learning environment. 

Instructors should set an intention that the environment is inviting to learn, ask questions, make mistakes and learn from them.  Instructors should set an intention to be patient with their students since not all students learn at the same pace. 

Students:

As students, it is important our intention is to be safe for ourselves and be safe with our partners.  This by all means does not mean we need to always go light or never project force.  In fact, at times we ask students to project energy that could be damaging as a means of demonstrating the energy and philosophy of the Han Moo Kwan art form. 

It means projecting the appropriate force/energy.  If a student is concerned with getting hurt or hurting someone else, he/she tends to cause more harm with that intention than just projecting the appropriate force/energy (or taking to a level slightly above) dependent on the drill and the level of experience of our partner.

It is also important we set an intention of being open to learning.  Students should feel comfortable we are all here to learn and grow.  Students should set an intention to do their best and learn from mistakes with no judgment.  Students should set an intention of being patient with themselves if they are not picking up a new technique, correcting a technique, or learning a new form as quickly as they would like.  Every day we walk into the dojang is a new day.  We may be coming off an injury or illness and should honor whatever our best is that day with the goal to continuing to improve.  Our mental state and the intention we put into each class every time we bow into the dojang will set the stage for that class for you and others participating that night.  It is about being conscious of the energy we project into the room and with other students. 

Summary:

So, when you bow before entering into the dojang, not only spend a moment and let your day go, be happy to be entering the dojang and be ready to learn (and/or teach) and practice with an open mind.  Ensure when you enter a drill with a partner you are projecting the appropriate energy/ force, set of intention of being patient with yourself and others you work with, and create an, inviting space to learn, teach, and grow.

Regards,

Kelly

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

~ Aristotle, (384 – 322 BCE), Greek philosopher

 

Awareness Revisited - - Chief Instructor's Blog March 2014

Awareness is a critical aspect of self-defense.  I have written about awareness in other blogs in the past (May 2008 and August 2009).  For many reasons, I think it is important to bring this topic back up.  Two of the biggest reasons is there are more and more petty crimes (e.g., smart phone stolen out of people’s hands on streets) and more random violent acts (e.g., The Knockout Game) than ever before.

Using your skills learned in class is a last resort.  Let me state that again.  Using your skills learned in class is a last resort. 

If you are aware of your surroundings and can avoid a confrontation that is the best way to “win”.  Awareness does not mean being paranoid every time you step outside or inside your house; it means being alert, noticing your surroundings and the people around you.  By being aware, you will stay safer.  Those people who look and act as if they are aware of their surroundings are less likely to be a target.

Being aware also means being conscious and have an understanding of human behavior (body language, tone of voice, heavier breathing, etc.) and understand when that behavior is a potential threat to you or the people you are with.

It is simply being aware of the energy/intention of the people around you.  Is their energy warm and friendly or feel harsh or directed?

If you are waking down the street staring at your smart phone, texting someone, are you aware?  Are you an easy target?

If you walk into a bar in a neighborhood you are unfamiliar with and do not notice the people (are there some loud, obnoxious people there that have had too much to drink?), the atmosphere of the room and where all the exits are, are you being aware?

If you get on public transit and immediately put your nose in a book and are not aware of who gets on, what their energy is like, are you being aware?

If you are on travel and not aware of the people next to you while you are carrying large amounts of cash, are you being aware?  Are you staying safe?  Are you an easy target?

Awareness is not being paranoid or “looking for trouble”.  It is simply being more conscious of your surroundings and the energy of the people around you.  Awareness will keep you safe regardless of where you are at or where you are going.

For more information on awareness, I again recommend the following books:

1.      Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artists Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, and Countervailing Force by Lawrence Kane, 2006

2.      Strong on Defense by Sanford Strong

3.      The Gift of Fear by Gavin De

Regards,

Kelly

“There must be awareness at every moment: getting up in the morning, working, eating, going to bed.”  Taisen Deshimaru (1914-1982), Japanese Sōtō Zen Buddhist

 

 

Mepojan Series – What It Teaches You - - Chief Instructor's Blog February 2014

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