While being able to perform the techniques very well is
important, to truly master a martial art you must also understand and master the
principles behind the art form.
First let me start with the fact that Han Moo Kwan is a
self-defense martial art style. It is
designed for you to stay safe and end altercations quickly during in close
combat. Therefore, its principles are all
based on these premises. For the
purpose of what is stated below, the principles are the foundations to guide movement
and strategies are more the tactical plans for applying techniques.
I will discuss each of the key principles and why it is important to mastering the art form.
Close the Distance
The art form is meant to be performed in close, since it uses the body (e.g., hands and feet) as weapons. In addition, most attackers do not know how to fight close in, so learning to defend yourself close in puts you at the advantage. To be effective close-in we employ the strategy of short strikes.
Short Strikes
Short strikes are harder to see coming and to stop. Short strikes put you at an advantage since most people cannot fight close in. This advantage will keep you safe and end an altercation quickly.
Be
offensive, not just defensive
All techniques are considered offensive, even blocks. That is why we strike and block to break. This is tied to the next principle below but it is also a mindset. Even when blocking, it is not deflecting, the block is attacking.
Strike
for damage to end it quickly to minimize injuries on both sides / Every
movement does damage
If every movement causes damage, it will end an altercation quicker. And this means not only strikes and kicks, but the transitions, turns, “in between” techniques. If you start using “preps” as another means to do damage, that is a good start. In addition, we employ linear strikes and proper structural alignment as strategies.
Linear Strikes
Linear strikes are also faster and harder to stop. Both of these attributes are important to end an altercation quickly.
Structural Alignment
Every technique has a proper alignment such that the body’s skeletal and muscular system supports the technique to maximize force. A few examples are (1) closed fist punching arm alignment, (2) blocking arm alignment, (3) hip rotation and leg lock in side kick, (4) leg lock in turnaway kicks, etc.
Get Off The Line
If you draw a line down the center of your body from forehead to groin, it passes through the vulnerable and vital spots in the body. So, it is critical to protect those parts of your body. By getting off the line, the intent is to no longer have the center of the body in a line with attacker weapons.
Protect yourself at all times
If you are protecting yourself at all times, especially vulnerable spots, you will stay safe. We protect ourselves when we keep elbows close to the body and protect the ribs/kidneys, or by keep weight off the front foot in cat stance to protect the knee, or arm traveling straight up first in high block to protect the head. If any of your techniques leave you vulnerable for other than a fraction of a second, you may relook at how you are performing the technique. In addition, a key strategy is to keep proper posture and alignment so stay balanced and use the structure of the body to maximize force, absorb the force, and reduce injuries to self.
Proper Posture / Stances
Every stance has an alignment that keeps you balanced – for the most part it is head over shoulders and shoulders over hips with your mass over your center of gravity. If you are “out of square” in punches, knife hand, etc., you can easily be pulled off-balanced or fall forward if an attacker steps aside as you lean in to strike.
Structural Alignment
Every technique has a proper alignment such that the body’s skeletal and muscular system supports the technique to minimize injury to self. A few examples are (1) closed fist punching arm alignment, (2) blocking arm alignment, (3) hip rotation and leg lock in side kick, (4) leg lock in Turnaway kicks, etc.
Keep it simple
At its essence, Han Moo Kwan is simple and straightforward. Certainly, there are some exciting and fancy moves you can practice that look flashy and fun to try and impressive to perform, but those are not always effective, require more moves which more opportunity to be stopped and slower, or keep you safe. The goal of Han Moo Kwan is to be effective and stay safe therefore with that objective in mind, techniques are kept straightforward and simple.
Focus on the opponent, not just the weapon. The opponent is the one that will harm you
If an assailant has a weapon, you need to be aware and control, trap, and disarm as focus on attacking vulnerable locations on the assailant. If the assailant is injured, they may no longer be able to use said weapon.
Fight as if your life depends on it, doing whatever it
takes to defend your life
As the art form is meant for self-defense purposes, IF you
have no choice but to use physical techniques, then you should continue to
fight until feel safe and / or are safe.
Be grounded at all times
By being grounded at all times, you are harder to move and if you do move, you move in control and safely. By being grounded your techniques come from your Center which makes your techniques more powerful.
Use Energy
When we use energy, we add even more power to our techniques. When we add the intention of inflicting severe
damage and destruction to the energy, then the techniques are near impossible
to stop. And therefore, any altercation
will end quickly.
None of these principles get mastered all at once. It takes years of practice and focus on each
one, then many at once, then all at once to master the principles. And once you master the principles, you will
master the techniques, and then you will master the art form.
Regards,
Kelly
"Techniques are simple but the principle is profound.”
~ from Muye Dobo Tongji, a martial arts manual published in 1790 in Korea, written
by Yi Deongmu (1741–1793), Pak Je-ga (1750–1805) and Baek Dong-soo (1743–1816)
