The Kiyup (kiai in the Japanese arts), often referred to as the yell used in the martial arts, can have varied purposes and uses depending on the particular art form in question. There is even an entire martial art dedicated to only the development of this yell, called Kiaijutsu.
Athletes from sports such as baseball, football, and tennis have been known to yell, scream, or grunt and their rationale for doing so have similar reasons as in martial arts.
In Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do, kiyups are used to:
• Increase power
• Control one’s breath and to focus energy when executing a technique
• Signify a decisive technique or accentuate a technique especially during free-sparring
• Prepare and focus for sparring
• Ensure the breath is not held during exertion
• Disperse blows to the abdomen
• Surprise an opponent and break his or her concentration
• Intimidate or "psyche out" an opponent
• Deter other potential aggressors
• Disrupt an opponent’s nervous system (at an advanced level)
The noise from a Kiyup is transmitted from one’s center, and it involves the abdominal muscles and diaphragm; not from the throat.
The actual sound emitted from each student may sound slightly different. In general, kiyups should sound like “HHHaych” while expelling all the air from the lungs. Mr. Kim taught kiyups to be emitted this way because it forces the body to harden and all the muscles to lock down creating an impenetrable surface.
In Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do, kiyups are performed on the following occasions:
• During regular class time stepping into a new stance
• While sparring or entering drills with a partner, the student executes a single kiyup in the starting procedures and at any time during sparring match or drill
• At specific points in the forms; failure to sound a strong kiyup at the appropriate place is regarded as an error
• At the moment of impact of a technique, whether it be a strike, block, or kick
Practicing your kiyups is important and students should take all opportunities (falls and rolls, basics, sparring, self-defense) to practice and to recognize the benefits of kiyups.
Regards,
Kelly
“Kiai literally means 'spirit convergence' or 'energy concentration’ taking advantage of a sound to fuse the maximum efficient force that can be exerted. When using kiai, one is using the utmost life force.” ~ from The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do by Shoshin Nagamine (1907-1997), Founder of Okinawan Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate
Reference
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai
2. http://www.tkdtutor.com/06Concepts/Techniques/Kiai/Kiai01.htm
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Your State of Mind Matters (and Matters Most) - - Chief Instructor's Blog May 2011
While technique is very important to be effective, your state of mind matters more. If you unsure of yourself, not confident or not fully focused on the task at hand, you will not be effective.
Think about when you are practicing and how effective are you when you are thinking of other things (work, home, weekend plans) or when you are thinking how bad the technique is? You are not effective at all. When practicing you should focus on practicing and while we all need to improve, you should focus on what is going well, not just what is wrong.
Think about when you are sparring and how effective you are when all you are thinking about is not getting hit or kicked? You probably constantly get hit or kicked. When you are sparring you should focus on your ability and be confident you will strike and kick your opponent.
Think about when you are breaking boards and how effective you are when you think you can not do it? You probably can not break it. When breaking boards, you should be thinking they are already broken even before you start.
In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his fifth principle is “Mentality over Technique”.
Funakoshi states, “….in martial arts mental faculties are more important than technique. The former must rise above the latter.”
You state of mind and being positive in all your actions while practicing, sparring, breaking boards, etc is critical. Perfect technique will almost never make up for a positive, confident state of mind. When you are positive and focused on the task at hand and are confident in what you are capable of, it can make up for many inefficiencies in your technique.
Regards,
Kelly
"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win." ~ Sun Tzu (6th Century BC), Chinese General, military strategist, and author of The Art of War
Reference
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
Think about when you are practicing and how effective are you when you are thinking of other things (work, home, weekend plans) or when you are thinking how bad the technique is? You are not effective at all. When practicing you should focus on practicing and while we all need to improve, you should focus on what is going well, not just what is wrong.
Think about when you are sparring and how effective you are when all you are thinking about is not getting hit or kicked? You probably constantly get hit or kicked. When you are sparring you should focus on your ability and be confident you will strike and kick your opponent.
Think about when you are breaking boards and how effective you are when you think you can not do it? You probably can not break it. When breaking boards, you should be thinking they are already broken even before you start.
In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his fifth principle is “Mentality over Technique”.
Funakoshi states, “….in martial arts mental faculties are more important than technique. The former must rise above the latter.”
You state of mind and being positive in all your actions while practicing, sparring, breaking boards, etc is critical. Perfect technique will almost never make up for a positive, confident state of mind. When you are positive and focused on the task at hand and are confident in what you are capable of, it can make up for many inefficiencies in your technique.
Regards,
Kelly
"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win." ~ Sun Tzu (6th Century BC), Chinese General, military strategist, and author of The Art of War
Reference
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
Friday, April 1, 2011
Never Underestimate an Opponent - - Chief Instructor's Blog April 2011
As noted in class and in other blogs, one should try to avoid any and all confrontation and conflict and only as a last resort turn to using the skills you have learned in class to defend yourself. And if you have to use your skills to defend yourself, under no circumstance should you underestimate your opponent.
In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his fifteenth principle is “Think of your opponent’s hands and feet as swords”.
Funakoshi states, “When trouble occurs, we should always remain careful and respectful in words and actions and never look down upon opponents or discount their potential Rather, we should concentrate on defending ourselves with full awareness and commitment.”
There are many reasons to honor the potential destructiveness of an opponent. For one, if you were attacked or confronted on the streets, you do not know what experience or training this person has in martial arts, combat, weapons, etc. In addition, even untrained people could prove to be difficult if taken lightly especially if they are on drugs or amped up on adrenaline itching for a fight. Most of you have heard of situations where untrained people have done extraordinary feats such as lifting a car off a child to save them. It is amazing what people are capable of under certain circumstances and when their life is on the line. These are just a few reasons to never underestimate an opponent.
Years ago, Brian Rainie assisted a police officer trying to control a person on PCP. Brian got him in a joint lock but it took ripping tendons and muscles to subdue him enough to get cuffs on him. Brian noticed he had blood on his hands and realized the blood was from the person he had in a joint lock. This person actually scrapped the skin off his wrists and hands getting out of the cuffs once already. This is an example of what someone on drugs is capable of.
If you take for granted the skill of an opponent, it may prove to be deadly. Always assume an opponent is skilled and “think of your opponent’s hands and feet as swords” regardless of their size or age.
Regards,
Kelly
“In cases of defense tis best to weigh the enemy more mighty than he seems”~ from Henry V by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English poet and playwright
Reference
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his fifteenth principle is “Think of your opponent’s hands and feet as swords”.
Funakoshi states, “When trouble occurs, we should always remain careful and respectful in words and actions and never look down upon opponents or discount their potential Rather, we should concentrate on defending ourselves with full awareness and commitment.”
There are many reasons to honor the potential destructiveness of an opponent. For one, if you were attacked or confronted on the streets, you do not know what experience or training this person has in martial arts, combat, weapons, etc. In addition, even untrained people could prove to be difficult if taken lightly especially if they are on drugs or amped up on adrenaline itching for a fight. Most of you have heard of situations where untrained people have done extraordinary feats such as lifting a car off a child to save them. It is amazing what people are capable of under certain circumstances and when their life is on the line. These are just a few reasons to never underestimate an opponent.
Years ago, Brian Rainie assisted a police officer trying to control a person on PCP. Brian got him in a joint lock but it took ripping tendons and muscles to subdue him enough to get cuffs on him. Brian noticed he had blood on his hands and realized the blood was from the person he had in a joint lock. This person actually scrapped the skin off his wrists and hands getting out of the cuffs once already. This is an example of what someone on drugs is capable of.
If you take for granted the skill of an opponent, it may prove to be deadly. Always assume an opponent is skilled and “think of your opponent’s hands and feet as swords” regardless of their size or age.
Regards,
Kelly
“In cases of defense tis best to weigh the enemy more mighty than he seems”~ from Henry V by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), English poet and playwright
Reference
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Patience - - Chief Instructor's Blog Match 2011
In mastering anything, including martial arts, it takes patience and an open mind. How many of you watched the TV show Kung Fu in the 1970s where young Caine heard on many occasions from his master. “Patience, Young Grasshopper”.
The idea of taking time, even a lifetime to master a martial art did not begin with the TV show King Fu but goes back centuries. In the famous Zen parable written in the 13th century titled “The Taste of Banzo’s Sword” [1], the parable starts out:
“Matajuro Yagyu was the son of a famous swordsman. His father, believing that his son's work was too mediocre to anticipate mastership, disowned him. So Matajuro went to Mount Futara and there found the famous swordsman Banzo. But Banzo confirmed the father's judgment. "You wish to learn swordsmanship under my guidance?" asked Banzo. "You cannot fulfill the requirements."
"But if I work hard, how many years will it take me to become a master?" persisted the youth.
"The rest of your life," replied Banzo.
The initial response of the sword master is this is a lifetime pursuit. The potential student goes on to question this, believing if he puts in the time, it will go quicker.
"I cannot wait that long," explained Matajuro. "I am willing to pass through any hardship if only you will teach me. If I become your devoted servant, how long might it be?"
"Oh, maybe ten years," Banzo relented.
But even ten years seems an extremely long time to the potential student. He believes if he works harder, he can master it quickly.
"My father is getting old, and soon I must take care of him," continued Matajuro. "If I work far more intensively, how long would it take me?"
"Oh, maybe thirty years," said Banzo.
You would think if one tried harder and worked harder, it would take less time.
"Why is that?" asked Matajuro. "First you say ten and now thirty years. I will undergo any hardship to master this art in the shortest time!"
"Well," said Banzo, "in that case you will have to remain with me for seventy years. A man in such a hurry as you are to get results seldom learns quickly."
To master an art takes time and an open mind to learn. If one is too focused on the end result and not the journey, then you are not necessarily open to the learning process and therefore are not necessarily learning.
Anko Itosu, an Okinawan Karate master in his letter 10 Precepts of Karate written in 1908, wrote “Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand miles. If one trains diligently everyday, then in three or four years one will come to understand karate. Those who train in this fashion will discover karate.”
Learning takes time and patience. Learning martial arts is a process and a journey and since there is always something to learn and discover, there is no distinct end result. This does not mean one does not improve and grow, it just means there is no magic finish line. There are definitely accomplishments such as receiving new ranks and a new belt, but this is just recognition of where you are at in the process, not an end result in and of itself.
Be patient, always stay open to learning, and enjoy the journey.
Regards,
Kelly
“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few.” ~ Shunryu Suzuki (1904-1971), Zen Master
The idea of taking time, even a lifetime to master a martial art did not begin with the TV show King Fu but goes back centuries. In the famous Zen parable written in the 13th century titled “The Taste of Banzo’s Sword” [1], the parable starts out:
“Matajuro Yagyu was the son of a famous swordsman. His father, believing that his son's work was too mediocre to anticipate mastership, disowned him. So Matajuro went to Mount Futara and there found the famous swordsman Banzo. But Banzo confirmed the father's judgment. "You wish to learn swordsmanship under my guidance?" asked Banzo. "You cannot fulfill the requirements."
"But if I work hard, how many years will it take me to become a master?" persisted the youth.
"The rest of your life," replied Banzo.
The initial response of the sword master is this is a lifetime pursuit. The potential student goes on to question this, believing if he puts in the time, it will go quicker.
"I cannot wait that long," explained Matajuro. "I am willing to pass through any hardship if only you will teach me. If I become your devoted servant, how long might it be?"
"Oh, maybe ten years," Banzo relented.
But even ten years seems an extremely long time to the potential student. He believes if he works harder, he can master it quickly.
"My father is getting old, and soon I must take care of him," continued Matajuro. "If I work far more intensively, how long would it take me?"
"Oh, maybe thirty years," said Banzo.
You would think if one tried harder and worked harder, it would take less time.
"Why is that?" asked Matajuro. "First you say ten and now thirty years. I will undergo any hardship to master this art in the shortest time!"
"Well," said Banzo, "in that case you will have to remain with me for seventy years. A man in such a hurry as you are to get results seldom learns quickly."
To master an art takes time and an open mind to learn. If one is too focused on the end result and not the journey, then you are not necessarily open to the learning process and therefore are not necessarily learning.
Anko Itosu, an Okinawan Karate master in his letter 10 Precepts of Karate written in 1908, wrote “Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand miles. If one trains diligently everyday, then in three or four years one will come to understand karate. Those who train in this fashion will discover karate.”
Learning takes time and patience. Learning martial arts is a process and a journey and since there is always something to learn and discover, there is no distinct end result. This does not mean one does not improve and grow, it just means there is no magic finish line. There are definitely accomplishments such as receiving new ranks and a new belt, but this is just recognition of where you are at in the process, not an end result in and of itself.
Be patient, always stay open to learning, and enjoy the journey.
Regards,
Kelly
“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few.” ~ Shunryu Suzuki (1904-1971), Zen Master
References
1. Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings
Compiled by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki
Compiled by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Martial Arts Training is a Lifetime Pursuit - - Chief Instructor's Blog February 2011
Learning any martial art and learning everything you can from that study takes a lifetime. Many martial arts’ masters have made similar statements throughout the history of martial arts. In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [1], his ninth principle is “Karate is a Lifetime Pursuit”. Funakoshi states, “There is no single point that marks the completion of karate training; there is always a higher level.”
There are many facets to why this is a true statement. Let’s take hyung for an example. In the beginning you learn the basic mechanics and it takes months or years to perfect the pattern and the mechanics so it is perfect or near- perfect; every technique performed exactly as it should, every technique ends precisely in the right spot, techniques on the left and right sides are exactly the same, stance lengths are identical, the motion is linear and smooth, etc. Once you have learned the mechanical movements well you start to add force and speed to the techniques. It takes time to add more and more speed and force keeping the mechanics near perfect. During this time you also start working on being grounded throughout every motion and technique. Once you are able to maintain full speed and force with perfect mechanics, and can maintain ground, then you start applying energy to the techniques. One can spend years mastering the energy so it is focused, consistent, linear, etc with every technique and movement.
During all of this as well, you start studying the application of the techniques within the hyung and how to use them in a self-defense situation. And the more you experiment with various applications, additional applications become apparent. You can spend years trying to understand all the potential applications of every motion, transition, and technique within a hyung. For this reason, years ago, some masters only focused on learning one or two forms; because it took a lifetime to truly master every facet of the forms.
In addition, I have written in several blogs how studying martial arts improves one not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. In essence, martial arts are about improving one and in the context there is no end. Many martial arts masters and philosophers have made similar statements. Funakoshi writes “Walking this endless road, becoming better today, than yesterday, and then better tomorrow than today –throughout one life-is a true image of the Way of Karate” [1]. Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, wrote “Victory over oneself is the primary goal of our training. We focus on the spirit rather than the form, the kernel rather than the shell” [2]. Lao Tzu, 6th century BC philosopher of ancient China and author of the Tao Te Ching is quoted as saying “Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
I encourage you to continue your martial arts studies; there is much to learn.
Regards,
Kelly
“It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.”
~ Jigoro Kano (1860 –1938), founder of judo
References
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
2. The Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba
There are many facets to why this is a true statement. Let’s take hyung for an example. In the beginning you learn the basic mechanics and it takes months or years to perfect the pattern and the mechanics so it is perfect or near- perfect; every technique performed exactly as it should, every technique ends precisely in the right spot, techniques on the left and right sides are exactly the same, stance lengths are identical, the motion is linear and smooth, etc. Once you have learned the mechanical movements well you start to add force and speed to the techniques. It takes time to add more and more speed and force keeping the mechanics near perfect. During this time you also start working on being grounded throughout every motion and technique. Once you are able to maintain full speed and force with perfect mechanics, and can maintain ground, then you start applying energy to the techniques. One can spend years mastering the energy so it is focused, consistent, linear, etc with every technique and movement.
During all of this as well, you start studying the application of the techniques within the hyung and how to use them in a self-defense situation. And the more you experiment with various applications, additional applications become apparent. You can spend years trying to understand all the potential applications of every motion, transition, and technique within a hyung. For this reason, years ago, some masters only focused on learning one or two forms; because it took a lifetime to truly master every facet of the forms.
In addition, I have written in several blogs how studying martial arts improves one not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. In essence, martial arts are about improving one and in the context there is no end. Many martial arts masters and philosophers have made similar statements. Funakoshi writes “Walking this endless road, becoming better today, than yesterday, and then better tomorrow than today –throughout one life-is a true image of the Way of Karate” [1]. Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, wrote “Victory over oneself is the primary goal of our training. We focus on the spirit rather than the form, the kernel rather than the shell” [2]. Lao Tzu, 6th century BC philosopher of ancient China and author of the Tao Te Ching is quoted as saying “Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.”
I encourage you to continue your martial arts studies; there is much to learn.
Regards,
Kelly
“It is not important to be better than someone else, but to be better than yesterday.”
~ Jigoro Kano (1860 –1938), founder of judo
References
1. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
2. The Art of Peace by Morihei Ueshiba
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Evolution of the Martial Artist - - Chief Instructor's Blog January 2011
As you study martial arts, you evolve in many ways. I have written on numerous occasions how studying martial arts can improve your self mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. And even within each area, there is an evolution of its own.
Let’s look how your physical techniques evolve over time and the expectations as you are promoted from rank to rank. We will explore four aspects of techniques as one progresses over time: Mechanics, force, grounding, and energy projection. The figure below depicts generally the expectations of these four aspects over time as a student progresses in the art form.
Mechanics
As a white belt, the focus is almost exclusively on mechanics and the drills and practice are focused on perfecting the mechanics. By the time a student reaches Brown Belt, it is expected the mechanics are near perfect. And as you move towards Black Belt, a student must maintain that balance so their mechanics stay near perfect as they learn different aspects of the art form.
Use of Force
As a white belt, there is very little emphasis on physical force. The mechanics are the foundation for all techniques and without them adding force proves to be very ineffective. As the mechanics become more effective and safe, there is more emphasis on the use of force. In order to reach blue belt there is an expectation that a majority of your techniques have significant force. However, there must always be a balance between mechanics, refining the mechanics, and adding force. By the time a student reaches Brown Belt, it is expected they are always throwing force in every technique and the mechanics are near perfect. After Brown Belt, as a student progresses towards a Black Belt, there is actually an expectation that there is a decrease in the use of force as students are expected to use more and more energy and less physical force in their techniques.
Grounding
As a white belt, there is very little emphasis on grounding. In order to progress there is an expectation that students are grounded more often in their techniques, hyung, self-defense etc. By being grounded; techniques can be performed as a connection of the entire body with the earth (ground). The end result is increased balance, stability, and strength with minimum use of muscular tension and/or strain. As a student continues to progress it is expected that they are grounded more and more and in order to reach First Degree Black Belt they are grounded nearly all the time.
Energy Projection
As a white belt, the concept of energy projection is introduced through drills such as the fire hose drill and the light and heavy drill, however, energy projection is not expected to be performed at that time with the techniques. As a student continues to progress it is to project energy with their techniques more and more, and in order to reach Second Degree Black Belt they project energy with all their techniques. In addition, it is expected that energy matches the philosophy of Han Moo Kwan: direct, offensive, linear, destructive. Part of the rationale for the progression of energy projection is without the perfect mechanics, being grounded, and an understanding of how force feels when applied correctly; applying energy is not usually effective.
While this may seem a lot to think about regarding the expectation of the physical techniques in order to progress n the art form, it is part of what makes the art form always interesting and challenging to study.
Regards,
Kelly
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~ Lao-Tzu (6th century BC), philosopher of ancient China, and best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching
Let’s look how your physical techniques evolve over time and the expectations as you are promoted from rank to rank. We will explore four aspects of techniques as one progresses over time: Mechanics, force, grounding, and energy projection. The figure below depicts generally the expectations of these four aspects over time as a student progresses in the art form.
Mechanics
As a white belt, the focus is almost exclusively on mechanics and the drills and practice are focused on perfecting the mechanics. By the time a student reaches Brown Belt, it is expected the mechanics are near perfect. And as you move towards Black Belt, a student must maintain that balance so their mechanics stay near perfect as they learn different aspects of the art form.
Use of Force
As a white belt, there is very little emphasis on physical force. The mechanics are the foundation for all techniques and without them adding force proves to be very ineffective. As the mechanics become more effective and safe, there is more emphasis on the use of force. In order to reach blue belt there is an expectation that a majority of your techniques have significant force. However, there must always be a balance between mechanics, refining the mechanics, and adding force. By the time a student reaches Brown Belt, it is expected they are always throwing force in every technique and the mechanics are near perfect. After Brown Belt, as a student progresses towards a Black Belt, there is actually an expectation that there is a decrease in the use of force as students are expected to use more and more energy and less physical force in their techniques.
Grounding
As a white belt, there is very little emphasis on grounding. In order to progress there is an expectation that students are grounded more often in their techniques, hyung, self-defense etc. By being grounded; techniques can be performed as a connection of the entire body with the earth (ground). The end result is increased balance, stability, and strength with minimum use of muscular tension and/or strain. As a student continues to progress it is expected that they are grounded more and more and in order to reach First Degree Black Belt they are grounded nearly all the time.
Energy Projection
As a white belt, the concept of energy projection is introduced through drills such as the fire hose drill and the light and heavy drill, however, energy projection is not expected to be performed at that time with the techniques. As a student continues to progress it is to project energy with their techniques more and more, and in order to reach Second Degree Black Belt they project energy with all their techniques. In addition, it is expected that energy matches the philosophy of Han Moo Kwan: direct, offensive, linear, destructive. Part of the rationale for the progression of energy projection is without the perfect mechanics, being grounded, and an understanding of how force feels when applied correctly; applying energy is not usually effective.
While this may seem a lot to think about regarding the expectation of the physical techniques in order to progress n the art form, it is part of what makes the art form always interesting and challenging to study.
Regards,
Kelly
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” ~ Lao-Tzu (6th century BC), philosopher of ancient China, and best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching
Sunday, December 5, 2010
To Know Yourself - - Chief Instructor's Blog December 2010
Martial artists and warriors throughout the centuries have emphasized the importance of knowing yourself.
Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist from the 6th BC noted in his book the Art of War [1], “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.“
In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [2], his fourth principle is “First know yourself, then know others”.
Mr. Kim, our Master and founder of our club, also emphasized this principle. When asked why we study martial arts, Mr. Kim would simply say, “To better ourselves”. A part of bettering ourselves is to know ourselves.
So one may ask why it is so important to know yourself and how does studying martial arts help one to do this?
Why Know Yourself?
From a self-defense perspective, it is critical you know your physical and mental strengths and weaknesses. This way you can fight to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, as much as possible. If you know yourself, you know what your hot buttons are and how to avoid them or how to handle the situations where your hot buttons or triggers are pushed; whether it is in self-defense or in every day interactions with family, friends, colleagues, etc. Without knowing this, you leave yourself vulnerable.
How Can Martial Arts Help?
This brings us to how can studying martial arts can help you to know yourself. What I like to say is martial arts help us to discover what we are truly capable of physically, mentally, and emotionally.
How many of you can remember saying, I will never be able to do that – when learning a new technique or form (hyung). I recently taught Pyung Ahn 2 to a Green Belt. He said the night I introduced it, he was not sure he would ever learn it. A week later he could go through all the moves and knew them all without prompting. He discovered he was very capable of learning new concepts and physical techniques. He discovered in himself how much he was capable of learning.
When many students are first presented with breaking a board, they discover how much strength and power they are capable of. All of us (or almost all of us) have had similar experiences throughout our study of martial arts. We have learned that we are capable of doing something (like learning a new hyung or board breaking) that, at first, we did not think was possible.
You may also discover in yourself how much patience you are capable of as you struggle to learn a new technique, hyung, concept, etc. You discover more and more what motivates you, and what frustrates you as you are learning new concepts or trying to reach a new rank. You discover how much balance you can have, and how much force you can throw. You discover about yourself how much flexibility you have in mind and body. You discover some of your limitations and learn how to move past them, or compensate for them.
You discover and learn how your attitude affects your physical capability. You learn what events or how your attitude affects your ability to ground. And as you continue to study martial arts you learn other concepts like projecting energy that unlocks other capabilities within yourself. And as you continue to discover more about your capabilities, you realize how strong emotionally, mentally, and physically you truly can be.
I, personally, through the study of martial arts have discovered within myself an immense amount and have grown and continue to grow through discovering who am I and what I am capable of.
I encourage all of you to step back and recount through your martial arts studies what you have discovered about yourself. I also encourage you to continue your studies as you continue to learn “To Know Yourself”.
Regards,
Kelly
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." ~ Sun Tzu (6th Century BC), Chinese General, military strategist, and author of The Art of War
References
1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
2. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist from the 6th BC noted in his book the Art of War [1], “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.“
In Gichin Funakoshi’s, The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate [2], his fourth principle is “First know yourself, then know others”.
Mr. Kim, our Master and founder of our club, also emphasized this principle. When asked why we study martial arts, Mr. Kim would simply say, “To better ourselves”. A part of bettering ourselves is to know ourselves.
So one may ask why it is so important to know yourself and how does studying martial arts help one to do this?
Why Know Yourself?
From a self-defense perspective, it is critical you know your physical and mental strengths and weaknesses. This way you can fight to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, as much as possible. If you know yourself, you know what your hot buttons are and how to avoid them or how to handle the situations where your hot buttons or triggers are pushed; whether it is in self-defense or in every day interactions with family, friends, colleagues, etc. Without knowing this, you leave yourself vulnerable.
How Can Martial Arts Help?
This brings us to how can studying martial arts can help you to know yourself. What I like to say is martial arts help us to discover what we are truly capable of physically, mentally, and emotionally.
How many of you can remember saying, I will never be able to do that – when learning a new technique or form (hyung). I recently taught Pyung Ahn 2 to a Green Belt. He said the night I introduced it, he was not sure he would ever learn it. A week later he could go through all the moves and knew them all without prompting. He discovered he was very capable of learning new concepts and physical techniques. He discovered in himself how much he was capable of learning.
When many students are first presented with breaking a board, they discover how much strength and power they are capable of. All of us (or almost all of us) have had similar experiences throughout our study of martial arts. We have learned that we are capable of doing something (like learning a new hyung or board breaking) that, at first, we did not think was possible.
You may also discover in yourself how much patience you are capable of as you struggle to learn a new technique, hyung, concept, etc. You discover more and more what motivates you, and what frustrates you as you are learning new concepts or trying to reach a new rank. You discover how much balance you can have, and how much force you can throw. You discover about yourself how much flexibility you have in mind and body. You discover some of your limitations and learn how to move past them, or compensate for them.
You discover and learn how your attitude affects your physical capability. You learn what events or how your attitude affects your ability to ground. And as you continue to study martial arts you learn other concepts like projecting energy that unlocks other capabilities within yourself. And as you continue to discover more about your capabilities, you realize how strong emotionally, mentally, and physically you truly can be.
I, personally, through the study of martial arts have discovered within myself an immense amount and have grown and continue to grow through discovering who am I and what I am capable of.
I encourage all of you to step back and recount through your martial arts studies what you have discovered about yourself. I also encourage you to continue your studies as you continue to learn “To Know Yourself”.
Regards,
Kelly
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." ~ Sun Tzu (6th Century BC), Chinese General, military strategist, and author of The Art of War
References
1. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
2. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
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