Lessons From Bruce Lee ---- Chief Instructor Blog June 2022

I ran across an article from Black Belt Magazine on-line, Learn the Most Important Martial Arts Lessons Bruce Lee Taught — From His Top Disciples! [Ref. 1].  The article describes lessons (concepts/principles) from Bruce Lee as described by several of his students. 

 I will expand on a few of the items discussed in the article that resonated the most with me and align with Han Moo Kwan principles and concepts.

 Off the bat in the article is the lesson:  self-expression through self-discovery.  If you have done any research on Bruce Lee and his philosophies, you will know he was a believer in expressing the art form, and that expression comes from self-discovery. An instructor can state concepts, ideas and be explicit in what one could or should do, but a martial artist must really take those concepts and expand on them through self-study to truly discovery how to apply the techniques in ways that are most effective for them (which can be situational dependent or even change as you age). In Han Moo Kwan we describe this as an aspect of “Making It Your Own”.  I described this concept in more detail in my September 2014 blog, titled “Making it Your Own”. 

 Another lesson described in the article is to “Take what is offered to you”.  For me, the message here is, is you should not have a preconceived notion on techniques to use but take advantage of the opening or the vulnerability created by your assailant.  A great example from the article is “If your opponent steps toward you, he's “offering" you his front leg to attack”. 

 As I have discussed in several blogs, Han Moo Kwan is to be used for self-defense only and therefore one should avoid physical altercation if one can.  And if you feel you have no other choice than use physical techniques you should go all out until you feel safe.  Bruce Lee described this as “pre-emption.”  As described in the article, “Basically, Lee’s assertion that you should intercept aggression in stages (mentally, vocally and physically) is analogous to the combatives approach of first, being avoidant by using situational awareness; second, warning off by taking some type of early physical action to avoid an altercation; and finally, in the most threatening circumstances, launching your attack before your adversary’s attack is fully manifested.” 

 The last piece I think is extremely important and leads to another concept that Bruce Lee called “interception”.  A key to interception is to “interfere with the assailant’s attack”.  In Han Moo Kwan, we refer to this concept as blocking to break.  Blocking to break will disrupt and interfere with the assailant’s attack. 

 As described in the article, Lee also stressed the importance of a method he called “alive training.”  Basically, one must train in situations to stress yourself that align with more realistic situations.  This is why we include sparring and more dynamic self-defense to our training.  As described in the article, “Particular moves and strategies are very important, but the most difficult and immediate obstacle to overcome in a real fight is the pressure and resistance offered by the attacker. If you don’t practice dealing with them, you won’t develop the ability to automatically adjust to the myriad of obstacles that a real opponent will present.”  I also discussed in two separate blogs how to better prepare yourself for these pressured situation in two blogs from April and May 2018, titled “ How To Physically Prepare For Being Under Stress “ and “How To Mentally Prepare For Being Under Stress”.

 Bruce Lee is considered one of the greatest martial artists of all time. For me this is not just because of his physical ability but because of his depth of understanding of the true essence of martial arts.  His lessons are not applicable to just his style but traditional martial arts in general and lessons for all those who strive to understand martial arts.

Regards,

Kelly

“Be self aware, rather than a repetitious robot.”  ~  Bruce Lee, (1940 –1973) American-born Chinese Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do

References:

1. Learn the Most Important Martial Arts Lessons Bruce Lee Taught — From His Top Disciples! - Black Belt Magazine

Self-defense Based Martial Arts Principles ---- Chief Instructor Blog May 2022

Traditional self-defense based martial arts may have very different techniques but their principles are quite similar.   To explore this, I will describe some key principles of Wing Chun Kung Fu (whom Ip Man and his most famous student Bruce Lee were practitioners) and how they are similar to Han Moo Kwan’s principles.

Center Line Principle

If you draw a line down the center of your body from forehead to groin, it passes through the vulnerable spots in the body.  So, it is critical to protect those parts of your body.  In Han Moo Kwan, we accomplish this by using a fighting cat stance (not squaring off to an assailant so they do not have a direct line to all of our most vulnerable spots, keeping one hand high and one hand low at all times, and using cat stance for more mobility).

In addition, this principle indicates we should be attacking those “center line” targets on our assailant.   In Han Moo Kwan, we do teach attacking those vulnerable targets are the most effective techniques.

Simultaneous Attack and Defense Principle

This can be thought of in two different ways, and each way we apply in Han Moo Kwan.   One way, is that when we defend, we are offensive, we “block to break”.  In addition, we employ two hand techniques where one hand “defends” while the second one attacks.  For example, it can be techniques like the opening move to Pyung Ahn 4, where in one application the “blocking arm” is defending and protecting the head, while the striking hand is attacking the assailant’s neck/throat.   Or, in techniques like Extended Spear Hand, where one the one hand traps the assailant, while the spear hand attacks.

Shortest and Most Direct Path Principle

In Han Moo Kwan we teach linear techniques because they are the shortest and most direct path.  For example, our front kick uses a piston action to be linear.  There are also other advantages to linear techniques.  For more information on why linear and how that principle is applied to various techniques, see my February 2017 blog “Why Linear?”.   

Economy of Movement Principle

This principle can also be thought of in a couple different ways as applied to Han Moo Kwan.  One way is short strikes.  In Han Moo Kwan, one of our goals is to use the shortest strikes possible while also generating the maximum amount of power.  In Han Moo Kwan, we also do not go force against force.  Instead, we take advantage of the direction of an assailant’s power.  For example, if our assailant is pulling us, we do not pull back, we go in the direction they are pulling and attack them.

Minimum Use of Brute Strength Principle

In Han Moo Kwan, we accomplish this by using energy and not muscle to be effective and efficient in our techniques.  By doing so, we can be effective against assailants that are much larger and physically stronger than we are.  

Based on the above, while there are different ways / techniques to accomplish the principles above, these principles are foundational to any self-defense based martial art.  I recommend thinking of these principles as you practice and explore techniques.

Regards,

Kelly

“If size mattered, the elephant would be the king of the jungle.”  ~ Ip Man (1893-1972), A Grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun Kung Fu

References

1.      1. Core Concepts | International Wing Chun Academy, retrieved 5/1/2022

2.      2. Five Principles | International Wing Chun Academy, retrieved 5/1/2022

Why Bunkai is Important ---- Chief Instructor Blog April 2022

While there are many other benefits for practicing and studying Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwan Do, its main purpose is to be used strictly for self-defense.

Therefore, the functional applications of the techniques - the why, the meaning - are very important to be effective in self-defense.  Understanding why that technique and for what purpose a technique can be used is a big part of learning Han Moo Kwan.  If you do not understand the functional application of a technique, how effective can you be if you were attacked?  In fact, if you do not know the best and most effective target or application of a technique, then if you use it, you may damage yourself and worse case you will be greatly harmed by the assailant you are defending yourself from because it was not effective.

The concept of learning the applications was actually part of the letter of Ten Precepts written in 1908 by Anko Itosu, considered by many to be the father of modern karate.  He wrote this letter when he realized that it was time for karate to reach beyond the shores of Okinawa to the heart of Japan.  In his sixth precept, Master Itosu writes: “Practice each of the techniques of karate repeatedly, the use of which is passed by word of mouth. Learn the explanations well and decide when and in what manner to apply them when needed. Enter, counter, release is the rule of releasing hand (tori-te).”  [Ref. 1]

The process of analyzing the applications of the techniques with hyung (or kata in Japanese) is called Bunkai in Japanese. 

Many martial arts clubs and schools do discuss the why or practice Bunkai. You may ask yourself why they would not?

·        It may be because the intent of that martial art is not for self-defense and therefore it is not important to learning that style.   

·        It may be because their teaching is more of an Eastern style where you are expected to just practice and practice and experiment on your won until you figure it out yourself. 

·        Or it may be because they don’t know.  Many of the techniques, especially if not obvious, were either only explain verbally, not discussed at all and even intentionally kept hidden because of how harmful or damaging they could be. Some styles actually had rules (Kaisai no genre [Ref. 2]) to extracting the applications of the techniques and even the rules were kept hidden except to the most senior students. 

I discuss more about learning the practical applications of the techniques in my March 2013 blog, “Learn Techniques Thoroughly”.   I also describe studying practical application in the hyung in my September 2018 blog, “Studying Hyung”.  This blog also contains some very good references that describe bunkai and how to unlock the applications.

For me, studying the why adds depth to my training and provides me a visual that helps me put purpose and intent into my techniques that would not be there otherwise.  And understanding the why helps aligns with my learning style which enables me to pick up the techniques more effectively. 

I encourage you all to spend more time studying the why behind each technique.   

Regards,

Kelly

“Our teachers did not give us a clear explanation of the kata from old times. I must find the features and meaning of each form by my own study and effort, by repeating the exercises of form through training.” ~ Tsuyoshi Chitose (1898-1984), founder of Chito-ryu Karate

 

References:

1. Ankō Itosu - Wikipedia, retrieved 4/1/2022

2. Kaisai no genri - Wikipedia, retrieved 4/1/2022

Is Body Memory Limiting You? - Chief Instructor's Blog March 2022

 

Body memory is a very important part of martial arts and some folks might say it is the key element to its effective use, especially in a self-defense situation. 

By repeating techniques over and over again they become second nature.  When you can do techniques without thinking about it, you are able to quickly react.  This concept, where the mind gets out of the way, is the results of hundreds of hours of training and thousands of repetitions.  The state of performing without the mind being in the way and your body just flows easily from one technique to another is called Mushin.  I explain Mushin in my November 2010 blog “Free the Mind – Be Like Water”.  

This ability to move from technique to technique without thinking is especially important when you are stressed.  If you have to rely on thinking when stressed, you will probably not perform well or too late to be effective.  I talk some more about the importance of how you practice in my February 2018 blog, “You Will Fight How You Practice”.  

And while I do agree that body memory is very important, it can also be limiting you. 

So, what are the cons of body memory?  One con is if your body memory of the technique is poor.  In that case, that technique will be ineffective when you need to use it.  Over the next several months now that we are practicing in person from time to time, it is important for me to review your techniques to make sure they are still effective before we practice with a partner or with full power against bags, shields etc. so no one gets injured.   

If bad habits or ineffective techniques are now a body memory, you must re-program.  First, you need to break down the technique, go slowly, think through the movements, and relearn it.  It will take hundreds and possibly thousands of repetitions correctly to get back to the state where your techniques are effective as body memory.  And this process must be repeated through basics, hyung, self-defense, sparring, etc.  This is why it is so important to check yourself from time to time to ensure you have not introduced bad form or techniques.  And this is especially true now since over the last two years we have not been able to practice working with partners, striking bags, etc. which gives you instance feedback of the effectivity of your techniques.

The other con is if you have limited your training.  What do I mean by this?  For example, if you only practice turning one way, or you have not practiced transitioning from certain stances to another, then you may get limited or stuck when you try to move that way.  And if this happens, during a time you need to protect yourself, it may result in you being vulnerable. 

This is why it is important to expand your practice to ensure you can smoothly and easily:

• Throw all techniques from all stances in all directions (upward, downward, forward, outward). 
• Perform the hyung in a variety of ways - mirrored, in reverse order, starting from the middle, etc.  In my June 2020 blog “Adding Variety to Practicing Hyung”, I describe 22 different ways to practice hyung. 
• Transition from any stance to any stance and in any direction (side to side, forward and back, at different angles). 
• Throw open hand techniques with closed fist reciprocal and closed hand techniques with open hands reciprocals. 

Body memory may save your life in a fight. 

But body memory based on practicing precisely and correctly, moving in any direction, in any stance using any technique, and changing stances from one to another with no limitations or boundaries will save your life in a fight. 

Regards,

Kelly

“One must try, every day, to expand one's limits." ~ Masutatsu Oyama (1923-1994), karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate

 

 

Relearning Techniques to Maximize Effectiveness ---- Chief Instructor Blog February 2022

As noted in my previous blog Just the Hands and Feet?, the art form actually uses all parts of the body not just the hands and feet.  However, in the beginning, we do focus more on the hands and feet when learning a technique.  From a learning perspective it makes sense to focus on one weapon and master the movement using that weapon.  If start to throw too many variables it makes it harder to learn.  I remember when I played softball and coaches tried to” fix” my swing by wanting me to change three or four things at a time.  That never worked well.  If I just focused on one item at a time, then it seemed to work much better.  I believe a similar principle applies in learning a martial art technique.

So, in the beginning, when we learn techniques, we have the students focus on the movement and the strike at the final position.  This also gives the student the time needed for the brain to think about it and only focus on the strike aspect at the end of the technique.  But once you have the motion correct, the reality is you should be ready to use every aspect of your body.  For example, for low block, you should be ready to use/strike starting with the fist and then the forearm for the “prep”, then as the arm travels for the low block the elbow, forearm, then the bottom of the hand.   You can apply this concept to every technique.  A few examples are below.

·         Medium Block:  Upper arm, elbow and forearm for “prep”, followed by elbow, forward, pointy end of thumb on fist

·         High Block:  Fist and forearm for the “prep”, followed by elbow, then forearm, then the bottom of the hand to strike

·         Knife Hand: Elbow, forearm, and side of hand for “prep”, followed by forearm and side of hand for strike

·         Extended Spear Hand: Elbow, forearm, side of hand, palm for the “guard” followed by the tips of fingers, side of hand, forearm, elbow for the strike

·         Hook Punch: Elbow, forearm, bottom of the hand and knuckles

·        Front Kick:  Knee followed by ball of foot

·        Side Kick: Knee followed by side of foot

·        Stamping Side Kick: Knee followed by side of leg then side of foot

The best way to start incorporating this concept is to add one at a time then add on.  For example, for Low Block first incorporate the fist as a strike during the “prep” and get comfortable with that, then add on the forearm, until comfortable with that and so on.  Adding one element at a time will allow you to focus on one thing at a time until you have integrated in every element.

And as you are adding one element at a time you must apply it to not just to the basics but to practicing hyung self-defense, sparring etc.  You basically are relearning every technique multiple times.  It would be nice to relearn the techniques just once and it automatically becomes part of your hyung or self-defense, but because of body memory you have to break that technique down everywhere you use it until it becomes the new body memory.

So, if you have not already, start breaking down your techniques and ensure you start adding in each element so eventually every aspect of body is being used as part of the strike.  This will maximize the effectiveness of each of your techniques.

Regards,

Kelly

“You should not have a favorite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well.” ~ Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584 –1645) - famous Japanese swordsman, the author of The Book of Five Rings

 

Just the Hands and Feet? ---- Chief Instructor Blog January 2022

 

In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with the foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with the fist"; and do means "way of life".  Thus, taekwondo may be loosely translated as "the way of the foot and the hand."[1]

So, does this mean our only weapons we use are the feet and hands as part of tae kwon do?   We know this not to be true since our basics include techniques such as high block and low block that use the outer edge of the arm as the striking surface.  We learn and practice within some of the upper forms an elbow strike, so maybe the better description with be the “way of the foot and arms”?

Well, even that would not be accurate.  Almost all hard surface parts of the body and muscular parts of the body can be used for effective techniques with training and practice.  Some of those examples are the following:

Shoulder Strikes
The shoulder strike is applied inward when very close to your opponent.  It is strong and effective when applied at close distances.  This strike is most effective against the shoulder, sternum, or collar bone.  A shoulder strike can be executed from different stances, and is often used to off-balance an opponent. 

Knee Strikes
The striking surface for a knee strike is the upper portion of the knee.  It can be delivered straight forward or in a circular motion from your side to your front.  It is effective against face, neck, chest, stomach, groin, and back (spine or kidneys).  It can be applied at close range when the distance does not allow another type of kick to be effectively thrown.  A knee strike can be executed from different stances. 

Head Strikes
Yes, using your head as a striking surface can be very effective, but must be applied to a less sensitive area to be effective.  For example, the use of a forehead against an opponent’s nose if facing each other or the upper back of the head against the opponent’s nose (if grabbed from behind) can be very effective.  Forehead to forehead, however, can cause as much damage to yourself than your opponent. 

It should also be noted that there are other effective part of the hands and feet that are less used, but again, with training and practice can be every effective.  Some of those include:

Top of the foot
The top of the foot from the side or straight up can be effective, especially against softer targets such as the groin or kidneys.  It can also be used against an opponent’s shin and if flexible, against the side of the head.

Heel of the foot
The heel of the foot can be used in a thrusting motion behind you (back kick) effectively against an opponent’s knee, groin, or abdomen.  In addition, the heel can be used in a straight down thrusting motion against an opponent’s foot or shin.

Instep of the foot
The instep of the foot can be used against an opponent’s lower legs (shins, ankles) to sweep an opponent off their feet.

Second Knuckles
Second knuckles can be used effective when using all fingers (typically called an extended knuckle punch or knuckles punch) or just the middle finger (typically called a single knuckle punch).  The extended knuckle punch is formed by rolling your fingers to the second knuckle with a slight bend at the first knuckles and striking with the edge created by the second knuckles.  The single knuckle punch is formed similar to the extended knuckle punch, but you only roll and use the middle finger.  These are effective against eyes, temple, bridge of nose, upper lip, solar plexus, throat, and kidneys.  When applied with a lot of force, these techniques can be used to separate the floating ribs.

Tips of the fingers
So, while in the beginning we do focus on only certain parts of the hands and feet as weapons, all parts of the hands and feet as well as other parts of your body can be effective with practice and training.  

While we use the tips of the fingers when reenforced in spear hands, the tips of the fingers can also be used more like a claw to crush.  This crush technique can be used against arms, throats and even the front of the skull. 

Regards,

Kelly

“When you're talking about fighting, as it is, with no rules, well then, baby you'd better train every part of your body!” ~ Bruce Lee (1940 –1973), American-born Chinese Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do

References:

1. https://taekwondo.fandom.com/wiki/Taekwondo, retrieved 12/27/2021

2. Korean Karate Free Fighting Techniques, Sihak Henry Cho

3. Karate-Do Kyohan, The Master Text by Gichin Funakoshi

 

To Get Involved Or Not ---- Chief Instructor Blog December 2021

 

In Gichin Funakoshi’s book, “The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate”, his third principle is Karate Stands On The Side of Justice.In Gichin Funakosh’s book, “The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate”, his third principle is Karate Stands On The Side of Justice.

I have seen several people in blogs, articles, books, etc. translate this to mean that martial arts should always be used to stand up for others that are not being treated properly, physically as well as verbally. 

Funakoshi writes in his third principle “To avoid action when justice is at stake demonstrates a lack of courage”.  So, one may interpret this to mean one must always use one’s martial arts skills to protect and defend others.  However, in the same principle, Funakoshi states “Karate practitioners must stand on the side of justice at all times and only in situations where there is no other choice should their power find expression through the use of their hands and feet as weapons”.

The discussion on how to express yourself in those situations where others are being physically or verbally abused gets lost in others people’s interpretations.  So, yes, Funakoshi says a martial artist should always help others but that does not mean to always use their physical skill.

You need to assess the situation, determine if weapons may be involved or is a crowd forming, and then get involved.  In both of these scenarios, you probably do not want to engage physically to help others. If you wander into a situation where two people are fighting one another, do you honestly know who the aggressor is?  This may be a critical piece of information you do not have.   So, in those scenarios, what can you do to stand on the side of justice without physical altercation.  Simple ones are calling 9-1-1 or even stating the police have been called and are on their way.  This, in of itself, can be a distraction to stop the act or verbal abuse.

When to get involved physically and when not to get involved physically is going to be dependent on the scenario.  It may depend on time of day, location, who you are with.  The best way to determine if you may or may not get involved is to think about the various scenarios and what you might do or say to defuse a situation where you are the witness.  And if you struggle with what those scenarios are, go out on You Tube and look for videos, or in any TV show, news, or movie you are watching and a verbal or physical altercation occurs. think about if you came upon that situation, what you would do.

Bottom line is standing on the side of justice does not necessarily mean to act physically but it also does not mean just walk away and do nothing.  But what will you do?  No one can tell you what you should or should not do in any scenario and you will not know unless you think about various scenarios and think through it so if you encounter those scenarios or something similar you will know.

Regards,

Kelly

"To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill." ~ Sun Tzu (6th Century BC), Chinese General, military strategist, and author of The Art of War