tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68200486978485755622024-03-05T05:09:17.576-08:00The Soo Bahk Do WayMy personal journey through Martial Artscuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-62435868874342320192012-07-13T06:22:00.002-07:002012-07-13T06:22:58.301-07:00My Essay for 4th Gup<br />
<div class="Standard" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: left;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />The following was the essay I wrote for my Gup Shim Sa in January of 2011. Typos and misspellings left for <i>chung jik</i>.<b></b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<br />
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<b>What
am I learning and expecting through practicing Hyungs (Forms)?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
When
I begin to practice my <i>Hyung</i>, I take
a moment to compose myself, to bring my mind into focus, and to become aware of
my torso, my limbs, my hands and feet. In <i>Joon
Bi</i> position, I inhale deeply and become aware of my lungs, my energy. I
repeat the name of my <i>Hyung</i> to
myself, both as practice for good habits and as a way to invoke the
concentration of my mind and the muscle memory for the form that I hope to
achieve.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
I
say to myself ‘<i>Shi Sun</i>!” and I begin.
As I move from one position to the next, I not only call to mind the sequence
in which the movements should be performed, but also the lessons of the <u>Song
of the <i>Sip Sam Seh</i></u>. I remind
myself to “hold the head as if suspended from a string,” that “the source of
the will is in the waist,” and that “the body should be flexible,” all while
trying to remain in the moment and not lose focus on the <i>Hyung</i> itself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
In
moving from an attack to a block, I try to remind myself that I face an
invisible opponent. To stay low. To coil energy and to release. My block should
flow naturally from the prior movement while summoning the energy to
effectively protect me. My body should already be chambered for the next
motion, into which I step as if taking advantage of an opening in my invisible
opponent’s defenses. All this is done while I try to remember to breathe
effectively and keep my stance low and balanced. I am already fatigued.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
“Skill
will take care of itself,” says the <u>Song of the <i>Sip Sam Seh</i></u>. I trust that the skill for this form is developing
as long as I apply myself fully to the task of performing it. The harder I
work, the more tired I become from repetition, the more I get out of it. I
repeat the form, feel the energy flow up from the ground and move my limbs,
ignoring how tired I feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
Recently
my <i>Sa Bom Nim</i> told our class that he
could write down all of his thoughts on Soo Bahk Do and who he is, and that doing
so would fill a very thick volume. However, he explained, he could perform just
one form – or even just one <i>Ha Dan Mahk
Kee</i> – and show us who he truly is without a wasted word. He tried to impart
to us that each time we practice our <i>Hyung</i>
is as important as a performance during testing, or during competition. With
many students in class that night, he reminded us that if we only wait to ‘try’
when he calls us up to work with him directly, we are wasting our time. What if
he did not call us up that evening? What was the point in moving through the
form at half energy or half speed? We should always perform as if we are being
evaluated. Through constant application of our energy and effort, we cultivate
our skill and our spirit. By always performing a form with full intent and
using our best posture and energy, we cultivate the muscle memory for good
habits. Whether we revisit our very first <i>Ki
Cho Hyung</i>, or focus on remembering our newest, more complicated form, we
must dedicate ourselves completely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
It
is nice to be promoted in rank, or to win competitive trophies. But these
things do not make me a Soo Bahk Do artist, and they will never make me a master
practitioner. The discipline and focus to always try my best, the courage to
always try harder, the determination to make my muscles ache and then to keep
going. These things define me as a martial artist. In practicing my <i>Hyung</i>, I test myself. I evaluate my
dedication, my level of skill, areas where I have worked hard and can see what
I have accomplished and most importantly, areas to improve. Did I practice
enough? Did I recognize and acknowledge my mistakes? Performing my <i>Hyung</i> is not about proving how good I
am. It is about learning <b><i>who</i></b> I am. It is about earning my own
respect, not that of others. In Soo Bahk Do we do not believe that humans can
achieve perfection, and so a <i>Hyung</i> is
not about being perfect. It is about being honest about who I am, how hard I
try, how I feel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
I
pause a moment to reflect, gather my energy, command myself “<i>Shi Sun</i>!” and begin again.</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div align="center" class="Standard" style="font-family: Tahoma; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-16382997315188483872012-04-11T11:35:00.000-07:002012-04-11T11:35:38.889-07:00Yong GiAt the beginning of this year, Choi Sa Bom Nim made it known he was going to be departing the United States to continue his Soo Bahk Do journey. He will be introducing Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan to China, beginning in Shanghai in July.<br />
<br />
It is very sad to begin making plans for his departure - we would love to 'keep' him forever! But roads merge and diverge and that is life. That is Soo Bahk Do, too.<br />
<br />
As if with the greatest foresight, Choi SBN once told me, "Soo Bahk Do is not Master Choi. One day I will be gone, but you must always train." He knew me very well even then.<br />
<br />
When I learned that he would be leaving it suddenly became very difficult to feel as though my training had purpose. Soo Bahk Do, to me, is as much about the people as the physical training. I always found that Choi SBN's lectures in class gave me direction for my training, focused my energy with philosophy. Now I would no longer have his lectures to look forward to, only back upon.<br />
<br />
So I looked back upon that very precise directive: "Always train." There it was. I brushed off the feeling of being lost, not knowing what to do next without his guidance. He had already told me what to do.<br />
<br />
As my next rank promotion will make me eligible for Jo Kyo certification, I began in January to assist Choi SBN with the children's class twice per week. I am currently preparing the certification order form, which will be a birthday gift from my husband at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
I am finding that, faced with a daunting path ahead, the best thing to do is continue forward. I can meet my challenges directly, or I can worry about them before they are in sight. Either way, the journey does not happen unless we have the courage to take that first step forward.cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-18692406964164061292012-01-09T03:13:00.000-08:002012-01-09T07:14:40.977-08:00Essay for 5th GupThe following is an essay I wrote and handed in for my promotion to 5th Gup, which I tested for this time in 2011. Posting it [sic].<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What
am I learning and expecting through practicing Hyungs (Forms)?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
When
I begin to practice my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hyung</i>, I take
a moment to compose myself, to bring my mind into focus, and to become aware of
my torso, my limbs, my hands and feet. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Joon
Bi</i> position, I inhale deeply and become aware of my lungs, my energy. I
repeat the name of my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hyung</i> to
myself, both as practice for good habits and as a way to invoke the
concentration of my mind and the muscle memory for the form that I hope to
achieve.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
I
say to myself ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shi Sun</i>!” and I begin.
As I move from one position to the next, I not only call to mind the sequence
in which the movements should be performed, but also the lessons of the <u>Song
of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sip Sam Seh</i></u>. I remind
myself to “hold the head as if suspended from a string,” that “the source of
the will is in the waist,” and that “the body should be flexible,” all while
trying to remain in the moment and not lose focus on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hyung</i> itself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
In
moving from an attack to a block, I try to remind myself that I face an
invisible opponent. To stay low. To coil energy and to release. My block should
flow naturally from the prior movement while summoning the energy to
effectively protect me. My body should already be chambered for the next
motion, into which I step as if taking advantage of an opening in my invisible
opponent’s defenses. All this is done while I try to remember to breathe
effectively and keep my stance low and balanced. I am already fatigued.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
“Skill
will take care of itself,” says the <u>Song of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sip Sam Seh</i></u>. I trust that the skill for this form is developing
as long as I apply myself fully to the task of performing it. The harder I
work, the more tired I become from repetition, the more I get out of it. I
repeat the form, feel the energy flow up from the ground and move my limbs, ignoring
how tired I feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
Recently
my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sa Bom Nim</i> told our class that he
could write down all of his thoughts on Soo Bahk Do and who he is, and that doing
so would fill a very thick volume. However, he explained, he could perform just
one form – or even just one <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ha Dan Mahk
Kee</i> – and show us who he truly is without a wasted word. He tried to impart
to us that each time we practice our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hyung</i>
is as important as a performance during testing, or during competition. With
many students in class that night, he reminded us that if we only wait to ‘try’
when he calls us up to work with him directly, we are wasting our time. What if
he did not call us up that evening? What was the point in moving through the
form at half energy or half speed? We should always perform as if we are being
evaluated. Through constant application of our energy and effort, we cultivate
our skill and our spirit. By always performing a form with full intent and
using our best posture and energy, we cultivate the muscle memory for good
habits. Whether we revisit our very first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ki
Cho Hyung</i>, or focus on remembering our newest, more complicated form, we
must dedicate ourselves completely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
It
is nice to be promoted in rank, or to win competitive trophies. But these
things do not make me a Soo Bahk Do artist, and they will never make me a master
practitioner. The discipline and focus to always try my best, the courage to
always try harder, the determination to make my muscles ache and then to keep
going. These things define me as a martial artist. In practicing my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hyung</i>, I test myself. I evaluate my
dedication, my level of skill, areas where I have worked hard and can see what
I have accomplished and most importantly, areas to improve. Did I practice
enough? Did I recognize and acknowledge my mistakes? Performing my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hyung</i> is not about proving how good I
am. It is about learning <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">who</i></b> I am. It is about earning my own
respect, not that of others. In Soo Bahk Do we do not believe that humans can
achieve perfection, and so a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hyung</i> is
not about being perfect. It is about being honest about who I am, how hard I
try, how I feel. </div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"> I
pause a moment to reflect, gather my energy, command myself “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shi Sun</i>!” and begin again.</span>cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-68642195071852547132011-09-11T11:07:00.000-07:002012-01-09T07:14:34.742-08:00Essay for 6th GupThe following was the essay I wrote for my Gup Shim Sa in January of 2010. Typos and misspellings left for <i>chung jik</i>.<br />
<br />
<b> </b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>
</center><center></center><center></center><center><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOLANtkuCpnX6nqVvAihuljHCSuPva2ZdnIp9b9moZcCOpXJyof7OPB2J0I3zJbYbCbPNB9O2fvUl_gZQddBczljJq6CDOwQ5nReSWT1wLZP4ZEd12o48FI35QVce7wmvE0HD0lBO7cm0/s200/Faust-Symbol-farbe.gif" width="200" />
<b> </b></center><center><b>Explain the elements in the Soo Bahk Do flag and what they mean.</b></center><center><b> </b></center>
<br />
Displayed between the Korean Flag and the flag of the <i>DoJang</i>’s home country, and beneath the portraits of the <i>Kwan Jang Nim</i> and founder, the <i>Soo Bahk Do</i> flag, called the <i>Kwan Gi</i> in <i>Hangul</i>, is just as revered as the rest of the <i>Do Jang</i> honor display.
Its design was carefully considered to both express the philosophies of the <i>Moo Duk Kwan</i> and to become a unifying symbol to represent our Art worldwide.<br />
<br />
<b>The Gold Fist</b><br />
The gold fist in the center of the <i>Kwan Gi</i> appears to represent the physical aspects of our training, but without the discipline of our philosophy guiding us to seek justice, compose ourselves with honor and to find strength through our unity with each other in the Art.
<br />
<br />
<b>The Branches with Laurel Leaves</b><br />
The laurel branches are included to symbolize peace. There are fourteen leaves on the branches to represent the fourteen provinces of Korea, the origin country of <i>Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan</i>.
<br />
<br />
<b>The Berries</b><br />
The six red berries on the flag take their color from the active force, <i>Yang</i>, a color of strength and action. Their number represents the six inhabited continents of the Earth.
<br />
<br />
<b>The Scroll</b><br />
The scroll on the flag takes its color from the passive force, <i>Um</i>, a color of wisdom and reflection. The scroll was chosen to represent our founder's intention that all practitioners should also be scholars who temper their strength with wisdom and philosophy.
<br />
<br />
<b>Soo</b> and <b>Bahk</b><br />
The Korean character on the left side of the scroll is <i>Soo</i>, which means "Hand." The Korean character on the right side of the scroll is <i>Bahk</i> which means "Strike". <i>Soo Bahk</i> is the name of our style and the means through which we seek our self-improvement.
<br />
<br />
<b>Moo</b><br />
Central to our training is the desire to use our Art to promote peace, rather than to see out conflict. This character combines the words for stop and conflict, reminding us that we seek to resolve internal and external conflicts with the knowledge and discipline that we are developing.cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-35026944267232355062011-08-22T08:07:00.000-07:002012-01-09T07:14:27.272-08:00My Soo Bahk Do Essay for 7th Gup<div style="text-align: left;">
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<br />
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-align: left;">
The following was the essay I wrote for my Gup Shim Sa in July of 2010. Typos and misspellings left for <i>chung jik</i>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></div>
<div align="center" class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Explain 1 of the 8 key concepts in Soo Bahk Do philosophy. </b></div>
<div align="center" class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In Neh</b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-indent: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">I always look forward to the classes where Master Choi Sa Bom Nim will provide further explanation of the 8 Key Concepts to his students. His literal translations and cultural insight present a new way to think about and act upon each concept.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">I found it very striking when Master Choi spoke to us of </span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"></span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> <i>In Neh</i>. The translation provided is simply: </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Endurance.</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> Our master described the construction of the Korean characters that gave the meaning: </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Keep your mind like a knife inside you.</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> Now here is a translation I can act upon! Focus. Strength. Purpose. When I first began training, In Neh seemed like </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">prove it.</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> Prove you can stay in horse stance for ten minutes. Prove you can perform Ahp Podo Oll Ligi properly 50 times without stopping. It was a test to take four times per year. But upon hearing this meaning, it became more immediate. Not just </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">do it,</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> but a how and a why. All at once, in my mind, In Neh was its own reward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">The truth about each concept is that it is more than a sum of characters and words. </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><i><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">In Neh</span></i><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> are the words we invoke to tap into an inner strength and a reserve of spirit. It is something we must develop internally by applying ourselves fully to each task and exercise, inside the Do Jang and in our daily lives. Endurance of the body, gained by regular and intense training, is the outward manifestation of<i> In Neh</i>; how many kicks we can do, how many push-ups, how many squats. Perseverance of the mind, an instrument of our Will, is the inward strength we build through our mental training in Soo Bahk Do. By applying all our lessons we reinforce the mind so that, even when the body wants to give up, the spirit can control the muscles and joints and keep them to their purpose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Another skill, which I believe to be improved through developing <i>In Neh</i>, is a student</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">’</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">s <i>Shi Sun</i> (focus). When the thoughts of the day or the frustrations of difficult training invade on the internal calm that keeps the body balanced, the discipline provided by <i>In Neh</i> can command </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><i><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Shi Sun!</span></i><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> and return the student to the moment and the exercise at hand. It takes as great a will to remain in the moment as it does to remain in a low stance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"><i>In Neh</i> is my council in difficult moments, both as a practitioner of <i>Soo Bahk Do</i> in the <i>Do Jang</i> and as a human being in the world. </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Is this pain so important?</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> it asks me, </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">or will you endure to be proud of your accomplishments after the discomfort has faded?</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial;">”</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> </span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> Thanks to <i>In Neh</i>, the difficulties become proof that I am alive, the proof that my training has not ended and the motivation to endure.</span></div>cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-27270848525387401082011-08-16T07:44:00.000-07:002011-08-16T07:44:50.112-07:00My Soo Bahk Do Essay for 8th GupThe following was the essay I wrote for my Gup Shim Sa in January of 2010. Typos and misspellings left for <i>chung jik</i>.<br />
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<div align="center" class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">What does the word “Do” (Way) mean to me in Soo Bahk Do?</span></b><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"></span></div><div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt;"><br />
</div><div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">When I hear the word </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232"; mso-hansi-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Do</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232"; mso-hansi-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">, I picture in my mind a path through the wilderness. It is well worn and clear, distinct from the land around it, which is littered with rocks and prickly brush. The voice of my instructor leads me forward and keeps me from wandering by speaking to me of focus and discipline. He shows me, not just through physical training but also through anecdotes and teachings, the steps that will lead me on this lifelong journey in my study of Soo Bahk Do. </span></div><div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">I imagine mountains in the distance that represent my goals. There are landmarks along the way – behind me they are the achievements I have made, and in front of me the achievements I have yet to make. On this journey I know that it is not just my responsibility to follow the path that was laid out before me by others. Weeds grow along the way and want to cover it over. By training hard and maintaining my focus on learning Soo Bahk Do in the manner in which I am instructed, I do my part in maintaining the path, keeping it clear for those who will follow it behind me. The landmarks which are my achievements are not only my own. My name will be carved below the others who began their training first; the road through the mountains ahead of me is filled with a family of students who are on their own journeys and whose perseverance inspires me and fills me with strength.</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-CARRIBEAN;"></span></div><div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">The sun overhead is bright and the ground is hot beneath my bare feet, but there is no place to rest. The path ahead is endangered by overgrowth; those of us along it must push forward and keep it clear, for ourselves and for the others who follow.</span></div><div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 9.35pt; text-indent: 35.45pt;"><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Choi Sa Bom Nim told us once that in Korea there is a saying: </span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232"; mso-hansi-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">“</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">Should a Tiger try to bite your arm, push hard into its throat. It will have to let go to survive.</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232"; mso-hansi-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">”</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";"> In this case he was speaking to us of fighting our own fatigue, to push harder when we want to give up and run. Lately, these are the words that are guiding me through my journey. This winter has been difficult. My body just wants to find a warm place to spend the cold months, and is resistant to the flexibility and endurance that I try to coax from it. Through pain and exhaustion I hear my master</span><span lang="EN-CARRIBEAN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232"; mso-hansi-font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">’</span><span style="font-family: "12 Sabon* Roman 05232";">s voice, down the path, telling me to push harder. I am finding that, when every step is a struggle, each one I take is a victory of which I can be proud as I make my way.</span></div>cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-19477896397849976312011-08-09T06:19:00.000-07:002012-01-09T07:20:00.380-08:00FoundationsI have been studying Soo Bahk Do for two years as of the end of this month, but I am frequently struck by how crucial the foundations of our training, the moments during our white belt phase, truly are.<br />
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As a white belt we are frequently struggling just to keep up. Our bodies aren't used to the rigorous training yet. Our muscles are unprepared to keep low, hold that pose, move smoothly, lead with the hip. We miss the opportunity, by just trying to look like those senior to us, to do things at our own speed so that we can learn to do them correctly.<br />
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The habits we form during our early months of training often stay with us, for better or worse, as we progress.<br />
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I have struggled with my training over the past 10 months due to back pain and several related injuries. As far as I thought I had come in my training, my body was giving me clear signals that something was wrong.<br />
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Am I getting too old? Is true commitment to Soo Bahk Do only for young people? I knew this couldn't be the case, but my bones and muscles were trying to convince me.<br />
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Proper body mechanics are often the cure for many chronic joint pains. I have been told this by so many, yet when I am in class and trying to keep up, where does this knowledge go? I seem to leave it in the dressing room, tucked in my shoes with my socks. Only when I feel outright pain do I try to correct my posture or focus on using my core muscles, and so on.<br />
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Last night I worked with Sa Bom Nim on my newest form, Chil Sung Il Ro Hyung, going through the movements, trying to remember whether my foot is positioned opened or closed, whether I am inhaling or exhaling, trying to figure out where my right hand should be during the second movement. Master Choi stopped me at one point, and directed my attention to my back leg. I was in Chun Gul Jaseh, but my rear knee was bent. The first position we learn as white belts, and there was the evidence that my foundation was poorly laid, or that absence due to my injury had chipped away at it.<br />
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My rear foot was not planted firmly on the ground; the outside edge was lifting, and therefore my knee was bending. My knee was bending, therefore my hips were tilting. My hips were tilting and therefore, as I listened to my body I became aware, my back was hurting and I was leaning forward slightly.<br />
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By not minding my foot, a simple thing to do and something I'd promised myself only recently I would commit myself to, I was sabotaging my all-too-recent return to the Dojang after my injury.<br />
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Sa Bom Nim drove home that my back needed my foot's cooperation. My foot needed my mind to focus and be aware.<br />
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"Give awareness and purpose to every movement."<br />
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I have memorized the song of the Sip Sam Seh in preparation to recite it for some Gup Shim Sa down the road. I thought to 'save' it for a 'big' test, such as for my Il Gup exam. It is beyond memorization, it comes to mind often during the day, and especially when I listen to my instructors in the Dojang. I recite it in the shower, sometimes in the car. I try to find a rhythm and cadence to it in the English that I feel must exist in the Korean, though I have never heard it read aloud.<br />
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These fundamental aspects of our art.. The foundations I need to work on so that my more recent techniques can function.. there they are! They're in the Song of the Sip Sam Seh. This poem is like a cheat sheet, and for some reason we wait until we are told that we can no longer recite the 8 Key Concepts during a test to look for something else to study. <br />
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There is no task so small that it does not warrant your best effort.<br />
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I'm paraphrasing a Samurai movie I recently watched, but this concept struck a cord with me. How often do we skimp on effort because we are 'saving' it for something important? Master Choi says "Every day is a test." Every moment is a test. We often speak of judging people by their actions, but when presented with the smallest task we often do not yearn to excel at it. To take pride in the small things, to do them well because we can. <br />
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Small things, like planting my foot firmly to tax the muscles that I need to strengthen. To punch strong, even though I have no physical target. If I am training to develop muscle strength and memory, what else is more important than moving correctly, <b>every time</b>?cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-34380255623461453072011-08-09T05:40:00.000-07:002011-08-09T13:27:18.370-07:00My First Soo Bahk Do EssayThe following was the essay I wrote for my first Gup Shim Sa in October of 2009. Typos and mispellings left for <i>chung jik</i>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>What am I learning in Soo Bahk Do Training?</b></div><br />
“Don't give up!”<br />
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Frequently in the Do Jang we hear our Sa Bon Nim encourage us with these words. They are simple enough – a command to continue as instructed – but they are so much more. They go beyond the exercise we are struggling with at the moment, encompass our physical and mental stamina and clear a path for us to continue forward with our training. Complacency is the nemesis of our development, both mental and physical. If we are satisfied with our improvements, at any stage, we will forget that every time we train, we can and must perform better than we have before. <br />
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Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan was developed as a combination of physical technique and philosophy in recognition that one cannot separate one's physical training from one's mental discipline and development. A sharp blade – the technique – must be handled as a surgeon, rather than a butcher – via the philosophy. Likewise, a surgeon cannot perform her duties without the proper tools. In our society, we often forget that the mind and the body are inseparable. Through lessons in Soo Bahk Do, we are trained to bring them back into alignment with each other.<br />
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By observing tradition when we enter the Do Jang, we center ourselves and create a peaceful environment in which we can concentrate on training. By centering our minds, focusing our eyes, relaxing our muscles and breathing properly, we can better perform the movements that form our technique. By clearing our mind of doubt in our abilities, we can apply ourselves fully to each movement, which in turn develops our physical skills and paves the way for constant improvement. Such dedication to each training session ensures that the art of Soo Bahk Do will endure, for each generation of students is responsible for teaching the next. Just as parents want their children to be more successful than themselves, we train harder so that the next generation of Soo Bahk Do practitioners can excel.<br />
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Through the clarity that comes from such focus, we can achieve more. The same discipline can be drawn upon in our daily lives to battle fatigue, distraction and laziness, just as we do in the Do Jang during every class. Because Moo Duk Kwan is a mental discipline, we cannot stop our training when we are dismissed by our Sa Bon Nim. We can strengthen and maintain the inner peace we develop throughout our daily lives and in our personal and professional relationships with others. We must remain focused, avoid distractions and elect to not always choose the path of least resistance. By nourishing this mental development, we will excel both inside and outside of the Do Jang. Carrying our lessons forward into our daily lives reinforces the development of our mental discipline, just as practicing our Soo Bahk Do technique maintains the development of our physical bodies.<br />
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I know that the words, “Don't Give Up!” will be my own personal mantra as I continue my training, well aware that there will never be a time when they do not apply to my practice of Soo Bahk Do. I fully expect that I will have to persevere in my training as a Dan member just as I do today. The reward for this continued struggle and exhausting work will be the satisfaction in knowing that, just as there is no end to the training, there is no limit in what we can achieve when we don't give up!cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6820048697848575562.post-21486092685519097502011-07-08T10:49:00.000-07:002013-09-05T09:02:49.485-07:00The decision to blog.I have been privately journaling about my Moo Do Kwan experiences, but just today I decided that I wanted to make more of a formal habit of doing so. Of course there are the essays due for each Shim Sa (test), but if I am to truly be a Scholar in the Art, and a philosopher of its principles, the process should be more continuous.<br />
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I make no promises to write daily, but I do hope to promote the habit of <i>contemplating</i> daily.<br />
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I named this blog after Choi Sa Bom Nim's frequently-heard phrase: "That's the Soo Bahk Do way is." Whatever precedes it is not just a definition but a mental training, a way to approach what we are doing.<br />
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Master Choi reminded us recently not to hold our Soo Bahk Do knowledge in our skin, but let it fill us. This blog is part of the process of doing just that.cuddlefishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365228623146058836noreply@blogger.com0