The Theory of Yu (Flowing Water)
It never struggles with any object it encounters. If a stream comes upon a rock in its' downhill flow, it merely goes around it.If this rock is too large for the water to go around, the water will be patient, collecting until it's risen level causes it to flow around the obstruction. Similarly, we "go around the flow" in the execution of our technique.
Water has no shape. Put into a box and it becomes square. Put in a circle, it becomes round. Freeze it and it becomes solid. Although adapting to it's environment, water remains unchanged. As for water's forcefulness, one needs only observe the pounding surf of the ocean to be reminded of the force behind this very same soft, Adaptable unchangeable liquid. Water Symbolizes many things, not at the least of which are adaptability, softness, and at the same time, great force.
The Theory of won (Circle)
A circle represents the perfect geometric figure. Every person has his or her own circle that is their own private space. It is this circle we seek to protect. Just as we Practiced distancing ourselves from our opponent, it is important to defend only those attacks which invade this space.
There is no need to block a kick or punch which falls short of this circle. To do so would be a waste of effort or energy. On the other hand, when an opponents attack does penetrate, it should be met with a flowing circular defensive motion. e choose not to meet a straight-on attack with a direct, linear block. Doing so would be meeting an Opponents force with your own. Instead, we choose to lead this oncoming force in a circle, deflecting it, so as to minimize it's effect. We therefore seek to redirect an Opponents force against himself.
The Theory of Hwa (Harmony)
We seek to have our mind and body act as one. How often in our training do we feel that our mind has learned a new technique, only to find that our body has not yet embraced this new knowledge? We practice what we are shown a countless number of times so that our body and mind will act as one in response to a confrontation.
Once mind and body are unified, the techniques feel comfortable. We continue to practice so that we are in harmony with our techniques. It's not enough to merely know the technique. The knowledge must become second nature so it is ingrained into our mind and body and therefore, no active thought process needs to take place to determine what to do. instead, we strive to have our mind, body and techniques react instinctively to any situation. To 'think' about how you would respond to a confrontation would take valuable time;time which your opponent could use to his or her own advantage.
Thus a person's best martial art training is when one finds harmony within oneself (mind/Body), within his family and within society. This can only be done through a state of Emptiness that recognizes the um(-) yang(+) part of one. Each is there to allow the other to exist and can not exist if the other part is out there. This concept of harmony is illustrated for us in the Korean flag, which shows harmonious coexistence of these types of forces.
It never struggles with any object it encounters. If a stream comes upon a rock in its' downhill flow, it merely goes around it.If this rock is too large for the water to go around, the water will be patient, collecting until it's risen level causes it to flow around the obstruction. Similarly, we "go around the flow" in the execution of our technique.
Water has no shape. Put into a box and it becomes square. Put in a circle, it becomes round. Freeze it and it becomes solid. Although adapting to it's environment, water remains unchanged. As for water's forcefulness, one needs only observe the pounding surf of the ocean to be reminded of the force behind this very same soft, Adaptable unchangeable liquid. Water Symbolizes many things, not at the least of which are adaptability, softness, and at the same time, great force.
The Theory of won (Circle)
A circle represents the perfect geometric figure. Every person has his or her own circle that is their own private space. It is this circle we seek to protect. Just as we Practiced distancing ourselves from our opponent, it is important to defend only those attacks which invade this space.
There is no need to block a kick or punch which falls short of this circle. To do so would be a waste of effort or energy. On the other hand, when an opponents attack does penetrate, it should be met with a flowing circular defensive motion. e choose not to meet a straight-on attack with a direct, linear block. Doing so would be meeting an Opponents force with your own. Instead, we choose to lead this oncoming force in a circle, deflecting it, so as to minimize it's effect. We therefore seek to redirect an Opponents force against himself.
The Theory of Hwa (Harmony)
We seek to have our mind and body act as one. How often in our training do we feel that our mind has learned a new technique, only to find that our body has not yet embraced this new knowledge? We practice what we are shown a countless number of times so that our body and mind will act as one in response to a confrontation.
Once mind and body are unified, the techniques feel comfortable. We continue to practice so that we are in harmony with our techniques. It's not enough to merely know the technique. The knowledge must become second nature so it is ingrained into our mind and body and therefore, no active thought process needs to take place to determine what to do. instead, we strive to have our mind, body and techniques react instinctively to any situation. To 'think' about how you would respond to a confrontation would take valuable time;time which your opponent could use to his or her own advantage.
Thus a person's best martial art training is when one finds harmony within oneself (mind/Body), within his family and within society. This can only be done through a state of Emptiness that recognizes the um(-) yang(+) part of one. Each is there to allow the other to exist and can not exist if the other part is out there. This concept of harmony is illustrated for us in the Korean flag, which shows harmonious coexistence of these types of forces.