You will no doubt have heard us talking about the '8 Key Concepts' in class. The more observant amongst you will have seen them posted up on the wall at our full-time Centres, but what do they mean and how do they apply to you and your training?
Yong Gi (Courage)
This doesn’t mean that you are never afraid - Courage is bravery in the face of fear, not the absence of it.
It is also the moral courage to do the right thing in spite of being afraid. Students who stand before the class leading a Hyung show courage, as do students who answer in class, as do students who say no to their friends when they suggest actions that may get you into trouble.
When you are courageous, you also don't give up and you are able to admit your mistakes - acknowledging and owning your mistakes is rhe first step on the path to improvement.
Courage is the strength in your heart - the ability to take the nervous energy churning inside (those butterflies you often feel in your stomach) and direct it outwards - to use it to your advantage.
It is also about training as hard as you can without being asked – using your own ‘Yong Gi’, not the Instructor’s
Chung Shin Tong Il (Concentration)
This is the ability to shut out all distractions in order to focus on what is most important at that moment - to quiet your minds from the stresses of modern living.
It is also the ability to continually focus on your training, day in, day out; year in, year out.
It is the focus of your eyes, narrowing in on the task at hand, not being distracted from your task.
It is the concentration of your power, into the right spot, at the right time, for your technique to be effective.
In Neh (Endurance)
This is more than just the ability to do a lot of repetitions of an exercise – although that is important
It is the mental strength that allows you to go beyond what you think you’re capable of and to excel
It is the ability for the body and the mind to keep going when they are tired.
It is also the ability for the mind to push the body when tired and when you want to give up.
It is about persevering with something until you get it right – having a never give up mindset.
Chung Jik (Honesty)
It is a key character trait often absent in today’s society.
It is the commitment to always speak the truth.
It is about taking responsibility for your own behaviour.
It is about knowing your own faults and limitations, working on them with others, in order to get better
Finally, it is training as if an opponent is right in front of you each and every time you complete a move (training like it is a real life situation).
Kyum Son (Humility)
Humility or meekness is not JUST the absence of boasting or bragging and it is NOT having a poor opinion of yourself. True humility is getting your focus off yourself altogether.
It is about knowing your own worth and where you can be of value or assistance.
People who are humble do not brag, they do not criticise others and they do not take others’ criticisms personally.
Humility puts people more in touch with who they really are, makes people more genuine, more approachable and more likeable
When we train with a partner, it is important that we have their best interests at heart. Our goal should not be to prove our superiority or strength but to work together for everyone’s benefit.
Him Cho Chung (Control of power)
Controlling your own power whilst training is extremely important in making sure your training partner is safe and not hurt.
It is about applying the right amount of power, at the right moment and in the right way, so as to stay in control and not unbalance yourself.
It also goes much deeper – It is the understanding of how much force is required in any given situation. As Grandmaster Hwang Kee said, it means that you will not injure when controlling will suffice, that you will not wound when injuring will suffice and that you will not kill when wounding will suffice.
Shin Chook (Relaxation & tension)
Movement should appear effortless. We should not waste energy on tension during movement. We stay relaxed and only at the point of extension, of contact with your opponent or pad, does your body experience tension.
This concept of not wasting energy can also be applied to life. Worry and anxiety are both forms of tension. A true martial artist doesn’t waste energy worrying about things that may never happen or that they cannot influence or control.
This concept is linked closely to your breathing (Ho Hoop) and how this charges/recharges the body.
Wan Gup (Speed control)
We want to know what the optimum speed is to counter an opponent’s attack – your block needs to arrive at the right moment to be effective; or else, it is not a block (and may arrive too early/late).
When we are attacking, it is ensuring that we control the speed in order to deliver the most powerful or most effective attack.
When practicing techniques, forms and combination sets, we need to work on group timing – everyone moving in unison, to the speed of the Hyung/most senior member.
Again, we can apply this principle to daily life. Life can easily become filled with commotion; we rush from one activity to the next without enjoying the experience or doing our best.
As you see, these principles are more than simply training guides for your martial arts development. They are training for life! Learning to apply them to your training and to your life in general, will equip you to be successful in any venture.
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