12/28 Springfield Class

KJN taught class tonight. It was as always a fantastic class.
I personally had connection / concentration issue. It seemed to come and go for me.
There were times where I was immersed in the moment and then lost as to where I was going and what motion was next.

There was some talk by KJN about taking more time at home to practice. This I must admit has been slipping as of late for me.

Thursday is our last class of the year and KJN wants a nice big class to close it out. So come one come all :)

See you Thursday I hope.

Patent Pending Soo Bahk Do, Kyo Sa Approved Snow Shoveling Technique

Just kidding no patent pending but I do approve of my method ;)


Having our first big snow of the season I rediscovered my Soo Bahk Do inspired snow shoveling move.

1. Load up the shovel with snow.
2. Left hand about middle of shovel handle, Right hand at end.
3. Left leg is forward Right is behind.
4. Push your hip forward moving your right leg forward pushing the thigh against the shovel handle at about mid point between your two hands.
5. As soon as your thigh hits the handle push down with your Right (rear) hand making your thigh the pivot point while your hip and leg continue to push forward and up.
6. Use your Left hand to guide the shovel and snow to its destination.

No back bend or back muscle should be used for this technique. Very lows stress and relatively easy to shovel the heavy snow of the East Coast without getting a sore back or over stressing yourself.

Let it snow!

My first class

The village of Cronton on Hudson accepted my proposal to teach Soo Bahk Do as part of the towns recreation offerings!


I will be teaching 8 classes 7pm-8pm every Wednesday starting January 19th at the Muni building.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Village+of+Croton-on-Hudson.+1+Van+Wyck+Street+Croton-on-Hudson,+NY+10520&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Croton-On-Hudson+Parking+Prmts,+1+Van+Wyck+St,+Croton-on-Hudson,+NY+10520-2525&gl=us&ei=KU_UTN7sBoT58AapoZiPCQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA

This will be an introduction class which I hope will continue and become something more.

My kids have told me they wish to help out. So this could be my way to get them back into the studio. :)

11/5/10 Springfield Class with KJN

I missed Tuesdays class due to school being out for my kids and Ian’s broken wrist over the weekend.

KJN taught class last night. As always it was a class full of information most of which I am sure I will miss in this post.

First this Tuesday 11/9 is SBD anniversary so it is a good date to try and bring anyone who might have been absent for a while back.



We working on Chil Sung Il Ro:

1. hips move the hands... People have a tendency to do the breathing motions like the first one moving the hand/arm before the hip. The hands hardly move for these motions but more follow their natural position when the hip moves. We only guide them into position.
   • The right hand for the first motion is level so you could put a tea cup on it. Elbow with slight bend.
2. second motion,
   • again arms/hands are pulled into position from the hip.
   • Final position has the right hand solar plexus level and 3-5 inches away from your chest.

Combos:

1. Attacker 3 punch high attack


2. Defender
   
   
   
   • retreat into a hugle stance while doing a double high block: arms parallel to ground at 90 degree angle up
   
   
   • second retreat using sacaro jip remaining in hugle stance and simultaneously blocking with open hands in front of face and lower.
   
   
   • third motion is imediately after block, side step into double back fist and reverse round house kick.
   
   
   

10/26 Springfield Class with SBN Weber

KJN has not returned from Korea yet so KJN Weber taught us again.

We had a good review of some of our basics with a concentration on utilizing the hip correctly ( the never ending quest ). I have been lax on this blog while KJN has been away but I have not yet missed a class (well I can only make it once / week). I have been posting on the SBD facebook wall pictures from each class. Last nights was a bit small with only 4 of us but this gave us the ability to really focus in on our individual needs.

SBN Weber also gave us a nice combo which is a potential for sparing.

1. From a open fighting stance accept a front kick (or other direct attack) with an unbendable arm turning the body. You should be in a sacrojip stance with your front arm (unbendable) in front of you between your legs having accepted the attack.
2. At this point you are close to your attacker and your hand is not far from the groin area. Utilizing a short twist of the hip and your body mass, a quick back fist to the groin. You should end up in a sacrojip stance again.
3. from here a short reverse punch which will not be fully extended since you are so close.

One could imagine all sort of alternative followups after the initial accepting of the attack.

i.e. after the groin attack it would be very easy to slide your front foot behind your attacker and put your front arm out in front of them across their chest or throat and sweep them down.


We also reviewed Du Moon and Jung Jul Hyungs.

This and last week SBN Weber went over 2 different meditation techniques.

1. For each breath concentrate on counting. One count for each breath up to 4 and then start over. This point of this is to concentrate on nothing else and let your body and mind just rest with one focus and only one.


2. Imagine yourself sitting at the bottom of a lake or the sea looking up from very deep down. It is silent and calm. Relax and if any disturbance enters into your mind put it into a bubble and let it float away. Again the focus is on letting everything go and letting the body and mind recover.

Missing entries

I have been to the last two classes but have not had a chance to write about it.
SBN Weber taught class.

KJN has has asked me to post pictures to facebook after each class. I tend to make the Tuesday class.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kwan-Jang-Nim-HC-Hwang/157485267781?v=wall

Other news would be that I submitted my application to start a class once/week with the town Croton-on-Hudson.

10/7 Springfield class

SBN Bonsignore taught class tonight. We had about 6 people only.

We focused mostly on hyungs:

I struggled with the basics being very tense for some reason and was only able to focus on getting through the forms. We did a good number of reps which certainly helped but I require some more self study with reps.

We (Sam Don’s) did two forms:
Du Moon
Jin Do

I also got some help with my Peet Chagee. After thinking I did a decent job on this kick or many years I discovered at a previous class that I have been twisting my upper body the wrong direction. This is going to take some re-learning. SBN Bonsignore put me in front of the mirror for 10 min which helped me get the basics correct.

9/23 Springfield Class

Fantastic class

Du Moon

Jung Jul

3 steps

Knife

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5339545&id=549451028&fbid=437760771028&ref=mf

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010-07-Karate-Kids/Cherry-Hill-NJ/prweb4122594.htm

Again I failed to write this the morning after so it does not have much detail :(

SBD Links

http://soobahkdohouston.editme.com/hyungs





Where I trained when in UT. Master Brian Corrales is a fantastic instructor and I would recommend a visit if you are going through Salt Lake City to go skiing. He also has a great blog.
http://www.wasatchmartialarts.com/

Master Frampton’s school in New Windsor, NY is where I have trained for the past few years before moving to UT. The school has great energy with dedicated instructors. Don classes tend to have 10-15 people or more on a regular basis. If your up north of the city you should stop by.
http://www.edframptonkarate.com/

9/14 Springfield Class

I made the mistake of not wirtitng this down the next morning and missing lots of details.

My first class since moving back home to Westchester. It is a long day but worth it. Leave my house at 6:30am and got into work about 9:20am. Got home about 11:20pm.

Class was way fuller than the summer classes were. About 2x the people making for some tight conditions at time but it was great to have so many people in class again.

Hyngs

Yuk Ro Sam Dan (Po Wol)

3 Step

Attacker 3 high punches

Defender:

1. retreat doing Hu Gul Ssang Soo Sang Dan Mahk Kee: Double block, one in front on in back with emphases on back arm block, back stance, arms are parallel to ground at shoulder level.
2. Same as 1
3. Side step to right doing double back fist
4. Follow up with left leg Peet Cha Gi

Sparring Combo

Attacker with middle or high punch

Defender retreats by switching front foot back while simultaneously doing a low and high block with your hands.

As soon as the block is effective, stop out to the side (direction depends on attacker) doing a double back fist.

8/5 Springfield Class

SBN Bon Senior taught class since KJN is away on a trip.

We had a class of 3 only but this afforded us some great opportunities. We started class doing the same warm up as KJN with punches but then continued this philosophy with basic motions across the floor.

We did low block, center punch, win jin, in/out block. We did them very broken apart allowing us to concentrate on our breathing and contraction. We speed them up to a mid speed then after a few more row to normal speed. I found this very helpful to allow me to concentrate on the points which KJN has been stressing over the month or so.

To complement other points which we have been working on, awareness of our partner, we did the exercise of standing with our partner in a closed stance with touching soo do middle blocks advancing across the floor and then retreating. Keeping our distance constant at all times moving synchronized \. We did this exercise with a twist, we wrapped a a white belt around or hips holding it with our free hand between the two f us. We then did the same exercise while trying to keep the belt at a constant level of tension. This really keeps you honest as to how well you though you were doing before. It also puts the focus on the moving of the hip and leading with the hip.

We then moved on to Chill Sung Ill Ro working to apply the concepts we have been working on with Joon Jool and Doo Moon. I found that I had so many things which I wanted to correct that I did the hyung horiably the first times through.

8/3 Springfield Class with KJN

Class was about 12 people again. We started off with the normal middle punches stating with a two count with elbows close to body at position 1. We then moved on to the combination of soo do block to the side, twist and punch, drop the rear arm, use the hip to swing the extended arm up over the head striking at shoulder level in the center. Final move is done in a Sa Ko Rip Jasie. First two are in front stances.

We moved on to Du Moon hyung.

First move arms crossed at elbows. Do not let the arms lead the hips to the execute the double back fist. Reaching over the head arm extended letting the arms fall with gravity into the scooping motion.Scoop to the chest turn hand down and push your energy down into the earth. pushing with the hip leading. Let the arms fall with gravity (controlled) bringing the hands back to the kidneys before pushing the hips forward with the hands following.

Stay level when going into the hugel in/out block. Moving like your extended from a wire from the sky. Pull the hip back and hand back behind the hip. foot straight with hand strike pushing the with the hip. Moving forward into second round of double back fists if head is extended by a wire from the sky.

When you get to the reverse low block and high Soo Do simultaneous the low block should be slightly curved to protect the groin area. Key yap at 1/2 way point and end.

Joon Jul Hyung

Proper breathing to help the energy flow of this form.

There are two types of breaths:

        1. The strong breath which is done with a punch or block

        2. A slower more controlled breath with a hollow sound sound as you exhale.

First two motions slow, strong with blocks, 2 strong breaths soo do blocks, inhale for twisting scoop into knife hand high behind head with support hand, slow breath with pushing motion but remember to prep with right hand behind hip, first super low block inhale, second super low block (do not miss interim position with arms crossed at elbows in center straight up/down) exhale into block, in-hale with hands over left knee, inhale or no breath into extended arms palms up, sharp exhale with energy shift and hand fold to back of head, let hands fall in circular motion step into next motion and when your feet land and hands in front of body inhale, slow exhale bringing arms up in circular motion with hands out to side palms up, inhale and sharp exhale folding hand to back of head connecting energy with earth, drop left hand down low keeping the flowing motion into high block inhaling, double sharp exhale with double punches, exhale into compressed cat stance uppercut, compress, explode / fall forward into uppercut back fist key yap.

Second half

No surprise here. Just remember to bring your front kick back with your hip controlling your balance before moving into next motion and the motion before the double fist block compress first explode using hips.

Sparring combo:

Started with reverse punch high, fall forward into reverse punch middle.

- My problem is tilting my upper body forward

- when I step I am bringing my feet into a very narrow stance. Should be shoulder width apart.

Second combo:

drop back arm behind with small twist of hip with front arm twisting with hip as deflect block, Using hip to bring back arm over head into hammer fist, fall into reverse punch, in/out kick off revers side.

So if you start the combo with a revers right hammer fist (left foot forward), reverse left punch, kick with right leg controlling the kick so it does not hit ground finishing forward so you should both (when with partner) have your right foot forward.

7/27 Springfield Class with KJN

Sir,

Last night was a fantastic class. You would have enjoyed it. We had about 8 masters and about the same number of Dons.

We started with the usual center punches in 2 counts. I had a hard time getting my body in sync but this exercise helped a bit. KJN gave us a new image while doing this. Think of your center being a magnet which pulls your elbows in close. I think we were having the habit of letting our elbows out a small amount.

After a few punches we did a combo while still side stance which was to help us focus on using our hip and letting it pull our arms.

- start from a punch at a 45 deg angle to the left with the right hand.

- pull the hip letting the left hand do a Soo Do block to the left while shifting the body to the right.

- let the right hand which is at your side in ready position drop relaxing it and your body.

- use the hip to bring the extended arm up past your right ear up high, pull it down with your hip driving it down to strike directly in front of you with a palm strike.

- punch to right with left arm, repeat other direction.

We then moved into our kicks. While observing KJN I noticed that when he returns back to the ready position, he settles into the front stance at the very end. This gives his kicks a very nice and clear controlled finish. I tried to emulate this but found I would slip back to my old way if I lost my concentration. It felt good when I did remember.

We moved into side kick an we stayed there for 30 min or more. You do a basic kick for years and years and you think you know what your doing with it...not

So we worked on the more advanced side kick where you come up like a front kick and at the very last moment twist the hip into the sidekick. It was asked at what level should we introduce this kick to students. Don level, this allows the student to grasp the concept of body moving to the side to strike. Once this concept is established firmly only then move on to the more advance side kick.

This side kick sounds easy but to do it correctly is not so easy and as I said we did this for at least 30 min and I do not think anyone felt like they had more than a grasp of the concept down. The common mistakes people make when doing this kick is to turn the knee down to the side to early and to have the hip turned sideways to early.

We did a great exercise to practice the concept:

- make groups of 3 people

- 1 behind the kicker to support them from falling

- 2 holding the kickers kicking foot so that the foot can be turned sideways

- 3 the kicker in between the others

The kicks are done with much resistance given by the holder of the foot. Not fighting but no freebees either. The kick when done correctly is like kicking in thick sirup or honey pushing the holder of the foot backwards. The reverse is done for the contraction brining the foot back to the ready position.

The kicker first (not to practice but just to experience the difference) turns their hips sideways and tries the kick. You quickly find how little power you have to push the foot holder backwards. It requires great leg power to move them at all since the hip is already turned.

1. Now for the correct kick. The hip if forward like for a front kick but in the ready position the foot is turned like a side kick ready position.
2. Push the hip forward as is done with a front kick driving the foot holder backwards
3. At the very end of the kick when the hip is pushed almost all the way forward turn the hip sideways driving the foot with a final burst of acceleration (f=ma) to the finish position of the side kick. This position is the same as it always has been with the butt pointing up in the air.
4. The return is as hard as the strike with the holder of the foot providing lots of resistance. To get your foot back you must twist the hip forward and back which starts the momentum of the holder towards you and you can then pull your hip straight back.

Your legs will feel longer and lighter when done :)

We then moved on to hyung where we worked on Jin Do again. This time we broke it down into about 5-6 blocks of motions. We did the full form through without count as a group and then worked on each block of motions by the count.

Blocks:

1. up to first pushing motion with right hand forward
2. up to side stance with right hand over left over knee, after the real low blocks
3. end of first 1/2 with uppercut punch with right and groin strike backward with left
   • This block we had some breathing corrections
   • First move bringing the hands into double (reverse embrace) block is an inhase
   • Next motion opening the arms with a wide circular motion is small inhale or no breath
   • hand folding up to head is sharp exhale with energy shifting down through the rear leg and side of the body. No large shifting of the body, etc. very subtle.
   • Large circular motion, exhale when settling into position with arms extended hands open, soft motion
   • inhale and strong exhale with hand folding up towards head
   • Drop the arm, inhale and swing into high block exhale
   • Double punch
   • Rear foot stays planted into uppercut with supporting left arm.
   • Drive hip into final motion pushing hip forward into uppercut while left stays behind for groin hammer strike.
4. up to the second middle soo do
5. side stance with hands over right knee just before the breathing in double block hands out right high left low (backward embrace)
6. Finish

We did some paired stretching which was great. You just cannot get that final bit by pushing yourself.

Closed with our punching exercise again with no beak down, just relaxing punches.

7/20 Springfield Class with KJN

Jung Jool

Center

We had a few fewer Ko Dan Ja than Dan’s tonight.

I was asked to do the stretching for which after was class was given the advice to look at who is in class and adjust the stretches appropriately for the members. In this case the more Senior Seniors. :)

The entire class other than warm up was dedicated to Joon Jul.

Warm up started with center punches which we focused driving the hip and flow of energy from our center. We started with two count punches where we stopped at the mid point of the punch with both elbows touching our bodies. A slight cocking of the hip was used to start each step of the punch.

We then moved on to kicks where KJN the made some corrections to members to have them bring their kick further to the inside and then come down more in front of the body. This is a common mistake where the focus of the energy on the strike ends up being outside the body instead of in front where the focus should be.

At this point we switched to Joon Jul. We did this as a group 2x and then broke out to work on our own to make corrections. My corrections self and direct were numerous and I have probably forgotten most of them and I apologize now for my lack of a sharp memory.

1. We all were corrected on our hands and letting them be to casual. In this I refer to not connecting them to the rest of our body and moving our energy thought them. We must also make sure they are not just hanging out there but in the position they are supposed to be. i.e. is the thumb sticking out when it should not. I think we watch KJN and see how relaxed and quiet each and every motion is and try to emulate it. As a result we over compensate for our mistakes and thus the sloppy hands. I know this is my mistake.
2. when we are in the position with our 1 hand pointing up(soo do), elbow at 90 deg, other had under or near (soo do). The rear arm should be directly behind us. Many of us had it at a 40-60 deg angle behind us instead of 90.
3. Again the focus of filling the body with energy. Today the analogy was a hose (think fire hose). If the hose is empty and you use it to strike it will flop and be hard to direct and strike with(do not think as a whip but more like a sward). Now fill that hose with water (energy) and it is a formidable weapon. We need to do the same with our bodies. Fill them with energy, keep them connected and use this energy with each motion.

Motion walk thought:

1. Hands start in front (mistake I was making, I was starting on side and rotating hands with body to front). Top hand ends about chin level, bottom about belt or bit lower while is a low cat-stance.
2. “Motion is done”, just drive the hip L/R twist and let the hands fall into double block, no upper body needed.
3. Same for the next 2 soo do low blocks.
4. Next motion has 1/2 way point we worked on. Body follows the twist of hips as do the hands The Rt hand is in the middle of the body down low with the left following. The rest of the motion is a fluid circular motion which comes up across your face ending up directly behind you so your body is a straight line. The are is at a 90 deg angle to the floor bent at the elbow. hands are straight given the proper focus when doing the motion pushing your energy through them but while remaining centered and connected to the earth. this is a quicker whipping motion.
5. pushing the hip while breathing slowly with intent driving the Rt hand forward with the hip and allowing the left to fall back.
6. repeat for other side
7. The low crouching (I need to beef up on my terminology ) double block Rt hand over head and left over extended leg was broken down. the 1/2 way point the left foot is brought out and the body with the eye focus leading facing over the left leg. the hips are at around 70 deg angle or more. Hands are in front of hips close to left leg . From here you sort of swing/fall into the double block weight all on Rt leg way low.
8. Next move broken into 2 parts again. Hand and hips are centered with weight with soo do hands in front of center with Rt pointing up Lf down folding with motion from hips. flow/fall into double block other direction.
9. Step forward without looking earth connection into sakaro jip jassie, hands almost over left leg, Rt on top, open soo do position. inhale
10. Settle into embracing motion, inhale or no breath
11. Slow opening like a flower motion with hands to side palms up.
12. Exhale with sharp strong connected to earth motion folding Rt hand at elbow to head.
13. Slow crossing in front of body middle, inhale, reach up to sky, open like flower and settle
14. Exhale strong motion folding left hand to head
15. 2 steps next motion. let the left arm drop to the side, then whip/flow the arm with the hip into high block.
16. Double punch keeping low and driving up from hip
17. Keep the Left foot planted (NO HOP) sliding into uppercut with left hand support at elbow
18. 2 steps, compress/coil/inhale body while twist to bring Rt hand in front upside down punch position with left behind Rt in vertical punch pos, explode into punch with Rt from hip pushing forward, no upper body, connected to earth, and NO HOP.
19. Going back, same as above
20. This time slight hop to get into uppercut with support of left hand at elbow
21. ....
22. With the punches and the fold of the punching are at elbow: Do normal punch and after punch fold arm. There is no focus on elbow strike, etc. I asked specifically about how to do this motion because everyone seems to have a different interpretation of it.
23. skipping to the end.
24. Left the hip bring the body back into two arm block with arms level to ground shoulder height
25. intermediate motion, left arm extended, rt folded in shoulder height, strike by pulling left in with hip
26. slight step into strike other directions, rt

We closed class with the same sparring combo of hammer fist, step revers punch. KJN also stressed how he would like to see more of a SBD influence in our sparring so that we did not look like every other style when sparring.

As with every class my head is spinning with all the input and trying to keep it straight. I feel since coming back to Springfield I have tried to look at this class as something different than I used to. I/We should always take each class as if it were the last but human nature is to let it slide into routine. I am working hard to not let it slide into routine and absorbing as much as my head can hold. I know I fail to a great degree but if I can take at least a few things away and remember them from each class I will have accomplished a small bit of progress at least.

I did have a short conversation to discuss the “Open Source” concept. I am not sure I got the full concept across. What it did do is initiate KJN to connect me with Diaz Sa Bom Nim to potentially work on the World Moo Duk Kwan site. KJN did say to work with Diaz SBN on the concept. I think if we peal the “onion” slowly we might make progress. If you think about just the white belt requirements and how many layers of skill and development are required to “master” them. We never really master them but are continuously striving to do so. If we can present this to start with I think we will make great progress.

i.e. just learning it, green, red, black belt, master level for just doing Basic Form 1.

I also asked about possible putting the classes on SBD.tv but KJN did not want to do this now. He wants the class to be more personal. I then asked perhaps from time to time for special classes and he thought this might be possible.

7/15 Springfield Class with KJN

I should put a disclaimer before each of these emails... my interpretation the morning after with most probably misinterpretations.

0715/10

Class was about 12 people 3 Master the rest 2nd and 3rd Don's.

The focus of the class was on Moo Do Jassie which is the theme of the year. Kwan Ja Nim explained the importance of Moo Do Jassie, that it is not just physical but also one's sprit. ( I am missing so much, sorry )

We started our practices of Moo Do Jassie physically through our Hyung. We did Du Moon and (form after Du Moon, Cutting trough the middle). We did the hyung 1 time together and then on our own or with groups while Kwan Ja Nim walked the floor giving corrections. KJN then asked us each what we focused on while doing the hyungs. He then related each of the answers back to how this could help them with their Moo Do Jassie. KJN then spoke about how having a stable stance was important that while we moved from position to position it was important to has stillness.

When moving from say a punch to a block that the punching arm is not pulled in by the arm but is connected to our center and moved through our center/hips. He then walked us through the two hyungs demonstrating each motion for us. The opportunity to practice like this is as visa would say,  "priceless".  

Second hyung Joon Jul.:

From one motion to the next KJN described it as "easy, your already done, just move the hip". The concept was that from one position to the next there was very little needed to be done. The arm would just follow the directions they were given by your center. This is hard to describe through few words, a picture would be better.

Corrections:

Most of our time was spent on the motion where our hands our out to our sides at shoulder level palms up. the Prep motion for this is to contract the body with the arms crossed between the wrists and elbows in front of the belt knot. the next move is to "open up like a flower" by continuing the circular direction of the arms in front of the body raising up through the middle  in front of the face reaching up high and then settling them down to the sides a bit above shoulder height expanding the body.

The next motion of focus was the end of the first half. The contraction of the body and brining the two hand in front of the body ready for the lunging punch. The right  fish is horizontal and the left vertical. The hip pushes the left fist forward letting the right swing back with the hammer fist to the groin area. Again no real upper body motion, all from the center with the body expanding. The next move where I used to do a hop no longer has a hop but more of a stepping slide. So as you contract to switch your feed and do a double middle block in cat stance(sung soo chung don makie) you ****** need to do this to write it.... fill in later.....*******

The next correction was not just for a specific move but all. We were going over the double sweeping soo do blocks when KJN described how we should feel our energy going out through our finger tips. Our kee energy should flow through our fingers on each motion to help us keep our body connected and moving as one. He then demonstrated where he held back this flow of energy and the with. The physiclal difference was very noticable, the body parts moved as independant parts vs flowing as one. He then described this a coming from focusing your thoughts.

We then moved on to some basic sparring combos.

1. Right foot back to start, reverse high punch, stepping revers center punch. Most your energy should be spent on this second punch.

- My correction was that I leaned my body forward a bit into the second punch thus destabilizing my balance. How could I then continue if needed, I was over committed.

2. from a fighting stance right leg back, move the center/hip back while contracting allowing the front left hand to rotate 10-15 deg (naturally) across the front of your body while dropping the right hand down, hammer to partners shoulder while expanding the body and with the circular motion of the hip sweeping the left hand in front of the body to clear it if needed. Partner does high block, while you step in doing reverse middle punch, partner accepts this punch stepping back. (finished first bit)

Add on  inside/out kick but off back leg not front. This will ensure that you are maintaing your balance and have a good Moo Do Jassie at this point. When done with in/out kick, you should also have good balance to continue if needed.

KJN then when on to say how all these little and big things greatly differentiated our art from other and everyone could see this when we do our hyungs, etc., but as soon as we step into a sparring ring we all look the same. We should bring this Moo Do Jassie to our sparring as well.

I think this will be a difficult bad habit to break, but I can see how this would give us a great advantage if achieved.

Other observations:

When moving into say a front stance, last class I described how when KJN does a punch or block the floor shakes. We were given a bit of insight into this last night. We do not want to force the movement(stomping) but if we allow our body to remain connected and follow our center while being still, this is will naturally happen. Your feet should not slide forward after landing (this will loose your connection to the earth)  but the body should stop or the motion should end, everything stops moving at once. If done correctly, it looks and feels effortless.

I feel I achieved this (not 100% but better then ever before) 1 time which is a major break through for me.

I wonder if he would allow the filming and posting of the classes on the SooBahkDo.tv site? I still need to breach the subject of open source with him but the time has not be rite yet.

Do Jang character  also means to change, so the studio is a place for changing things.

Idea:

e-book of existing books with details behind each move (videos, voice overs)

7/13 Springfield Class with Kwan Ja Nim

The class consisted of an even split between Masters and 3rd Dan's, about 6 each. Master LayLu was asked to warm us up with steaches.

The weather was hot and humid leaving all of us soaked thought with sweat in the first 10 minutes of class. It seems as if we are living in a tropical climate no in the NE United States.

Today was our Founders 8th anniversary of his passing. Kwan Ja Nim used this to focus on some of our core fundamentals in our founders memories.

Kwan Ja Nim opened class with a discussion to the importance of our connections to each other. He sited the 50 year connection at the Nationals. He also the some direct connections in the class including myself as an older connection which was re-established and Master LayLu who he had just met at the Nationals.

He took us through some basics including warm up punches.

Punching in Horse Stance:

1. Left hand extended, initial position.

2. slight pull back of the right hip

3. punch with right while pulling left back to the point where both hand are even. this was our Shin / contraction point

- repeated 2-3 several times

4. full punch position connecting with earth

In the sprit of the 8th anniversary of the passing of our founder, Kwan Ja Nim had us focus on Gi Cho Hyung 1,2,3 and Chilsng 1 & 2 for the class. These forms were created by our Founder and were dear to his heart so in his memory this was our focus. We went through each hyung at least twice, the first pass to focus on our Way Gung and the second on our Nay Gung.

There was a great emphasis on the Hip initiating all movements and keeping our center connected to the earth. This was practiced by working with Shin Shook for each movement. We would repeat each move 2-5 times moving between the start position into the Shin position.

- For example in Gi Cho Hyung 1:

Move 1.1 - Look, inhale while contracting the arms elbow to elbow across the body while initiating the move by pulling the right hip back.

Move 1.2 - Expand into the block while keeping a strong connection to the earth.

We repeated the move from Choon Be  to Move 1.1 to get the Shin/Contraction understanding.

Move 2.1 -  Contract into mid position while holding the right hip back but at the same time letting our front hand naturally extend.

Move 2.2 - Expand into the punch with the hip initiating the move and a strong connection to the earth.

( I had a correction here with my punch/body being over extended/turned at the end of the motion, hip rotated too far/past forward )

This was even more prominent in Chil Sung 1:

Move 1.1 - looking, breath & hip start, stepping left into sakorip jase expanding with left hand following the hip while right extends slowly out, we are fully expanded

Move 1.2 - Hip pushes the right hand forward and down while the body turns in towards the left giving the folding effect of the arm. We are fully contracted here.

We repeat the transition between 1.1 & 1.2 2-5 times to get our hips to lead.

Chil Sung 2:

High punch's at end:

- ensure the arm is behaving and not being raised before the motion. This would be Weh Gung exercise not Neh Gung.

 The arm will naturally lift since the hip will rise and push the arm up slightly but the arm should not move independent of the hip in an upward motion when transitioning  between Hugle Hadon Makee and Samdon Kunkyuk.

We used the practice between the transition position and back on a number of different moves in both forms to help us get that connection of the hip and breath leading.

Kwan Ja Nim gave us an analogy while doing our Huyngs, Plugged in.

If our arms and legs are not plugged-into our hip then they will not behave properly and will end up working independently. No wireless connections ;)

When our body is plugged-into the hip then it will follow the hip and give us a more natural feeling and movement.

Other corrections given:

- Ensure our backs are straight up and down. This will help us keep our balance and connection with the earth.

On a side note. When Kwan Ja Nim would do his low,high block the floor would shake. I feel his connection with the earth through his proper weight distribution combined with the proper movement of his body created this effect. It was clear he was not stomping or the ground during his motion to cause this but it was a natural side effect of doing every thing just rite. This was the case 15 years ago when I trained with him as well. I have strived to achieve this ever since but have thus far not come close.