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.