Soar TSD Training, Week of 3 Feb.

Last week we focused on Hyungs and this naturally leads to Soo Ki (Hands) techniques. Keep working and thinking through the angles of attack. Learn thoroughly the theory and philosophy of each technique. Close quarters self-defense is what our Hyungs (forms) are designed to teach. Use your hand techniques to move around your opponent to change the angle. This gives you the advantage while placing the opponent at the disadvantage. We have 30 Soo Ki one-steps designed to teach us these vary concepts. 

The Soar Weekly Challenge

Daily challenge for the week. Training hard. 

• 50 pushups 
• 50 sit ups/ab routine
• 50 squats
• 10 minutes of planks in 2 series.
  (1 min elbow, 1 min side, 1 min side, 1 min high, 1 min elbow)
• 50 jumping jacks

You may break this challenge up into as many sets as you need throughout the day. Go for it!

Meditation for the Week

Honor Friendship – The third code of Tang Soo Do. Like many things, the notion of friendship differs from country to country. In many Middle Eastern countries, people consider themselves “friends” the minute they meet, in some European countries, continuous contact is required in order to maintain friendship, and in the United States, both distances and caring are necessary for two people to be considered friends. Koreans place high value on trust and do not trust people unless they are affiliated in some way. Affiliation differs from person to person in Korea. Some people require that their friends belong to the same big organizations: company, school, church etc. Others consider that smaller organizations like clubs, cafes or housing can be considered as a common affiliation.

Attitude Requirements to Master Tang Soo Do

1. Purpose of training should be the enhancement of mental and physical betterment.
2. Serious Approach.
3. All out effort.
4. Maintain regular and constant practice.
5. Practice basic techniques all the time.
6. Regularly spaced practice sessions.
7. Always listen to and follow the directions of instructors or seniors.
8. Do not be overly ambitious.
9. Frequently inspect your own achievements.
10. Always follow a routine and training schedule.
11. Repeatedly practice all techniques already learned.
12. When you learn new techniques, learn thoroughly the theory and philosophy as well.
Not only do you pay attention to the effects a new technique has on an opponent, you must also learn how you are moving your body. Then discover how that same body movement can be applied in myriad of situations. A low block can be a block, a throw, a capture, a strike, or a push. Learn thoroughly.
13. When you begin to feel idle, try to overcome this.
14. Cleanliness is required after training. Keep yourself and your surroundings clean.

13 Hyung Interpretation Principles

12. Use both hands. 

Both hands are used simultaneously through the hyung in bilateral balance. A push and pull concept is often described to maximize body mechanics allowing the center of gravity to remain stable while the extremities move in orbit whether the practitioner is applying an offensive or defensive technique. John Kedrowski (The Lost Art of Tang Soo Do) makes the assumption that every two to five movements should place the practitioner in a superior position. Additionally, don’t forget to pay attention to the hand that has pulled back to the ready position. That hand likely has something in it like an arm, leg, sleeve, or lapel. Sensei Victor Smith, 6th degree practitioner of Isshin Ryu karate, asserts, “the hand returning to chamber after a block simply slides down the arm to grab it and yank backwards, or locks an arm in place.” Recognizing the ready-hand’s role when learning to interpret and apply the hyung begins to open innumerable applications. The practitioner begins to see the depth of what is actually contained in the hyung. Moreover, this principle to use both hands exhorts the student to learn the techniques from the hyung on the typical right side as well as the left side creating a balanced Tang Soo Do practitioner.