Training Week of 10 Feb.

Jok Ki (Kicking Techniques) are the bread and butter of Korean Martial Arts. In the world of karate, Tang Soo Do’s differences are most apparent in kicking – dynamic, high, and arial. A flying side klick is on our association flag and seal! This week, I want you to concentrate on combination and consecutive kicking while “Crossing the T.” Combination kicking involves both legs while consecutive kicking is multiple kicks with the same leg. “Crossing the T” is nothing more than changing the angle of attack to gain the advantage of while placing your opponent at a disadvantage.

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

No Retreat in Battle – While the immediate meaning is likely clear, the word “battle” is  significantly more. Primarily, “battle” refers to self-defense or non-consensual conflict. This may be a verbal or a physical altercation. Either way, we are to train in such a way that we do not retreat and have no need to retreat. That means studying and training for all possible circumstance to the best of our ability. When done so properly, out fifth code comes in to play: “In fighting choose with sense and honor” – more on that next week. In a more metaphorical sense, we are talking about determination, perseverance, duty, and courage. We all have our personal battles to fight in our jobs, in our relationships, and even in our character. We are challenged not to retreat from these personal battles, not to ignore the difficult, to keep pushing forward to attain our goals, and to become the people we were designed to be.

  James, in his New Testament letter to the church, addresses this very principle in dealing with our spiritual growth and our exposure to the Gospel. In James 1:23–25, James writes, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

  The one who heard and walked away is the one who retreated when faced with the glory of Christ in the Gospel. The one who is honorable, who courageously perseveres is the one who recognizes his/her deficiencies, and seeks to conform the image of the Son of God. This is part of the application to which Paul referred to when he said we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Attitude Requirements to Master Tang Soo Do

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.
13. When you begin to feel idle, try to overcome this.
God expects fruitfulness. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Laziness and idleness mindsets oppose fruitfulness.
14. Cleanliness is required after training. Keep yourself and your surroundings clean.

13 Hyung Interpretation Principles

13. A lock, hold, or throw is not a primary fighting technique. 

Iain Abernethy, author of Bunkai Jutsu, wrote, “In my dojo we use the phrase ‘blow before throw,’ to remind us of the importance of striking and weakening the opponent before throwing.” Abernethy goes on to describe the throw after the hit is only necessary if the strike did not incapacitate the opponent. In other words, the throw is a finishing technique… if necessary. Therefore, maintaining Kedrowski’s basic assumption of a two to five move series, a lock, hold, or throw (LHT), cannot be the first technique. Even practitioners of grappling arts, like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Judo, cannot simply walk up and apply a lock, hold, or throw on an unwilling opponent (principle 7). Disruption is a key task (principle 3) to successfully apply any LHT technique. It is far safer to incapacitate the opponent with an initial strike or combination and only apply the body-to-body contact required for a LHT when further control is required.