해동검도 수련 Is all this really related to Haedong Kumdo?

[HAEDONG]

‘Is all this really related to Haedong Kumdo?’  

Clarity

While searching the internet, I was really surprised to see just how many websites there are relating to mental and spiritual training within the Martial Arts.  I have also had people who have read our website asking the question – ‘is all this really related to Haedong Kumdo?’ 

In an effort to help clarify the situation, and to help everyone to understand, I am going to try to explain things from my perspective.  If you still have questions, please, just ask.

As you already know, back in 2007 I introduced the subject of Relax, And Feel The Energy, at the 2007 seminar held in Helsinki, Finland.  This concept, we used throughout our physical training in Haedong Kumdo, and it marks the first stage in our progress. 

At the first Spiritual Growth seminar, organised at the time of the 2010 Scandinavian Haedong Kumdo Championships, I introduced the second stage, Focus, And See It.  The third stage, I intend to introduce at the 2011 European Haedong Kumdo Championships in Greece, Realise, And Do It.

Through my own personal experience in Haedong Kumdo, I have gained a greater awareness of many different things, some related to training, some related to life itself.  It is because of this greater awareness that I approach Haedong Kumdo training, and teaching with great pride and confidence.  My gains have been so great that I wish to share these experiences with my students, so that they too can experience them. 

As I travel around the world, people are always asking me, ‘what is the most important thing to practice?’, ‘what do we have to do?’, ‘how do we do it?’ etc.  I always try to answer these kinds of questions according to the individual’s level of experience.  Now, I am developing documents such as this one and publishing them on our website, to assist all of my students in their own growth and development.

Relax, And Feel The Energy,

as I said above is the first step.  This helps us to perform well in Haedong Kumdo training.  

Everyone understands that we need to make our body stable and strong so that we can use the sword well, and even become a good teacher.  Through this strength and stability, we can become aware of the energy moving through our body.  This in turn helps us to develop our skills with the sword.

Even when we have achieved a high level of physical ability, what is next for us?  What more can we learn, or realise through continuous cutting practice? 

To answer these questions, we need to examine ourselves, honestly and make a deep study of these questions.  We can achieve so much, become so effective and efficient in our movements if we can really try to understand how to Feel The Energy flowing through ourselves.

The Second Stage of our progress, Focus, And See It.

Focusing on something is easy, but seeing what is hidden from our view requires learning from a great teacher.  Sometimes, some people can have fleeting moments of clarity, but equally so, for others, they never get to achieve, even these fleeting moments before they pass away.  This can be explained because different people have different original energy. 

For Example – Everyone, is familiar with the Meridians of the human body.  We all know that Ki Energy flows through these Meridians.  However, what we do not know is exactly how it flows.  If we knew this, by modern science we could cure so many different ‘incurable’ illnesses, and strengthen our internal organs.  It is the lack of understanding Ki Energy Flow that causes us to be unable to cure such diseases as Diabetes, Hypertension, High Lipids (High Cholesterol), etc.

My personal opinion however is that the flow of Ki Energy cannot be identified through modern science, at least at the moment.  That’s why it still has been doing research.

The current Meridian Theory is not correct in every case. The energy on Meridian lines split frequently, and so it is always disseminated throughout the body.  Therefore a fixed position for the needles is impossible, these positions are changing all the time.  Treatment, using the general positioning of Hyeol (vital points) can sometimes cure illness or make the patient feel more comfortable, but not every time.  Just as the mind of the individual changes, so too does the flow of Ki Energy. 

Some people have asked me, ‘why do you carry the needles, and why do you work on people who do not teach or train in Haedong Kumdo?’   I don’t actually do acupuncture, like most people do.

As I continue to train in Haedong Kumdo, I have come to an understanding of the flow of energy, through the teachings of Mother Nature.  This knowledge has come to me through the energy of Mother Nature, and because of this I have come to an understanding of how to harmonise the organs such as the stomach, liver, intestine, lung, heart, etc.  I know it will be harmonised between these organs through the energy of The Nature, and the needles merely act as a conduit for this energy.  This is what takes away the pain and discomfort.  I could just as easily do this though laying on of my hands or just simply with my mind.  You can come to a better understanding of this by reading the work of a particular UK Gentleman on a particular Haedong Kumdo website( http://cafe.daum.net/uwhkf/JvX3/1).

Haedong Kumdo these days is going beyond even what I had imagined, especially in the EU Countries such as Finland and Sweden, Ireland and France, etc.  I am enjoying my training as it makes me feel good, and keeps me fit and healthy, therefore, I want to share this with my students.

As with strengthen our mind and body through Haedong Kumdo, we can all come to understand the essence of the flow of Energy in The Nature, and all at once, we can see the truth of the Nature. 

What are human beings, who are not even the size of dust in the vastness of the cosmos?  What is mediation and what is praying?  What is so good, and equally, what is so bad about these kinds of things?

Only self study can reveal the answers to these questions, and we can begin to see the truth from the falsehood, the real, and the empty, just as it is said in several scriptures.  From this self study we can reveal endless wisdom.  However, we must conform to the law of The Nature.  We need to serve others, and act correctly in our lives.  We should not harm others and we should behave in a proper manner. 

If we do not, I believe that any abilities gained from the Nature will disappear immediately.

It will be taken just a quickly as it is given by the Nature.

Haedong!!

December, 16^th, 2010

★ Translated  in English by Martin O'Mally with the teaching of GM Kim in Haedong Kumdo