Comparing Apples to Apples in Martial Arts

[진영]

In Korean 국문 번역
https://m.cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/327?svc=cafeapp

무예 수련에서 도토리 키재기란

In English 영문 번역

Comparing Apples to Apples in Martial Arts - From Sword Techniques to Spiritual Enlightenment through Haedong Kumdo Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu: Skills, Philosophy, and Healing.

Haedong Kumdo Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu encompasses sword techniques, sparring, and cutting. Achieving proficiency in these areas takes considerable time.

However, it is a mistake to assume that excelling in sword techniques, sparring, or cutting equates to spiritual or mental growth.

For instance, mastering advanced cutting techniques requires significant effort, sweat, and time. Being physically adept in a discipline brings recognition and solace within that field, but it does not inherently connect to spiritual maturity or mental enlightenment.

Physical training aims to infuse actions with mental energy and ensure smooth operation. Based on this, it enhances mental energy to cultivate the mind through words, thoughts, and actions.

This process of cultivating the body and mind in daily life is called practice, leading to the ultimate goal of human life.

A martial arts instructor teaches not only techniques but also ways to understand the world through martial arts. This is modern martial arts training. However, the level of instructors varies greatly.

The level of understanding can range from elementary to high school, college, or expert. If all martial arts training is based on the principles of nature, it becomes possible to combine literary (the pen, 문) and martial education (the sword, 무), enabling proper cultivation of body and mind according to reason, eventually realizing that health and happiness naturally follow from this process.

Muye (Martial arts,무예) in Korean, illustrated through the structural meaning of triangular philosophy, can be divided into visible (physical one) and invisible (mental one) aspects(worlds).

As shown in the diagram above,
no matter how much one discusses within the A area, it is hard to go beyond an elementary level.

Even if one has experienced the B area, if they do not realize its principles and do not know how to apply such experiences in real life, they will immediately go down the wrong path (pseudo, 사이비).

This is common not only in martial arts training but also in religion.

Within the A area, no matter what is said about cutting, sword techniques, or sparring, the conclusion will be the same.

The visible aspects may differ in expression‎‎, but the conclusion is the same.

This means it's like comparing acorns (comparing apples to apples or a meaningless comparison, 도토리 키재기), and inevitably, one becomes a frog in a well (a big fish in a small pond,우물 안 개구리).

I can speak so decisively because my thinking also stayed within that level in the past.

Having reached a certain point and understood the fundamental principle underlying all these aspects, I aim to share its value and benefits.

This is my personal mission as the founder of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu.
It is why I travel around the world conducting seminars to communicate the single principle I realized through my training to many practitioners.

In conclusion,

Muye (무예, Martial arts) involve comprehensive training of both body and mind. It includes techniques, philosophy, and healing. It helps one understand the essence of breathing and meditation, recognize this essence through "Energy Flow" training, and use it to enrich and relax martial arts training and individual lives.

While physical training can be easily learned and followed, mental training requires a mentor.

One can immediately judge whether an instructor recognizes and trains in Energy Flow according to the principles of nature.

Training for modern people is about cultivating body and mind to reach the ultimate goal of human life.

Examine whether your current martial arts training focuses only on physical training or techniques.

If that’s all you want,
you can stay there and be content.

However, you should know that a normal human life
is designed for constant challenge and shifts in consciousness,
leading infinitely towards a new world with new insight, new challenges, and renewed commitment based on self-reflection, determination, and gratitude.

June 8, 2024
JS Kim