Can We Speak of the Ultimate Stage of Martial Arts Training?

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Title: Can We Speak of the Ultimate Stage of Martial Arts Training?

■ The Ultimate Stage of Martial Arts Training: The Harmony of Body and Mind

The ultimate goal of martial arts training goes beyond merely honing physical techniques; it aims at achieving harmony between body and mind. This harmony enriches and enhances life, bringing a sense of peace and fulfillment.

Through martial arts training, modern individuals can find a path to "love and wisdom," enriching their lives and ultimately embarking on a journey toward "spiritual growth."

This essay seeks to philosophically explain the physical and mental maturity and development that can be achieved through Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu martial arts training, using religious concepts to clarify the purpose of training.

■ The Journey to the Invisible World:
The Philosophy of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Training


This essay is concisely captured in a single diagram, which clearly expresses the philosophy and goals of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu training.

By distinguishing between the Visible World (A) and the Invisible World (B), the essay clearly explains the ultimate goal of martial arts training.

A. Diagram Explanation

1. Visible World (A) and
Invisible World (B) -
Spiritual growth through the harmony of body and mind:


A area: The visible reality we inhabit; the realm of physical training.

B area: The invisible world that forms the foundation of everything; the realm of mental training based on physical discipline.


○ Expression‎ of the Invisible World – Kong (空, Circle)

To aid understanding, we borrow some Buddhist terminology for a simpler explanation:

Emptiness (Kong): Impermanence( from nature perspective).

Full Kong: Selflessness (from nature perspective).

Filled Kong: Nirvana (from a human perspective).


○ The Basics of Practice – Self-Acquirement

- Unity with nature

- Selflessness (無我)

- Let go, forget, empty, and humble yourself


A proper understanding of the body's magnetization (자석화, Self-Acquirement, Self-Magnetization) through the flow of energy (natural vibrations, energy, love) is crucial in martial arts training. This is because it leads you to "higher martial prowess(상승무공)."

"Higher martial prowess(상승무공)" here does not refer merely to transcending physical abilities but to the overall development in the structural framework of the Threefold Philosophy of Martial Arts.

It refers to a lifelong pursuit of excellence in martial training, combining both literary and martial skills, leading to the highest level of mastery.

This is because such mastery becomes a guiding light in martial arts training and human life, as well as a lifelong companion that leads to a better life.

Physical training in martial arts belongs to the "Visible World," focusing on the discipline and refinement of the body.

In contrast, the "Invisible World" is the realm of mental training, where practitioners explore their inner world and ultimately experience the transcendence of self.

The ultimate goal of training is to navigate between these two worlds, refining the mind along the way.

2. The Journey to the Invisible World: The Philosophy of Kong (空)

The stage of mental maturity in martial arts can be explained using the Buddhist concept of Kong (空), or "emptiness." It refers to the state of selflessness (無我), where one attains unity with nature – the essence of the B realm.

○ The phrase “Empty, lower, and forget yourself” describes the process of entering the B realm.

○ The Flow of Energy and Unity with Nature

Martial arts training is not just about repeating techniques. It is about harmonizing with the energy of nature. Through this, practitioners come to deeply understand the interaction between body and mind. This is what happens in the B realm.

3. The Ultimate Goal of Martial Arts Training

The ultimate goal of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu training is to find the "path of love and wisdom." This is not an abstract or mystical realization but something that is applied to everyday life through practical wisdom.

The "wisdom" gained through martial arts training leads not only to improved martial skills but also to practical direction and growth in life.

4. The Flow of Energy and Enlightenment

The path to enlightenment lies within each individual, and it is achieved through the flow of energy. The key to this process is feeling the vibrations of nature (love) and surrendering to their flow.

Understanding the flow of energy is a fundamental aspect of martial arts training. Through it, practitioners integrate body and mind into one, reaching the state of Muwi (無爲) — non-action or effortless action — which is the essence of the B realm.

5. The Modern Significance of Martial Arts Training

Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu explains complex and profound philosophical concepts in a simple and accessible way, allowing modern individuals to easily grasp and apply them.

The goal of martial arts training is to acquire wisdom that can be applied to daily life. Through such realizations, it serves as a practical guide for living a better life.


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6. The Direction for the Future

Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu aims to spread the philosophy and techniques of martial arts training based on the principles of nature, along with a healing system derived from nature.

This approach is being introduced to the world for the first time in the 21st century, explained through the recently published book "Searching for the Forgotten Half in Martial Arts."


■ Conclusion

Martial arts training is a process that seeks not only physical discipline but also mental and spiritual growth.

Each religion or tradition defines the highest stage of practice in different terms, but all share a common goal: transcending the self and achieving oneness with ultimate truth or divinity — the highest level of attainment.

Instead of using elaborate rhetoric or profound philosophical and religious terms, Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu represents this as the B realm.

The ultimate goal of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu training is simple and clear: to seek a better life by protecting health and happiness in daily life, grounded in the wisdom realized through martial arts training.

■ References:

○ Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu: B realm

○ The final meditation stage in yoga: Samadhi

○ Seondo: Taeil

○ Buddhism: Nirvana

○ Hinduism: Moksha

○ Christianity (especially Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition): Theosis

○ Sufism (Islamic mysticism): Fana

○ Taoism: Unity with the Tao (道合一)

In various traditions, the highest level of achievement is called by different names but corresponds to the B realm in the diagram:

1. Enlightenment: Common in Buddhism and meditation traditions, meaning the complete realization of truth and the essence of the self.


2. Liberation: Used in Buddhism and Hinduism, referring to the state of freedom from all suffering and attachment.


3. Self-Realization: Often used in meditation and internal energy training, meaning the complete realization of one’s true nature and inner self.


4. Mastery: Common in practices like Qigong and Tai Chi, referring to the complete control of physical, mental, and energetic abilities.


5. Union: Religious practices describe this as achieving complete unity with the divine or universal reality.


6. Completion: The final stage in various practices, where there is no longer anything left to pursue.

September 16, 2024

The eve of Chuseok
Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu

Jeong Seong Kim