On the Way to the Netherlands: Reflecting on the Essence of Martial Arts

[진영]

In Korean 한글 번역
https://m.cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/349?svc=cafeapp

무술의 본질을 되돌아보면서 - 새로운 도전과 계획

I'm on the plane right now, and it's dark because the lights are off.
Looking at the monitor, there are still 8 hours left.
I'm lost in various thoughts.

After hosting the World Championship in 2009, I devoted myself solely to studying my lacking mind and body, focusing only on the overseas HK branches.

As for the dojang, I had the last training session with the Brazil team at the end of 2015 and moved from downtown Busan to the outdoor training center in Miryang city.

I’ve planted lettuce, plowed fields, fertilized flowers, and trees—things I’d never done in my life. But now, I’m quite accustomed to these country tasks.

Meanwhile, I’ve made time to exercise, write books, and organize the thoughts I’ve been contemplating into publications.

I had published several books before, but after moving to Miryang, I released "The Right Path of Practice Series" in five volumes, and two English versions, "Think Out of the Box" and "Searching for the Forgotten Half in Martial Arts".

Now, the overseas HK branches have been more or less established.

After about 10 years of studying and honing body and mind, I’m considering whether it’s time to provide some guidance to Haedong Kumdo instructors and practitioners in Korea.

After COVID-19, we couldn’t hold the continental HK events. Starting with the European Haedong Kumdo Championship, I’m planning to restart them step by step from next year.

First, through this 2024 event in the Netherlands, I’ll take some time to reflect on "Healing through Martial Arts."

☆ The principles of healing through martial arts can be categorized according to people's understanding and capabilities as follows:

1. Some see it as entirely unrelated.

2. Others are interested but have yet to fully learn it.

3. Some understand it but are too daunted by the gap in skill levels.

4. On the other hand, there are people who believe they can do it simply because they feel things more acutely than others. They claim that going to the mountains or by water makes their bodies feel lighter, and based on these experiences, they mistakenly believe they’ve accumulated energy, thinking they’ve become some kind of enlightened being, not just in martial arts but also in many kinds of practice group in meditation or breathing, and even practice in religion.

In fact, many believe they can heal others based solely on these vague sensations without grasping any fundamental principles.

5. Also, many believe healing should be learned not through martial arts but from acupuncturists or chiropractic experts. In other words, it’s seen as a separate field with entirely different methods.

■ The Healing System through Kimu Practice in the Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Style is one of the three aspects of martial arts training: "Skills, Philosophy, and Healing."

These three things are all interconnected with one principle, and this interconnection is essential.

Here, "BASIC" means understanding Energy Flow. By recognizing the flow and blockages of energy, one can perceive the energy flowing in both their own body and the body of another. Through this, one can learn how to control it little by little and step by step.
It also involves cultivating awareness and insight into the various movements of the body, which leads to recognizing the correctness of each action in martial arts practice and, beyond that, in all everyday actions according to one’s level of understanding and realizations.

By doing so, one’s martial arts training and life are guided in the right direction, leading to a more relaxed and fulfilling life.

Ultimately, one will realize the ultimate goal of human life and continue to pursue this realization until the very end.

If you're still caught up in outdated ways of thinking, like which association is bigger or offers better treatment and so on, mastering the basic principles of martial arts will be like finding a needle in a haystack.

The "basic principle of martial arts" is a singular truth that is extremely simple and clear.

Since it lies within the principles of the universe, this singular fundamental truth can only be the same.

The basic principle is "Energy Flow."

Martial arts training
can be divided into:

First, Skills
Second, Philosophy
Third, Healing

Though these can be separated,
they are ultimately interconnected.

That’s why martial arts training becomes a holistic education at the elite, top-notch level, especially through the training of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu Haedong Kumdo, which is being revealed for the first time in the 21st century.

If any one of these three is missing, it can not be considered proper martial arts training for the modern individual in the 21st century.

Especially if someone has learned a bit of swordsmanship or cutting techniques, registered the name of a martial arts organization, trained instructors, and expanded the association quantitatively even to overseas branches—this would be too much of a stretch. Such examples can be seen not only in Korea but also in countries like the U.S., Germany, and Mexico,etc.

What I wish to convey here is that only by mastering the fundamental principles of martial arts can one truly teach the methods and principles that lead to genuine health and happiness through martial arts training.

Mastering these fundamental principles is the "BASIC," and even if someone understands or claims to have mastered it, the level of mastery can vary greatly.

Today, I'm on my way to the Netherlands for the event. The flight is 13 hours long. If I don't get sleepy, the time on the plane is very comfortable and free.

As I think about what to teach in the Netherlands, this writing has grown quite lengthy.

As time goes by,
even managing my own body isn’t easy.

The more time passes,
the more diligent I need to be,
keeping my body and mind strong,
so that I can get as close as possible to achieving my life goals while I’m still alive.

October 8th, 2024
Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu
Haedong Kumdo
Kim Jeong Seong

■ Reference:
https://m.cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/347?svc=cafeapp

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