Understanding and Reflecting on Kimu Practice in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu - 1

[진영]

한글 번역 In Korean
https://m.cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/416?svc=cafeapp

진영쌍검류 기무수련의 이해와 고찰

Title: Understanding and Reflecting on Kimu Practice in Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu - Part 1

At the core of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu's transmission lies what we call “Kimu Practice.”

Nothing written or expressed here is borrowed from books or other people.
Everything comes directly from personal experience and deep mastery.
That’s why I never insist that my words or actions are the “correct” way.
If they simply make others reflect a little deeper, that’s more than enough for me.

Interestingly, when students ask questions, the first answer is often,
“I don’t know.”
Sometimes I even tell them, “Don’t believe me.” (laughs)

○ Reference: https://m.cafe.daum.net/enlightenment-k/dcM5/408?svc=cafeapp

Anyway, let’s get to the main point.


■ Prologue

Ki-Mu (氣武) → Ki-Mu (氣舞) → Ki-Mu (氣無)
("Energy + Martial" → "Energy + Dance" → "Energy + Nothingness")

When the body + "E (Ki)" and the mind + "E (Ki)" become one,
you come to understand the flow of natural principles and become like a magnet aligned with them.

That’s the foundation.

These three stages can be experienced even as a beginner,
but the depth and quality of experience varies from person to person.

Truly sensing the flow of energy opens the door to countless thoughts and realizations.

When you discover a “single universal principle” hidden in a single sword cut or a single punch,
you begin to understand not only techniques and philosophy,
but also the principles behind healing.

Through this, martial arts become more than just physical—they connect to a structural understanding of the Three Principles Philosophy (삼원철학 / Samwon Cheolhak), adding a deeper layer to the practice.

That “single principle” must be something that applies to all things in the universe—
If it doesn’t, it’s simply not the one.
In other words, it's the principle behind a "single movement"—whether it's a dance, a painting, a calligraphic stroke, or a musical phrase—the essence is the same.
Everything originates from the One.

Just memorizing and repeating physical techniques will never take you beyond the first stage of the 9-stage system.

If someone teaches or learns only with the body, without knowing where this 9-stage journey ends,
then over time, when the body wears out and energy runs dry,
they’ll simply fade away—like a machine running out of fuel.

To use a life analogy:
It’s like a rice seed that gets sown but never bears grain—it becomes a husk and gets discarded.

That struggle—the struggle of the body breaking down—can be quite painful.

As time passes, you might find that your legs don’t lift like they used to.
One day it’s your shoulder. Another day it’s numbness, paralysis, or pain in parts of your body.
For some, it’s a hunched back. For others, they lose the ability to walk. It varies for everyone.

Many people also turn to ancient scriptures or writings filled with difficult classical Chinese characters, hoping to find guidance for martial or spiritual cultivation.
While these have value and shouldn’t be denied, they require massive amounts of time and effort—and even then, there's no guarantee.

A true teacher must understand the whole system—
Only then can they explain and guide students according to their unique level and capacity.

If a teacher is simply someone who memorized techniques earlier or remembers more moves than the student,
they'll never rise beyond Stage 1.
In that case, learning becomes just an exchange of moves within that limited scope.

So, I’ll start by laying out a table of contents and build my thoughts around it:



[Table of Contents]

1. Kimu Practice and the Art of Straight Cuts

2. Why Move So Slowly?

3. Balanced Breathing, Balanced Mind

4. Observing the Flow of Energy as a Third Party

5. Common Mistakes Beginners Make

6. Kimu (氣舞): When the Body Dances — Understanding the Principle Behind Natural Movement

7. Kimu (氣無): The Principle of Non-Doing (Wu-Wei Jeongbeop)

8. The Training Philosophy of Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu


To be continued ~



April 11, 2025 (afternoon)
Jinyoung Ssangkum Ryu
– Haedong Kumdo
Kim Jeong Seong