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Kibon Hyung

Foundational Root Patterns

The Kibon Hyung of Pakga-ryoo Taekwondo were created by Hwang Kee, founder of the Moodukkwan.  They are similar to the Taikyoku kata of Shotokan, and it is likely that Hwang-dojunim drew inspiration from these forms.

Ðñ/±â/Ki means foundation, the base.  In order to develop a solid foundation for your Taekwondo practice, the techniques of this set of forms must be practiced over and over again.  Only repetition will provide you with the muscle memory needed to be able to use the techniques instinctively.  In Pakga-ryoo Taekwondo, there are no shortcuts to mastery, only long, continual practice.

Üâ/º»/Bon means Root.  Just as a tree requires a deep root to stand firm and to draw in water and nutrients, so too does your Taekwondo practice require a deep understanding and continual practice of these root techniques in order to grow.

The Kibon Hyung are taught to beginners not because they are easier than the other hyung or because they are ¡°beginner¡¯s¡± techniques.  Rather, this basic series of forms contain the essential concepts and theories of Taekwondo and should be practiced continually through out one¡¯s journey along the path of Taekwondo.

Concepts of the Kibon hyung

áô/¼ö/Soo/Receiving

Without an attitude of receiving, one can never understand the concepts of Taekwondo.  While the modern term for blocking in Taekwondo is ¸·±â/Makgi, the original term was áô/¼ö/Soo.  Soo does not actually mean block.  It means reception, to receive.  So-called ¡°blocking¡± techniques are meant to receive and re-direct the opponent¡¯s attack.  Aggressive force should not be countered with like force, since this only creates a situation where the greater force wins.  This is not only inefficient, but it means that Taekwondo has nothing to offer the little guy who can't bring as much raw strength to bear as the big guy.

áôÐü/¼ö±â/Sooki are Receving Techniques.  They are among some of the most important techniques in Taekwondo.  They must be practiced until a deep understanding of them is gained.  It is relatively easy to gain the ability to attack an opponent.  Just hit him.  This is not a difficult thing.  However, to receive and nullify an opponent¡¯s attack is something that requires a great deal of practice and understanding.

The one who receives the technique can be called áôâ¢/¼ö¼ö/Soosoo, the Receiving Hand.

An attack must be received.  A block does not stop an attack, but rather repositions your relationship to the opponent to ensure a more devastating counter-attack.  The soosoo receives the forcing or energy of the incoming attack so as to redirect away from himself.

This leads us to our next concept.

ÞÝÊÇ/»ç°¢/Sagak/Dead Angle

In every position, every attack, and every defense, there is the one point that is completely undefended, where your opponent cannot attack you, and cannot defend against your attacks.  Sagak is your opponent¡¯s blind spot, normally outside his limbs and to the back.

The Kibon Hyung lay out the two main strategies for dealing with an attacker, outside movement and inside movement.  The standard strategy is to re-direct the attack through reception, moving either outside or inside, followed by a strike or series of strikes to disable the attacker, a throw or sweep to put the attacker on the ground, and then a finishing strike to render the attacker unable to continue his attack.

úÞÓÛ ÙëÔ³/Çö´ë ¹«µµ/Hyundae Moodo/New Era Martial Way.

Hyundae Moodo are the modern martial ways of Korea that came into existence during and after the Japanese Occupation.  These include:  Dangsoodo, Kongsoodo, Taesoodo, Taegwondo, Yoodo, Hapgido, Gumdo, Sunmoodo...

ûÞãóâú/È£½Å¼ú/Hoshinsool/Protect Body Skills

Hyundae Moodo are focused on methods of protecting the body.  In essence, they are for self-defense.  This distinguishes them from classical warrior arts.  They are for protecting the individual from attack, not defeating the enemy on the battle field.  This does not mean they are not effective forms of combat, just that their focus is different from the classical mooyae and moosool.

This means their core curriculum is based around teaching the student how to apply the concepts of the art to defend themselves against common situations and tactics they may face in a "street" situation.

What does this mean for True Taekwondo?  The student must learn to deal with common attacks, multiple opponents, knife, and stick work.

The moment any hyundae moodo turns away from its emphasis on hoshinsool to focus on sport, it is no longer a true martial way.

Ergo, the Taekwondo of the WTF is no longer Moodo.  It is no longer a Martial Way.  It is no longer True Taekwondo.

Vision

School (Dojang)

• Traditional, free of anything that detracts from the Way
• Reflects Korean culture¡¦research designs of Buddhist temple training grounds and Palace martial training grounds (Samjae, Taegeuk, etc¡¦)
• ¡°A dojo should not be a place that tries to reform human beings with incentives of constant advancement, but a place where people who are struggling are relieved of these burdens.¡±  Gakku Homma

Style (Ryoo)

• A hardcore, ¡°traditional¡±, ¡°classical¡± martial art¡¦drawing from the roots of Okinawan/Japanese empty hand arts and Korean foot fighting and weapons
• A traditional approach to training, focusing on the path, ¡°Do¡±, not on extrinsic rewards
• Practical fighting skills¡¦based in the teachings of men like Choi Baedal and Hwang Ki.
• Does not need the standard ¡°mythology¡± of Taekwondo to validate it¡¯s fighting ability, but rather takes pride in the Korean ¡°indomitable spirit¡±, as an art that came out of the brutal times of the Japanese occupation.  Taekwondo is an art of freedom fighters and revolutionaries, an art that came out of a physical liberation, and now seeks spiritual liberation.

Organization (Kwan)

• Not a business designed to promote itself and draw profit, but an organization committed to community improvement through the practicing of Taekwondo, of following the way
• Modelled on the Enshinkan, the Seidokai, and the Nipponkan (the fact that we have to look to the Japanese because there is no Korean model for this is insulting and shameful¡¦we must change that¡¦and if there is any Korean examples that can be thought of, please tell me.)
• Note on the first two examples:  The Enshinkan and the Seidokai are children organizations of the Kyokushinkai, which was created by Mas Oyama/Choi Baedal.  Since the Kyokushinkai was founded by a Korean, it as not as though we are betraying our roots by looking to them
• The Enshinkan:  A school of hardcore karate that teaches circular movement, and emphasizes the continual testing of one¡¯s self and the development of spirit.  There are many Taekwondo orgs that say they do this.  Enshin actually does, and has established a reputation as such.
• The Seidokai: Coming from the same roots as the Enshinkan, Seidokai practices hardcore Karate, looks inward through it¡¯s practice of zazen (jwasun), and practices outward compassion through their humanitarian outreach
• Nipponkan:  Through the teachings of classical Aikido, and encounters with traditional Japanese culture, and it¡¯s humanitarian outreach organization, the Nipponkan is the perfect example of what we should be.  They address a myriad of problems in their community through homeless kitchens, tree-planting projects, and raising money to support orphaned Mongolian children.  Ideas from Nipponkan:  Annual trips to Korea.  Cultural classes and lecture (dance, drumming, philosophy, Buddhism, Korean Christianity, etc), public school field trip programs, Minority Youth Leadership Training Programs (Allying with KASCON and like organizations), Third World Martial Arts Support and Development Programs, LiNK-associated drives to feed and care for North Korean children, Full-Time In-House Scholarship Programs, High School Exchange Program (spend a semester at a Korean high school), Young Adult Long Term Korean Scholarship Cross-Culture Exchange Program¡¦PK wrote a list of things the Korean American community needed to start addressing (adoptees: True TKD would be an excellent source of exposure to the virtues of their home culture, Spousal Abuse can be dealt with three-fold, by raising and training boys to be young men to respect women, teaching girls and young women to protect the virtues of their self, and offering training and therapy to women who have been victims of abuse)¡¦I think that would be a good start
• To quote Gakku Homma, founder of Nipponkan:  ¡°Dojo philosophy has become the a philosophy of business marketing, none of which has anything to do with martial philosophy.¡±  That must not be us.