Journal Entry 3: Basics and Kibon Form 1

I am really beginning to like the art of Taekwondo! Unfortunately I have been unable to work out a time that best fits our schedules to meet with Master Stanforth of Oriental Martial Arts College. I have had to resort to getting a book from the library. In my research, I have found a great book that I have been using this week. The book is called simply The Official Taekwondo Training Manual by Soon Man Lee and Gaetane Ricke. I have found this book extremely helpful. (Not a true substitute for a real person trainer, but it is filling the void nicely!) 

This book takes you from the very basics of stretches to perform, the different style of strikes, kicks, blocks and stances, and the three different forms. Lee and Ricke say in their book that forms are the basic training for Kyorugi (literally Confrontation, but it means sparring.) The three groups of forms. The first are the two forms under the Kibon group. The Taegeuk group has eight forms under it and are slightly more advanced. The Taegeuk represent the most profound Eastern philosphy. "Tae" means bigness and "Geuk" means eternity, so Taegeuk literally means that it has no from, no beginning and no end. The final group is Palgwe, which also has eight forms under it. This group sybolically expresses the phenomena of man and universe. It contains contradictory concepts that continually combine and change.

I focused on Kibon form 1 (hereafter Kibon 1) this week. Kibon 1 is the basic form for beginners that teaches the basis for the rest of the forms and also allows the beginner to learn to control their body while performing the different forms. Kibon 1 starts in the ready stance and moved me into a left forward stance and executing a low block. I then took a step with my right foot, transitioning into a right foward stance and executing a right straight punch. I then pivoted on my left foot and turned the right facing the other way and executed another low block, this time with the right hand. I then stepped forward into a left forward stance and executed a left straight punch. I then pivoted on my right foot and turned left 90 degrees and executed a low block with the left hand. I then executed three straight punches while walking forward, alternating right hand, left hand, right hand. I then pivoted on my right foot turning left, backwards and to the other direction and executed a left low block, followed by a right forward stance with a right straight punch. I pivoted on my left foot and turned 180 degrees and executed a low block with the right hand, followed by a left straight punch. I then pivoted 90 degrees to the left and executed a low block, followed by three straight punches, alternating right, left, right. I then pivoted on my right foot back into the ready position. I actually got pretty good at this by the end of the week. 

I feel so much more relaxed after working out this week. Just while I was stretching, I was thinking how relaxed I was. Then I began to get into the workout. By the end I was feeling regenerated and ready to do just about anything. I was actually out of breath by the end of the workouts, but I felt great. I think I might be hooked on this!