Journal Entry 6: Review and Conclusion

This week I focused on the overall forms that I have learned. I have tried to remember each of the forms in their entirety and then I attempted to incorporate the meanings of them into my everyday life. The Kibon forms as already stated, are the basics and taught me the individual movements and basics for the Taegeuk forms that would follow. The first Taegeuk form applies a series of actions from keon, or heaven. Taeguek is the source of everything, starting with keon. Keon represents growth on earth which is started by the light and rain. Taegeuk form 1 applies the walking stance, forward stance, middle punch, middle block and front snap kick, which combined showed me the underlying concepts represented by them. Each form has a similar meaning. 

I felt more in tune with my body than I ever have during this experiment and will probably continue to learn the techniques that I have learned and maybe even pursue formal training in the art. I feel stronger and more flexible than when I started and even more able to defend myself. I would recommend this to anyone because of the discipline that it takes to stay on top of it and the resulting feeling of strength and confidence. I have extremely enjoyed this experiment and will always remember the things that I have learned. 

Journal Entry 5: Taegeuk Forms 2 and 3

This week I tackled the second and third form under the Taegeuk group. Taegeuk form 2 (form 2) was similar to Taegeuk form 1 in that it had the same basic movements, but added a couple new ones. Form 2 starts in the ready position and moves to the left into a left walking stance while executing a low block with the left hand. One step forward into a right forward stance follows, with a right middle section straight punch. I then pivoted on the left foot to the right and landed in right walking stance and executed a low block with the right hand. I stepped forward into a left forward stance and delivered a left middle section straight punch. Pivoting on the ball of the right foot, I turned to the left into a left walking stance while executing a right middle section inside block. I stepped forward with the right foot into a right walking stance and executed a left middle section inside block. Pivoting on the ball of the right foot and turning to the left 90 degrees and into a left walking stance while executing a left low section block. Shifting my weight to my left foot, I delivered a right front snap kick, and dropped into a right forward stance while executing a right high section straight punch. Pivoting on the left foot brought be 180 degrees to the right, where I repeated the above back the other way and with the opposite hands and feet. Ending with the left high section straight punch, brought to the optimal position to pivot to the left into a left walking stance and execute a left high section block. I stepped forward with the right foot into a right walking stance and executed a right high section block. I then pivoted on my right foot and back to the left, turning approximately 270 degrees, into a left walking stance, where I executed a right middle section block. I then pivoted back to the right on my left foot into a right walking stance and executed a left middle section block. Pivoting 90 degrees to the left into a right walking stance and executing a left low block, gets me in position to return to the ready position. First, I must execute a right front snap kick and land in a right forward stance and execute a right middle section straight punch. I repeat this two additional times and return to the ready position.

The next form I tackled was Taegeuk form 3 (form 3). Form 3 was the hardest one to learn yet, and they only get harder. Form 3 starts, as do all of the forms, in the ready position. A step to the left into a left walking stance and executing a low block with the left hand, is the first movement. Following that is a right front snap kick landing in a right forward stance and execution of a middle section double punch, right then left. Pivoting on the left foot to the right into a right walking stance and executing a right low block comes next. Shifting my weight to my right foot, I executed a left front snap kick, landing in a left forward stance and then executed another middle section double punch, this time left then right. I then turned to the left into a left walking stance while executing a right high section inward knife-hand strike. Another high section inward knife-hand strike, this time with the left hand, was executed after a step forward into a right walking stance. This is where it got a little tricky. I turned to the left my moving my left into a right back stance while executing a a left middle section knife-hand block. (A back stance is where the feet are a little wider than shoulder-width and the front foot is pointed forward, while the back foot is at 90 degrees with toes pointed away from you. Knees are bent and 70% of your body weight is on your back foot and the rest is on the front foot.) Then I pushed forward with my right foot and stepped into a left forward stance while executing a right middle section straight punch. Pivoting on the left foot to the right, got me turned around, where I executed the same movements the other way, but with the opposite feet and hands. A 90 degree turn to the left into a left walking stance while executing a left middle section inside block, comes next, followed by a step forward into a right walking stance while executing a left middle section inside block. Making the 270 degree turn to the left on the right foot, got me into a left walking stance, where I executed a left low block. Shifting my weight onto my left leg, I executed a right front snap kick, landing in a right forward stance followed immediately by executing a middle section double punch, right then left. I then pivoted on the the left foot tot he right 180 degrees in a right walking stance while executing a right low block. Shifting my weight to my right foot allows me to execute a left front snap kick. When this kick is complete, I land in a left forward stance, where I execute another middle section double punch, this time left than right. I then turned to the left into a left walking stance and executed a left low block followed immediately, and without moving the feet, by a right middle section straight punch. I stepped forward into a right walking stance and executed a right low block, followed immediately, and again without moving the feet, by a left middle section straight punch. Shifting my weight to my right foot, I executed a left front snap kick landing in a left walking stance and executing a left low block, followed immediately, and without moving the feet, by a right middle section straight punch. I then shifted my weight to my left foot and executed a right front snap kick, landed in a right walking stance while executing a right low block, and followed that by remaining in the same position and executing a left middle section straight punch. 

Although these forms were pretty difficult to learn, I have seen improvement from when I started this experiment. I seem to be learning them quicker after I got the basics down. Form 3 took a little longer to learn because of the different stances and strikes that it has in it. The differences and complexities of form 3 are the reasons that this is probably my favorite to learn yet. I am truly enjoying the time that I spend learning and practicing these forms. The concentration that I need to accomplish these forms has allowed me to escape from the everyday worldly stress and focus on one thing at a time.