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.  

Journal Entry 4: Kibon Form 2 and Taegeuk Form 1

This week I worked on the second form under the Kibon group and the first form under the Taegeuk group. Kibon form 2 (Kibon 2) is very similar to Kibon 1 in that it has the same basic I-shape form, but differs in that it starts with a middle section outer block with the left arm, followed by a front snap kick, and immediately follows with a straight right middle punch. This sequence is repeated after turning around 180 degrees with the opposite hands and feet. Kibon 2, as in Kibon 1, then has a sequence of three forward stances and straight middle punches with both the right and left hands. The beginning sequence is repeated here going both directions. The sequence of three forward stances and straight punches is repeated back to the starting position. 

Since I had Kibon 1 down pretty well from the week before, I was able to learn Kibon 2 pretty quickly. The first form under the Taegeuk was a different story. Taegeuk 1 starts in the ready position and moves into a walking stance to the left while executing a low block with the left hand. A step forward with the right foot into another walking stance with a right straight middle punch comes next. This sequence is repeated after a 180 degree turn to the right, back the other way. That sequence is followed by a 90 degree turn to the left into left forward stance and immediately followed, from the same position, by a straight right middle punch. Next, I stepped to the right 90 degrees with the right foot, in a right forward walking stance, and executed an inside middle block with the left arm. I then stepped forward with the left foot, while executing straight right middle section punch. After another 180 degree turn, this time to the left, the sequence is repeated the other way and with the opposite hands. Next a 90 degree turn to the right into a right forward stance and executing a low block with the right arm, followed immediately, from the same position, by a left straight middle punch. Next, a 90 degree turn to the left, into a left forward walking stance, while executing a high block with the left arm. Keeping the left foot planted execute a front snap kick with the right foot coming down into a right front walking stance and executing a straight right middle punch. Turn 180 degrees to the right and repeat the sequence the other way with the opposite hands and feet. Step to the right with the left foot into a left forward stance and execute a low block with the left arm. Step forward with the right foot into a right front forward stance and execute a straight right middle punch and return to the ready position. 

I have really enjoyed learning these techniques. Although I'm nowhere near ready to engage in any type of kyorugi (sparring) with an opponent yet. After each workout, I felt relaxed and energized all at the same time, it was kind of weird sensation. I am already beginning to feel in better control of my body. My kicks feel stronger and easier, and my punches feel straighter and with more snap. I can only imagine what I will feel like when this project is completed. 

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! 

Journal Entry 2: Change

I began to study the fundamentals of Karate. This study taught me how to throw a punch correctly, how to execute a proper front kick and showed me the form I would need to learn to attain the yellow belt, beginners start out with a white belt. This form is one that pits you against four opponents. The object is to attack each individually and the form works very logically. You start with the opponent on your left and throw a series of punches, kicks and elbows and move in a circle around you, next attacking the opponent to the rear. The form moves you in a circle attacking each opponent in turn. 

I wanted to find a gym that I could use in order to practice the moves. When I went looking, I couldn't find a gym that could help me with Karate, but I did find one that teaches Taekwondo. Taekwondo is Korean based and utilizes kicks and leg actions more than it uses hand techniques. Karate utilizes mostly hands and throws. I spoke with Master Tim Stanforth, who runs the Hilliard branch of the Oriental Martial Arts College (See related link www.omacworld.com) Master Stanforth was able to accommodate my learning of Taekwondo. 

I will begin classes hopefully next week if I can work the schedule out. Master Stanforth convinced me to try Taekwondo in lieu of Karate, because he utilizes a much more religious approach to his instruction. He said that in order to obtain the black belt, you must undergo a three day fast along with a 12 hour meditation, in addition to the physical techniques that must be mastered. 

Taekwondo is the South Korean national sport and is also regarded as the world's most popular martial art in terms of numbers of participants. Taekwondo is is taken from three Korean words. "Tae" means feet or kicking. "Kwon" means hands or striking. As in Karate-do, "Do" means path, method or way of life. So Taekwondo is loosely translated as the way of the foot and fist. 

My expectations from this project remain the same. I have changed the name of the entire blog in order to note the change in discipline that I will be studying. 

Journal Entry 1: Background

Karate is derived from two Japanese words "Kara" which means empty and "te" which means hand. So Karate is literally "Empty Hand." When the suffix "do," pronounced "doe" is added to the end it simply means "way." So Karate-do means that it is more than a fighting style, but is actually a way of life. Karate is broken down into three sections: Kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring).  

Shatokan Karate founder Gichin Funakoshi puts it this way: "True Karate is this: that in daily life one's body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice." (See below link) 

I chose the practice of Karate for this project for several reasons. First of all because I have always wanted to learn a martial art and second because I feel that it will not only exercise my body, but also exercise my mind. I feel that I will benefit from this practice, because it will allow me to be in better control of my body and mind and allow them to work together for the good of the whole being. 

Some Changes that I predict would be that I gain a better understanding of Karate-do, not just the martial art, but as a way of life. Another prediction would be that I gain a control over my mind and body that I have not previously had.