The Essay for the Fourth Degree Black Belt (Sa Dan)

ESSAY

(The Fourth-Degree Black-Belt)

Source: Adapted from Mu Han Total Martial Arts’ Website (2019)

     During learning and teaching Martial Arts, especially Tae Kwon Do (TKD), Mu Han Total Martial Arts requires all instructors and students to focus on three principal aspects, i.e., (a) Jeong, (b) Ki, (c) Shin with Joong Yong. To be an ideal martial artist, Mu Han recommends that students should keep in mind a good balance between these components in TKD. This essay will describe, discuss and apply them during a long-life journey of studying and practicing “the art of the feet and hands” (Henning, 2000).  

     In general, the first principal component Jeong means affection, attachment or goodwill (Chung, 2018). However, Jeong in TKD means a mind or mentality of a martial artist. This component emphasizes on the mental aspects of martial arts, concentration, and focus.  It may be seen as religion or meditation. He/she should keep a clear mind of respect, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit inside and outside of the dojang. Mentality is one of the most indispensable principal aspects for a successful martial artist who commits to the martial arts clan.

      The second principal component Ki may be understood as key, stature, or rudder but at Mu Han it is defined as requirement, knowledge or technique. A good martial artist should see Ki as the forms, patterns or poomsae in a way of kicking and punching (Oh, 2017). This component focuses on a specific body parts such as hands, arms, legs, waist, head, and torso. The martial artists’ right stances, correct punches, good blocks, great kicks or combination of the techniques will make a great impact on the target. Also, a knowledge of agility, mobility, power, balance, flexibility, and endurance enhances a martial artist’ capability in sparring.      

    The third principal component Shin may be referred to names, places, or music, but in TKD Shin is body, physical conditions of the martial artists (Henning, 2000). This component pays attention to the requirements for testing, including 12 hand motion sets (6 offenses, 6 defenses), poomsaes, Mu Han kicks, and board breaking. All activities such as warm-up, sit-up, push-up, fast-paced movement, stretch, etc. that improve the body for better kicking and punching require a martial artist’s body strength. Martial artists need to be in top physical shape in order to perform their best (Oh, 2017).

     Three principal aspects (Jeong, Ki, Shin) coexist mutually and support each other. They are interacted and complement one to another. Jeong Ki Shin are usually combined and illustrated at three vertices of a triangle where Joong Yong is at the center in Figure 1 below:

        Figure 1: Relationship of Triangular Principal Components Jeong, Ki, Shin with Joong Yong.

    Dependent on flexibility, Joong Yong means a middle application or acknowledge outline that a martial artist uses three combined components Jeong, Ki, Shin in order to search for a standard or benchmark (Oh, 2017). He/she also applies them to measure high or low level of expectation. In other words, Joong Yong is an application of three essential principal aspects Jeong Ki Shin in a balanced manner. Joong Yong, located at the triangle center, connects bi-directionally to three principal aspects Jeong Ki Shin in triangulation (Oh, 2017). Notice that the red and yellow double arrows in Figure 1 indicate the mutual inter-connections between three essential aspects of Tae Kwon Do with Joong Yong.

       Figure 2: Joong Yong with Jeong, Ki, Shin at various levels in a typical training class.

                Source: Adapted from Master Oh Jin’s Instructor Seminar (June 27, 2017).

     In further discussion, it is instructors’ responsibility to keep in mind these principles and help students to maintain a balance between them throughout the Mu Han class. Joong Yong can be visualized at low/high levels of Jeong Ki Shin during the class. Notice that at the beginning of the class, Jeong is high where Ki and Shin at very low. And at the requirements practice, Jeong Ki Shin all are at a high level 6 as shown in Figure 2.       

     To apply the principal aspects Jeong, Ki, Shin with Joong Yong in training, teaching or practicing, a martial artist can use a common Mu Han framework in six Steps: (1) Goal Setting, (2) Motivation, (3) Patience, (4) Discipline, (5) Achievement, and (6) Happiness. Especially Step (4) Discipline includes confidence, respect, focus, concentration, self- esteem. This fundamental six-step cycle, as shown in Figure 3, can be repeated by students, assistant instructors or instructors to find their personal path along with Jeong, Ki, Shin and Joong Yong to improvement and success.

Figure 3: Fundamental Mu Han framework for improvement.

     In conclusion, the fundamental concept of three principal aspects of Jeong, Ki, Shin with central Joong Yong was explained and discussed explicitly in this essay. Their mutual relationship was described and widened to the Mu Han foundational framework. The application of acknowledging outline to find standard and apply high or low on mentality, requirement or technique, and physical condition is the critical key of improvement and success for each individual student. As a student and instructor at Mu Han, I always apply these principles during practicing or teaching other fellow students in sportsmanship and Mu Han spirit.     

REFERENCES

Chung, C. (2018). What is Jeong? Retrieved by May, 2919 from  http://www.prcp.org/publications/sig.pdf

Henning, S. (2000). Traditional Korean martial arts. Journal of Asian Martial Arts. Retrieved by May, 2919 from http://www.martialartsresource.com/korean/TKD.list.htm

Oh, J. (2017). Mu Han Total Martial Arts: Curriculum. Seminar of instructors and assistant instructors in June 2017.

Syed, S. (2017). The five foundations of Taekwondo. Retrieved by May 2019 from 

           https://www.hercampus.com/school/old-westbury/five-foundations-taekwondo.