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Power Control (Him Cho Chung)

When I speak of power control I am talking about having a command of the release, restraint, and relaxation of energy. In this case, I am talking about control over explosive energy that starts in the Dan Jun area and is channeled to the target area using visualization (Moo Sang) and conscious intent. It is the ability to transfer focused power from its source to the intended target area or the restraint to stop just short.

Tension and Relaxation ( Shin Chook)

Understanding hyung and being able to perform at a very high level requires mastery of breathing (Ho Hup) and timing in the accumulation and release of energy or power. Similar to an ocean wave as we inhale using the contraction principal we reach the apex of our ability. When we release we expand or transfer our power and energy to the intended target area. This process of tension and relaxation or contraction/expansion is used in all areas of our martial arts training.

Speed and Rhythm Control (Wan Gup)

For a form or hyung to come to life, it must have proper timing. The coordination and patterning of moves at rates appropriate to the sub-sequences in a form is what we call tempo. The ability to execute the proper tempo of a form is conditioned over time as the student moves from initial muscle memory stage, to acquired muscle memory stage, to refined muscle memory stage. These stages of development are necessary for the forms practitioner to eventually be able to perform the hyung in a state of mushin or mind-no-mind. This concept is sometimes referred to in the western world as being in the zone or demonstrating at mastery performance level.

Have you ever noticed how some people are always so eager? They’re eager to learn and grow; Eager to train and improve their skills and conditioning; Eager to help and serve others; Eager to work productively and get ahead. Eagerness is an excellent quality to possess. In Tang Soo Do, when you display an eager attitude, it opens doors and creates opportunities that you may not experience if you lacked eagerness.

Have you noticed when you show an eager interest in others, they tend to show you the same. This is often referred to as the Law of reciprocity. When you’re eager to train, your teachers, classmates and training partners will want to share their eager attitude with you as well. When you are eager to serve and help others, you’ll find more people eager to serve and help you as well. In this way as with most things, you become magnetic and attract what you put out. On the opposite side of the coin, is the person that dreads everything and anything. They always see the dark aside of everything and constantly moan and groan. They talk about the things they dislike and share their woes with co-workers and friends. They’re what is known as a buzz kill. If you’re feeling good about something, they want you to see their dark and negative view. They seem to take pleasure in bringing the energy level down instead of up. They can kill a positive buzz in no time. Negative people brighten up the room when they leave it. Don’t be a negative person.

If you want to become the best you can be in your martial arts or anything else for that matter, get around other people with the same goal. If you want to excel in your career, talk with other people that are also eager to grow and make positive progress in life. Eagerness is a state of mind…

Cambridge Tang Soo Do would like to congratulate the following students for successfully completing the Spring 2014 testing cycle:

Progress happens one step at a time. There is no sudden leap to greatness. Success lies in taking consistent action every day. Good work done little by little eventually becomes great work. Habit of Consistency is similar to the Law of Process, greatness doesn’t happen in a day, it happens daily. Many people can give a great effort for a day, a week or even a month. But few are willing to give their best day in day out. Anytime you apply consistent focus and persistent effort, your results will soon begin to show consistent improvement that eventually leads to greatness.

Habit of Consistency can take someone of average talent and eventually make them great. This is true in the Martial Arts and any other endeavor that requires Spirited Repetition. When you combine consistent focus with consistent action, you will succeed and achieve great results. Everything in life is a progression of steps. You can walk a 1000 miles simply by putting one foot in front of the other. All winners start as beginners, every great Black Belt Leader & Champion started their journey as a White Belt. Class by class, day by day, the eager White Belt eventually becomes a seasoned Black Belt. Practice Consistency and it will soon become habit!