On August 16, 2008, the following students participated in the Soo Bahk Do National Championships: Grace Greis, Mia Brickey, Elle Sweetland, Stephanie Nolan, Daphne Mitchie, Olyvia Mugweh, Davis Kahler, and Alex Kahler. I ended up placing first in hyung and 3rd in sparring. The team hyung did not go so well. Region 8 did not place. Their dedication to Soo Bahk Do does not go unnoticed and they have represented our school and the art with dignity and respect. From the competition, Mia Brickey placed 3rd in sparring, Stephanie Nolan placed 2nd in hyung, and Olyvia Mugweh placed 2nd in hyung. Grace, Elle, Daphne, Davis, and Alex received participation medals for their superb performance in hyung.

In fact, their conduct was so excellent, that a member of the Technical Advisory Committee, Jang Sa Bom Nim, awarded their group with a first place trophy for being the most well-mannered, good kids at the competition.

I believe they had a wonderful time competing and taking seminars during the Moment with the Masters and will come back to training with a better understanding of the art and refined confidence in their own abilities.

A special thanks goes out to the parents who made the sacrifice to allow their children to go to San Diego and take part in this historic event. Without their support, Soo Bahk Do would not be able to exist in Utah.

This weekend I returned home from my 8 day “Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa” in Ramona, California. It was an experience I will never forget. I’m sure many posts will be dedicated towards the event. Here I’d like to give a general overview of my impression of the event.

The shim sa had the theme “Standardization, Connection, and Strengthening the Philosophy through Action.” This was the goal of the entire week. I do not know of any other martial arts organization that maintains the same standardization that we do. We are truly connected worldwide with professional, standardized material. The same philosophy, terminology, and phyiscal technique is used in every dojang (studio). Much of the week was devoted towards standardizing our ki sool (techniques), hyung ( forms), il soo sik (one step sparring), and ho sin sul (self defense techniques).

The Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa began in San Diego, California as a part of the Moment with the Masters Seminars. There we took part in seminars of our own choice, along with a few seminars directed towards the Sa Dan and Sa Bom Candidate Groups. Next, we participated in the National Championships where I participated in Hyung, Sparring, and Team Sparring (I was a Region 8 representative). I was happy to share this experience with many of my students who participated. Later, I will relate a detailed post on the occasion.

Following the Championships, we went to Ramona and stayed at a quiet mountain lodge for the remaining of the Ko Dan Ja experience. On Sunday, I taught a class with Greg Booker, Kyo Sa Nim, fulfilling a requirement for my sa bom examination. The theme was “ki-seh” with an emphasis on practical application of kyo cha rip jaseh. The class was well received and many encouraging comments were made after class and during the evaluation that evening.

Immediately following my class, Griggs Sa Bom Nim, my TAC proctor, elaborated on my concept. I was teaching a defense against a front kick by stepping back into a cross-legged stance and performing a low block. From there, you counter with a roundhouse kick with the front leg. The proper preparation and execution of the roundhouse from this position is particularly difficult. Apparently, my kick was too linear. From this position your partner’s solar plexus is positioned to the side. Therefore, the roundhouse should come around, in a circular fashion, parallel to the ground. Instead of preparing your knee into your chest, you should focus your heel towards your buttocks.

The following days were pure training from early morning moo pahl dan kuhm till late at night trainings and evaluations. I enjoyed every session, being taught by some of the world’s best! The highlights of course was receiving instruction and counsel from Kwan Jang Nim Hwang himself. Each day we received new insights in all of our standardized material, history, and philosophy.

Many friendships were created among the candidates. We had plenty of time to get to know each other through training. The last part of Ko Dan Ja was principally dedicated towards unity and harmony within the group. Griggs Sa Bom Nim taught a class at midnight on unity. He said the 7 steps towards group harmony was

1. Huri
2. Ho Hoop
3. Shi Sun
4. Shin Chook
5. Completion
6. Effort
7. Success

We worked on one hyung, Yang Pyun, until close to 1:30 attempting to complete the hyung without any mistakes and with group harmony. By midnight, we were all extremely fatigued and our brains were mush. The exercise required every ounce of shim gong we had. It is an experience I will never forget. Thank you Griggs Sa Bom Nim!

We trained hard and before you knew it, the last day approached and we were demonstrating our hyung in front of Kwan Jang Nim and the senior Soo Bahk Do officials. I enjoyed the presentation and felt good about the experience. I’ve learned many things about myself and I have a deeper appreciation for the art. My hope is to be able to pass on my appreciation for the art to my students so they too may receive the rich benefits I have received.

On Thursday I leave for San Diego, California along with 8 of my more senior students. We all will be participating in this year’s Soo Bahk Do National Festival and Championships. My students will be participating in the Moment of the Masters seminars and then competing in forms and sparring. I am extremely proud of them for taking this opportunity to participate in the largest Soo Bahk Do event of the year and want to recognize the dedication of their parents who have made the sacrifice to allow their children to participate. The success of our school is not just dependent on the dedication of its students, but also the love and support of the students’ families.

While my students are participating in the National Festival, I’ll be beginning the infamous Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa, an 8 day test reserved for those working to attain the rank of 4^th dan and up. I will also be testing to become a “Sa Bom” or master level instructor. There is a clear distinction between a 1^st through 3^rd dan (called Yu Dan Ja) and a 4^th dan or above (called Ko Dan Ja). The prior is considered a dan member and wears a midnight blue belt. In Soo Bahk Do, midnight blue is the Korean equivalent of the Japanese black belt and is symbolized by the season autumn—a fruitful result of training. It symbolizes a new beginning and denotes a practitioner who has a firm foundation in the art of Soo Bahk Do. The midnight blue belt also symbolizes um, or passive energy.

After a minimum of 9 years as a Yu Dan Ja, you can apply to take the Ko Dan Ja Shim Sa. Ko Dan Ja members (4^th dan and up) wear a midnight blue belt with a solid red stripe down the center. The red stripe is yang and the two colors combined symbolize completeness, harmony, and unity of the two cosmic forces—Um and Yang. This harmony should be seen in a Ko Dan Ja member’s demeanor, words, and actions. Ko Dan Ja members are also referred to as masters of the art.

For the past year, I have been preparing for this week. The process begins by receiving a letter of invitation to apply to test for Ko Dan Ja. If you have a desire to apply, then you will fill out some paperwork and then your instructor may choose to recommend you. Members of the Technical Advisory Committee, the Hu Kyun In (Guardians of the Art), and your Regional Examiners (currently Sa Bom Nims Jennifer Gibbons and Andy Tyzzer) also must recommend you. If you are recommended, then you will receive a formal invitation by mail along with a thick packet of study materials and further instructions. I wrote a total of 11 essays on various topics of history, philosophy, application of technique, and teaching methodologies.

Now begins the remaining portion of the test, which is 8 days of physical and mental training in the hills of California. I’ll be testing with 35 other 3^rd dans and during those days we will learn from the top masters in the world, including Grandmaster H.C. Hwang—the son of the deceased founder Hwang Kee. A key purpose of these 8 days is to go over all of the standardized material and make sure that all of the Ko Dan Ja are in harmony with one another. This will maintain the integrity of our art and greatly help the quality of instruction at Wasatch Martial Arts Academy.

I am sincerely grateful for the support of my dear family, Helena and Eli, who have made tremendous sacrifices to allow me to pursue this art. I am also thankful for the support and dedication of my students and their families. I hope to represent all of you well during the Shim Sa and promise to bring back as much as I can and in due time, all of the information will be transmitted to you.

Soo Bahk!

A few weeks ago I went to Hailey, Idaho to train with my instructor, Oliver Whitcomb Sa Bom Nim, to prepare me for Ko Dan Ja. Ko Dan Ja is an 8 day test reserved for “senior dan members” in Soo Bahk Do. Completing and passing your first Ko Dan Ja examination qualifies you to receive your 4th dan. If you choose, you can also pursue your Sa Bom or master-level instructor certification. In a few weeks, I’ll be testing for both.

While I was in Hailey, I assisted in Sawtooth Martial Arts‘ second Warrior Arts Camp. 27 kids gathered for four hours every day for a full week. They learned warrior skills in Soo Bahk Do, archery, art, and the Korean staff called “Kan Bong”. The kids really enjoyed the camp. On the last day, they chose to either work on their archery or Kan Bong skills rather than have free time. This told us that the camp was a huge success.

I was in charge of teaching the kids the “Kan Bong”. They did very well and all of them learned at least a good majority of Bong Hyung Il Bu which is the first Bong form that I teach students. I am considering doing something similar in Utah next summer. If anyone has suggestions, I’d really enjoy a comment. I’m posting a few images of the camp.

The Yuk Keun Kyung (Yi Jin Jing   in Chinese) are a set of ancient Chinese exercises, supposedly created by Pan Wei during the Qing Dynasty.  They are similar in purpose and style to the Moo Pahl Dan Kuhm (Ba Duan Jin) exercises familiar to Soo Bahk Do and Tai Chi practitioners worldwide.  Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee trained in the Chinese arts while he worked on the railroad.  It is safe to assume that it was during this period that he came across the Yuk Keun Kyung.  He found these techniques to be extremely important and copied the manuscripts in his Volume I textbook on Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do).  Anyone who is affiliated with the Moo Duk Kwan or has been influenced by the Moo Duk Kwan should, in my opinion, have an interest in these forgotten exercises.  Interestingly, you’ll be hard pressed to find a Korean practitioner who has an understanding of them.  Luckily, Master Daniel Segarra, former member of the Moo Duk Kwan and current founder of a new Korean system called Moo Sa Do, is currently working on a publication that will have his translation of the Yuk Keun Kyung, along with other Ki Gong exercises.  You can stay up-to-date at the Warrior-Scholar Forum.

From what I understand, the Yuk Keun Kyung are a set of 12 exercises that resemble many of our modern stretching techniques and are based on Chinese accupuncture points and the 12 meridian system.  I’ll be updating this blog post as I continue my research and hope that others will add to it as well.  Below is a diagram of some of the techniques.  There is also a youtube clip that is helpful.

My students have been struggling with tying their own belts, so I’m providing this link to help.

Please remember to take care of your do bok. White do boks can be bleached. Never wash your belt. The wear and tear of your belt is a symbol of your past training that stay with you throughout your life. Washing your belt is akin to abandoning your past accomplishments.

Last Wednesday, January 23rd, we received a very special visit from Jennifer Gibbons, Sa Bom Nim (4th Dan) and Jeff Griggs, Sa Bom Nim (6th Dan). Master Gibbons is Region 8’s Regional Examiner and is in charge of all Dan level promotions and studio certifications. She was here representing the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation as she certified Wasatch Martial Arts Academy. Soon, we should be receiving our own certificate finalizing our school’s position within the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation, which is headed by none other than Grandmaster Hwang Kee’s son and successor, Grand Master H.C. Hwang.

This event was extremely important to our school and all of us. It is through this certification that we can stay connected with the roots of Soo Bahk Do and show respect to its founder, Hwang Kee.

During the event, Gibbons, Sa Bom Nim taught a wonderful class about Weh Gong, Neh Gong, and Shim Gong.

Weh Gong, translated as external training (power) is our physical technique, our bodily movement. We activate and control our weh gong through our Hu Ri (waist). Our Hu Ri ensures proper harmony and connection from our center to our weapon (hand or foot).

Neh Gong is translated to internal training (power) and is a softer, more internal method of training. It is the development of our internal organs and Ki, rather than our bones, skin, and muscles. Just as our Hu Ri activates and controls our weh gong, our breath controls our neh gong training.

Shim Gong, possibly the most overlooked aspect of our training, is translated as mental or spiritual training. We demonstrate shim gong through our concentration and intent. Our mindset determines whether or not we have good shim gong training. Our Shi Sun (eye focus) is the catalyst to good shim gong training by allowing our mind to connect to our action.

When combined, we achieve the desired result.

While my students were learning from Gibbons, Sa Bom Nim, I had the honor of training two hours with Griggs, Sa Bom Nim who is a member of the Weh Gong Bu branch of the Technical Advisory Committee. He is responsible for the standardization of technique and curriculum within the organization. It was a great benefit to me to go over some of my material with him, which included hyung, bong dae ryun, and advanced Ki Cho.

Below are a few photos of the event: