I’ve copied a very old tape that explains the philosophy of hyung (forms) for Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do) Moo Duk Kwan.  Kwan Jang Nim H.C. Hwang demonstrates some advanced, traditional forms such as Wang Shu along with what appears to be self-designed sparring combinations.  I hope you enjoy learning more about the history and philosophy of our art.  Soo Bahk!

Um Yang Philosophy

Throughout all of history, man has tried to understand the workings of the universe and his relationship with both Heaven and Earth.  In ancient Korea, the traditional Um/Yang symbol had three distinct sections: heaven, earth and human.  These people deduced that whenever two forces opposed one another one of two things would happen: one force would dominate the other, thus one would be superior and the other inferior; or the two forces would be equal cancelling one another out.

It was from this observation that the Um/Yang philosophy was born.  Everything around us has an opposite:  hot and cold, high and low, summer and winter, fire and water.  Um energy is soft, yielding and passive.  Yang is hard, aggressive and active. Striking a balance between Um and Yang energies would result in Tae Guk or Grand Ultimate.  Tae Guk is a state of neutrality where perfect harmony exists.  Energies naturally flow from yang to um and back to yang effortlessly.  Neither force dominates the other.

Western minds think in a linear fashion with a beginning and multiple steps leading to an end.  Conversely, Eastern thought can be illustrated better by a circle.  There is neither a beginning nor an end but a circle filled with a number of phases, each leading in both directions to another.  An example that can be found in both Western and Eastern culture is the concept of the “circle of life”.  Initially, you may think of life as a straight line beginning with birth (yang) and ending in death (um).  However, after we die, our bodies return to the earth and give nutrients to the soil to produce more life (yang), which will eventually produce more death (um).  This endless circle is an example of how nature is constantly flowing from Yang to Um energy.

Ship Sam Seh

This Um/Yang philosophy can be found in every aspect of Korean culture including Astrology, agriculture, architecture, nutrition and even fighting arts (kwon bup).  The variation of Um/Yang philosophy that correlates with kwon bup is known as Ship Sam Seh (13 Principles/Influences).  The Ship Sam Seh can be broken down into Pal Gwe (8 Forces/Directions) and Oh Haeng (5 Energies/Elements).

Having an understanding of Ship Sam Seh philosophy will teach you how to react to neutralize an attack.  If someone attacks high (yang), then counter low (um).  If your opponent has a strong straight line (yang), then side-step off of his line (um).  There are, however, more strategies than merely Um and Yang.  You have only scratched the surface of the possibilities.  The Pal Gwe and the Oh Haeng are derivatives of Um/Yang, each having an Um or Yang characteristic, but each is also distinct with its own set of unique attributes.

Pal Gwe

The Pal Gwe, or 8 forces, are connected to the 8 directions on a compass.  The directions are further divided into Sa Jung (four principle directions) and Sa Woo (four corners or intermediary directions).  This shows your positioning in space and the ability to move in the 8 directions by stepping, hopping, lunging, etc.  Without stepping, you can also use Pal Gwe on the way you move your mass.  This is done by moving your waist:  Left, Right, Forward, Backward, Up, Down, Clockwise, Counter clockwise.

Besides physical direction (yang), each Gwe has a specific strategy or technique (um) associated with it.  Anyone who has studied Tae Kuk Kwon (Tai Chi Chuan) will be familiar with these strategies.   It is my belief that Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee learned much of his Ship Sam Seh knowledge while he trained with Master Yang in China.  It was during that time that Kwan Jang Nim learned Tae Kuk Kwon.

The Sa Jung, or four principle directions, are considered “Yang” and are more aggressive and should be used when there is a greater distance between you and your opponent.  The intent of these strategies may include exposing vulnerabilities for counter attacking, redirecting the energy of an attack, creating distance from your opponent, or disrupting your opponent’s center and rendering him off-balance.  Table 1 lists the Sa Jung.

Table 1

The Sa Woo, or intermediary directions, are “Um” in nature and are designed for in-close fighting.  In-close fighting has a new set of cahllenges and opportunities.  You can trap, grab, or pull a limb as a counter measure or even as an attack.  You can also strike, create distance, or disrupt your opponent’s center.  Table 2 lists the Sa Woo.

Table 2

Oh Haeng

Just as the Um and Yang philosophy was an ancient way of explaining nature, the Oh Haeng was a further attempt to explain more complex forces of nature.  The Oh Haeng, or 5 Elements/Energies include: Fire, Water, Wood, Metal and Earth.  Each element produces a unique energy (Ki) that can be cultivated for Kwon Bup and for health.

Table 3

The 5 Elements demonstrate two important cycles in nature:  the creative cycle and the destructive cycle.  Creation occurs in the following order:  Water is needed to grow wood, wood ignites to create fire, fire burns the wood which creates ash (earth), metal is extracted from the earth, and water condenses and forms on metal.  You can use the creation cycle in many ways:

Respect  >   Kindness  >  Trust  >  Openness  >  Honesty  > Respect
Fear        >  Anger        >  Envy   >  Worry       >  Sadness  >  Fear

The destructive cycle is equally as intuitive:  Water smothers a fire.  Fire melts metal.  Metal chops wood. Wood breaks up the earth.  Earth muddies water.  The destructive cycle also holds true:

Respect  >  Trust  >  Honesty  >  Kindness  >  Openness  >  Respect
Fear        >  Envy   >  Sadness  >  Anger      >  Worry        >  Fear

Within the context of Kwon Bup, each element has unique attributes and can be sub-divided by Um (internal) and Yang (external).  The Oh Bo are the 5 Steps—Advance, Retreat, Right, Left, Center—and refers only to direction of movement.  The internal strategies, called Oh Mal, are much more telling:  Listen, Connect, Adhere, Redirect and Yield.  Table 4 summarizes the Oh Haeng.

Table 4

The O Mal, or 5 Strategies, seem to be  a set of ordered instructions on how to face an opponent effectively.  The first step is to have good shi sun and “pay attention to the slightest change from full to empty.”  Many of these strategies can be found intertwined in the Song of Ship Sam Seh.  Listening hands has to do with reading your opponenet based on his eyes, body movement, stance and breath.  Once you begin to read your opponent, then you try and connect with him.  “Surprising things will happen when you meet youur opponent.”  Move in harmony with your opponent so that you move as one entity.  “Pay attention to the slightest change from full to empty”.  This is the beginning of controlling your opponent.

Once you have gained a connection with your opponent, you must maintain it by adhering to him.  This can be physically through an exercise called “sticky hands” or it could be a mu sang exercise where you do not break the connection you have.  Learn to follow or lead your opponent without aggression.  You will begin to control your opponent without any effort (don’t oppose force).  Each strategy seamlessly prepares you for the next strategy.  Unlike the rest of the Oh Haeng and Pal Gwe groupings, these strategies are to be used simultaneously.

This article has given a brief overview of the Ship Sam Seh.  The next article will give some practice drills on how to incorporate Pal Gwe and Oh Haeng in your training.

*The information contained in this paper is a result of years of study and compilation.  Some of my major sources include Hwang Kee’s Volume I text, online articles by Master Daniel Segarra.

The last week of December, my family and I traveled to Santa Barbara, CA to visit Helena’s grandma. There I trained with Jang Sa Bom Nim, who I highly respect and admire as a martial artist and a high-level person. Not only is he a master of Soo Bahk Do, but he is also a master calligrapher, who got his training in Korea. Below, you will see a beautiful piece of calligraphy on the left and a scroll on the right.

The scroll has the characters that denote “sincerity” and the writing on the far left means roughly all things come from the heart, which is the meaning of sincerity.

The fan has special significance to me.  The whole fan is symbolic of Chil Sung, which is Jang Sa Bom Nim’s expertise.  Chil Sung is a term well-known to Soo Bahk Do practitioners, especially dan members.  It is a set of forms that are unique to our system.  The direct translation means 7 stars, which refer to the 7 stars of the big dipper.  These set of forms are our guide in Soo Bahk Do much like the Big Dipper was a guide for sailors.

For most of my life, that was the complete meaning of Chil Sung.  Apparently, Chil Sung is a term richly engrained in

Korean culture.  Chil Sung is a composite of Tae Guk (Um/Yang) plus O Haeng (5 Elements) .  The Um Yang is the red and blue symbol found on the Korean flag and are located on the far right side of the fan.  In the center of the fan, you’ll see 5 symbols, represening the 5 elements:  Wood, Metal, Fire, Water, and Earth.  Earth is the center symbol in Yellow, which also represents the Golden Mean.  Everything in our world are manifestations of Chil Sung and through careful study, we can find elements of Chil Sung throughout our training and also in our daily life.

Perhaps in time, I’ll write a little more about Chil Sung Philosophy.  I’d be interested to know if there are many people out there who would be interested in further information on the subject.  I know I am.

            Yuk Ro Sam Dan, most commonly referred to as Po Wol, is the third hyung in the Yuk Ro (pronounced Yoong-no) series created by Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee.  These forms were inspired by Kwan Jang Nim’s study of the ancient Korean martial arts text Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji (武藝圖譜通志), written by Park Je Ga and Lee Duk Mu during the reign of King Jong Jo 300 years ago. 

            To understand the characteristics of Po Wol, and the Yuk Ro Hyungs in general, it is important to understand the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji (MYDBTJ) and the personal martial arts history of the form’s creator, Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee.  We begin with an examination of the writings in the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji:

“There is what is known as Yun Soo in the training methods, consisting of thirty five training methods and eighteen types of footwork. They were classified into six paths (Yuk Ro) and Ten level exercises (Ship Dan Khum). The six paths include: Woo Shin Tong Bu Choi Wee Go, Doo Mun Shim Shwe Jun Yung Ho, Seo nin Ip Ki Jo chunse, San chul Pyowol Bulsangyo, Yang pyun Joawoo Innankup, and Sal chu chingro Yang shiyo”

            The Yuk Ro (six paths) are what inspired the Yuk Ro Hyung series.  The fourth path, San Chul Pyowol Bulsangyo (撒出抱月不相饒), can be translated as “remove, exit and embrace the moon, we mutually keep each other at bay.”  This is the path that influenced the creation of Po Wol Hyung.  Po Wol (抱月) signifies “embrace the moon.”

            Kwan Jang Nim Hwang Kee was an extremely creative and brilliant man, who had a firm understanding of the martial arts and of Ship Sam Seh philosophy that helped in the formation of the Yuk Ro Hyung.  After translating the MYDBTJ, he used his knowledge of the martial arts to create a set of forms that could preserve what was left of the Yuk Ro.  He used what information was available about the Yuk Ro and incorporated it in the forms.  To piece it all together, he used the knowledge he had gained from other sources, including Dham Doi Ship E Ro, whose influence can be seen in the Yuk Ro series, including Po Wol.  An example would be the Jang Kap Kwon and Jang Kwon Do techniques. 

            The signature technique of Po Wol is po wol seh, or embrace the moon method.  This technique was most likely derived from the MYDBTJ and is the central piece of the hyung.  Within this one movement, the energy and spirit of Po Wol Hyung is defined.

The energy, spirit, and intent of this form should be a sense of receiving and embracing energy with a relaxed, fixed center.  Just as the moon is representative of um, so too Po Wol Hyung should represent a softer side of training. 

Within Po Wol Hyung, the Ship Sam Seh philosophy is very apparent.  Earlier, there was mention of how wol, or moon, is symbolic of um energy.  The earth also symbolizes an um energy, which is a component of the O Heng (5 elements).  The O Heng is broken down into two sections:  External Steps and Internal Strategies.  The step for earth is jung (土)  which means to stay centered.  We can apply this principle by applying a solid stance and working on being still.  The internal strategy for earth is  Boo Joo Hang (不丟頂), which translates to non-opposing force.  By not opposing the force of an opponent, control can be obtained.  Boo Joo Hang and Jung make up the central characteristic of po wol seh.  In performing the technique, we receive an attack by maintaining a centered stance and embracing the energy without opposition. 

            By concentrating on po wol seh, the feeling of jung and boo joo hang is carried throughout the form with relaxed, embracing energy.  This is the way to reach a greater understanding of some of the Ship Sam Seh principles Kwan Jang Nim embraced.