Endless Changes
from a Simple Principle of Taekwondo
“How long will it take me to master these many techniques?”
“There is only one skill.”
The
figure of Taekwondo is simple yet it is inclusive of various principles and
changes. Although the simple figure of Taekwondo does not change, it can
contain within it many principles and changes because man thinks of Taekwondo
distinctively. Therefore, all things and their changes are generated based on
Do, but because man came to distinguish and name all things change was divided
into yin and yang, and its quality into kang (hardness) and yu (softness).[1]
The
distinctive factors of Taekwondo can be analyzed in terms of distance, tide and
balance, each of which comprises a composite among the ways of Haneul (heaven),
Tang (earth) and Saram (man). That is, Haneul and Tang when united make
distance; Haneul and Saram when united make tide; and Tang and Saram when
united make balance.
Haneul
and Tang when united make distance because the way of Haneul is to situate all
of yourself in the proper place while the way of Tang is to have your opponent
opposed to the world to which you are harmonized. You can always find the best
distance in Taekwondo whenever the unity of Haneul and Tang maintains you in your
proper position while keeping your opponent opposed to the world to which you
are harmonized.
Haneul
and Saram when united make tide because the way of Saram is to preserve your
core and balance and to not lose yourself. When you maintain these ways you can
be sure of keeping your spirit firm in the midst of every change and
maintaining everything in its own place.
Tang
and Saram when united make balance because the very balance in the motions of
Taekwondo allows change to settle within your own harmony around the core that
you have in the opposition of your opponent and the world.[2]
In
this manner, when following the ways of Haneul, Tang and Saram, the motions of
Taekwondo are determined by the factors of distance, tide and balance. In turn,
the most practical attack and defense are determined by them.
[1] For further commentary on the
concepts of kang and yu, refer to Chapter 41 of this volume.
[2] Tang (Earth) and Saram (Man) when
united make balance. Why is this so? The reason is that balance is a result of
your changes settling around your core in harmony, and this harmony should be
attained in the opposition between your opponent and the world. This is the
implication of the way of Tang. Here I conceive the balance not in a stable but
in an active perspective.
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