“I often fail to use my technique.”
“Because in your technique your mind is lacking.”
Performed
correctly, TAEKWONDO does not discriminate between your own motion and that of
the opponent. Samjae, which composes change in the ways of Haneul, Tang, and
Saram, also resolves itself into such non-distinction. Therefore, a good
Taekwondo-Een always moves together with his opponent. The motion may be
unseen. In transcendental motion movement and stasis are the same and beyond
distinction, therefore the complete truth of Taekwondo also stands beyond
distinction.
In
this case, the Taekwondo-Een’s mind as he faces his opponent is a
transcendentally vacant one. One’s mind, rather than being filled with the conviction
of vanquishing the opponent, is erased by it. This complete emptying of the
mind with confidence and conviction so that even one’s own sense of self is
overcome is called “Erasing Oneself”.
Erasing
oneself as a Taekwondo-Een ends by allowing one to view the self, the opponent,
and all else, not with the eyes but with the mind. This is possible because
mind and body are ultimately no different and they harmonize with all of life.
Therefore, when you as a Taekwondo-Een view your opponent with your erased self
you will perceive him with your intuitive mind. Only then can you engage him
with your whole body. In this way, as you see everything of your opponent you
can place him in yourself, and as he is already within you, you can move with
him.
You
must always see your opponent. When you cease to see him he moves out of reach
of your attack and surprises your defenses. On the other hand, you should
always keep moving so that he cannot see you. When you can move where he cannot
see you but you can see him, then you can grasp his HeoSil (허실[虛實])[1]
moving into the best position in relation to him.
When
you practice Taekwondo correctly you can see your opponent under any condition
because you ‘are’ and your opponent also ‘is’. It is Do that harmoniously
penetrates every being. By understanding correct TAEKWONDO you can see
everything of your opponent. You can feel him as much as see him; and if you
view him in the correct way you can perceive everything of him.
This
perception is accompanied by the proper motion that precedes thought. It is
like placing your hand in a basin of water. The water at first recedes and then
moves in and contours itself around every corner and crevice of your submerged
hand, and then, when the hand is withdrawn, it immediately flows away, flowing
into all gaps. Thus, you can feel who your opponent is, what he thinks, and the
level of his strength. This kind of knowledge of Taekwondo is non-distinctive;
so, even if he can deceive your thoughts, he cannot deceive your motion, which
moves as one with him.
Water.
The motion of Taekwondo must flow like water with the opponent . Water, which
recedes in exact proportion to whatever is placed in it, never too much nor too
little. Likewise, water flows immediately in to fill the gap left by anything
withdrawn from it, never too much but only to the exact degree of the emptied
space.
Imitating
the qualities of water, the motion of Taekwondo draws back only to such a
degree as the opponent’s attack cannot reach you whatsoever it might be. Once
you find an opportunity, you again move in your proper tide but only to its
precise degree. What more do you need to protect yourself and subdue your
opponent than such a motion harmonized with him? The ideal distance, tide, and
balance in Taekwondo are to be found in this harmonious interplay with the
opponent.
As
a Taekwondo-Een moving as one with your opponent, how should your mind be set?
Do not hesitate. Empty your mind and yet be resolved. Then erase your decision
and follow it through to the end. The time, during which you seek for a chance
to attack in front of your opponent, stops in a moment! You should be able to
throw yourself to him. If you do not throw yourself in danger you cannot be
stronger, and if you are not stronger you cannot subdue your opponent. Throwing
yourself to him is equal to throwing him to you. Only then it will be possible
for you to move together with your opponent.
What
is the reason that you can make good decision by way of no hesitation? It is
because in Taekwondo you do not think only with your ideas but with your
entirety to the harmony in accordance with the world. And it is also because
you build right thoughts in the course of training preserving them in your
instinctive motion through repetition. Thus, we can find no luck in every
momentary victory or defeat.
If
you do not throw yourself off you cannot rescue yourself either. When you throw
yourself to your opponent in the spirit of penetrating him with all of yours
you will be able to subdue him at a good distance breaking the flow of his in
an overwhelming tide after all. You should throw your entirety to him whenever
you hit him for the sake of this doing both of throwing and rescuing yourself
at once.
To
be able to hit your opponent you should also go into the distance where he can
hit you, and in order to catch him you first go into the distance where he can
also catch you. To be able to see him you cannot help going to where he can
also see you. To put yourself where you can strike him while he cannot strike
you under same condition, and to have him unable to see you while you can see
him; it is TAEKWONDO which includes your continuous and endless motion that
moves together with the opponent. It is your life itself.
[1] HeoSil is composed of two concepts: Heo
(허[虛]), meaning
emptiness, deficiency, weakness, or blind spot; and Sil (실[實]), meaning
fullness, merit, or strength. Though concept of HeoSil is very important in
Taekwondo, as in any martial art, it is almost impossible to render by a simple
English term. Therefore, I will continue using the original Korean term throughout
this book. See also Chapter 29.
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