Div.4 Chapter 30

With Balance Firmly Centered

“It is difficult to understand technique.”

“Because you do not distinguish what is important from what is trivial.”

In order to maintain the best balance in every pose and movement of Taekwondo so that you can shift fluently from move to move, you should maintain a settled center. What is a settled center? We can easily imagine what is meant by a stable one. This, however, is not good enough and a settled center in Taekwondo ought to attain a level where it can apply itself to every change in swift motion. Nature, which correct Taekwondo resembles in its essence, possesses such a firm and balanced center that she generates and contains infinite change with no confusion in her order. This settled center of nature always lives in the empty and constant. Following such an example, Taekwondo-Een’s training cannot be properly established until it obtains just such a firm center. In the growth process one cannot walk before one can stand firm.

The non-swaying center is naturally low. The low center can be firm relying on the stability of the entirety. Only with deep roots can a tree withstand the severe challenge of the hurricane or drought. On the other hand, a fast moving center is naturally high, riding the flow of nature high where it can avoid obstructions. A thing can fall fast because it starts from a high spot. The top branches of a tree sway faster than its lower ones. The outer rim of a wheel spins faster than its center.

The essence of the Do of all things is change not fixity. However, just as man’s learning moves from the immutable to the changeable and man’s thinking expands from distinction to that which lies beyond distinction, Taekwondo training should begin with an understanding of a firm and fixed center to eventually obtain a center within rapid motion. You cannot understand the two are beyond distinction until you grasp the distinction between them. This explains why in Taekwondo you are first trained to develop a strong waist and legs.

Your waist is to a tree’s trunk what your legs are to its roots. How can a tree with shallow roots and weak trunk stand firmly and push out branches and leaves despite the challenges of biting winds or scorching sun? A firm and stable center comes from the strength of one’s waist and legs and the temperate motion of Taekwondo in turn depends upon that firm center. The low center is stable and unbending while the high center is so supple as to adapt to everything. Make the two into one. You can develop a low center through hard training, and this will bring you both of the low and the high center in one. At the end of this course you shall understand how to possess both in one; how to maintain a center of change within a firm stable center and how to have your center both low and high at once. Only then can you possess an empty center, imitating the virtue of nature.

The center is like an axle regulating balance. As balance is obtained in the unison of Tang (Earth) and Saram (Man), Tang expands harmonized with the world while Saram expands keeping itself, which is to be pursued when the center regulates the balance. On the other hand, the center is where the opponent continuously aims his attack. A correct attack proceeds towards the center because your entire defense hinges upon the center of motion and vitality. The center which regulates motion is even connected to the vital points of the entire body along the Kyongnak, which demonstrates how intimately motion and life are interrelated.

As a Taekwondo-Een you should train for a stable center from the beginning because you must be able to regulate your balance in order to defend yourself and become harmonized in the opposition between your opponent and the world. This stable center is not stability per se but rather the ability to adapt yourself to change. In this manner the center of change is at once stable and firm. It is the empty center.

When you can adapt yourself to every change with your settled center there can be no difficulty in realizing every intention of your will. Thus the importance in practicing Taekwondo lies not in the rapid movement of hands and feet but in the rapid movement of the trunk. Skillful kicks and punches originate in a skillful pose and motion of the waist and trunk. It is impossible to move the trunk without moving the center. The movements of hands and feet accompany and fill up that of the trunk.

No attack can succeed in subduing the opponent without the accompanying movement of the trunk even if the hands and feet have been rigorously trained. Likewise, no matter how strong one’s arms and legs may be, no defense can counter an opponent’s power without the trunk effectively dodging and parrying it. Therefore, you should control your opponent mindful that your hands and feet follow the movement of the trunk. Consequently, there will remain no distinction between the trunk and the hands or feet. Only when you move the center of the trunk properly will your hands and feet move naturally and with proper speed between yourself and your opponent.