Div.6 Chapter 40

Attack and Defense are Simple

“Why do you emphasize its oneness?”

“Because, not knowing its oneness, you cannot really use its techniques.”

You contract your body when blocking the opponent’s attack, and extend it when attacking him. The contraction and extension are a natural and simple motion no less than it comprises all common actions. Yet in it you can obtain the most effective method of attack and defense: you can advance, rise up and sink down, or simply turn round and round. These bending, stretching and turning motions are also no less natural and simple than the basic and requisite elements of all actions. Because of this simplicity the opponent’s attack cannot reach you, and further, he ruins himself in the attempt. In this manner, the proper motions of Taekwondo do not reveal themselves as anything special, and the principles of attack and the defense that are a part of them are equally simple. Then what is it that differentiates Taekwondo from what is not Taekwondo?

The answer to this can be summed up in a single sentence: a proper Taekwondo motion differs from any other action in daily life only in that it contains nothing superfluous to your life. In other words, the simple principle of Taekwondo required for attack and defense is that you should make only the most necessary movements. Accordingly, a correct motion in Taekwondo shifts from one movement to another with nothing at all between them. Only then does every part of you maintain its proper position, and you are able to adapt yourself perfectly to everything.

Every technique of Taekwondo is simple in its essence because it is composed of only necessary movements. Therefore, it is most desirable to attain simplicity of technique in attack and defense in Taekwondo. Regardless of whether you use complex or simple techniques to subdue your opponent, you will attain the same results if you win. The complex and difficult technique is required when you cannot subdue the opponent with the simple. When you employ a complex technique, which has its uses to be sure, rather than a simple one when a simple one would suffice, it ceases to be a virtuous technique to become merely a poor one that serves to exhaust your power unnecessarily. The full potential of Taekwondo, its profound beauty will be embodied when you accomplish the simplicity of a compact motion completely in contact with Do. It is to be realized when you harmonize the simple principle with brilliant technique in a complex motion.

This motion of Taekwondo is nothing more nor less than an action of daily life, which has been trained and made skillful over a long process so that all superfluity is eliminated. Even the roughest stone will be polished smooth if ground for a long time. Taekwondo hones such proper and smooth motion through continuous training and repetition, forming the calm mind through long-term self-discipline and temperance.