Div.6 Chapter 45

The Harmony of Point, Straight Line and Circle

“Why is pose important in Taekwondo?”

“Because the power of Taekwondo arises from temperance based upon proper pose.”

Correct Taekwondo motion combines point, straight line and circle in one to form multi-dimensional action. Thus, in the ultimately complete motion, it is not that a point, a straight line and a circle are mixed in a movement but that each of them is the same in oneness. Generally speaking, all things right are the same as all things beautiful. In this we see that the beauty of Taekwondo is connected to its rightness.

It is often said that a circular motion is smooth so it should always be central, but this is nothing more than a fragmentary notion. The smoothness of a circle can be effectively cut by the sharpness of a straight line, and nothing can be better than a point in terms of unrestrictedness. You can reach the right Taekwondo only when you are not attached to principles but rather free from them. Thus, it is the Yae (Art) of following Taekwondo to move in the harmony of the oneness of those all encompassing three; then the right motion of Taekwondo in oneness of point, straight line and circle will not be restricted to a plane but be multi-dimensional, and therefore it is the most changeful.

Since Taekwondo is the oneness harmonized of those three factors and following the way of Samjae, another aspect of Samjae can be manifested here by point, straight line and circle. The hardness and softness mediate and dwell within them to appear in boundlessly changeful modes. Point corresponds to Haneul (Heaven) because it resembles the boundlessness of the Heaven; circle corresponds to Tang (Earth) because it resembles the obedience and the comprehensiveness of the Earth; and the straight line corresponds to Saram (Man) because it resembles the angularity of the man’s will. Observing them in a more detailed way, point, as it resembles Heaven, is unrestricted with no shape so that it exists everywhere, hence it also resembles Do. Accordingly, the way of Haneul, which puts everything in its own place, seeks the position of everything at every time with the precision of the point. On the other hand, the straight line is firm, swift and sharp so that its haste resembles the man’s will while the circle is soft but firm, so that it does not resist anything. Therefore, the way of Tang is to harmonize oneself with the world just as the two halves of a circle are different yet harmonized into the whole. The way of Saram is to maintain your intention in harmony with the straightness of a beeline. When all of these compose a perfect One then the power of your motion will become not immense but rather the most ideal.

In all of these three the hardness and softness are connected and harmonized as one. A straight line can become curved because the curve is made by the straight line and the straight line is within the curve. Every motion, being the same, each can transform into straight or curved under the control of your mind and according to your need. At the same time, however, the straight line and the curve differ from one another, each of which derives from a part of a circle, so they are the same when Taekwondo leading them controls both in one; while they differ when an opponent of Taekwondo is subdued in different ways by each.

Speaking of the difference, an actual straight line has limited length, finite on both ends, while a circle is also finite and yet endless. The straight line that has its limit with clear ends leads temperate and concise motions; the circle that is finite but endless leads lifelike motions that flow continuously. Thus, a straight movement, as it is swift and sharp, can attain the opponent’s body in a movement despite the opponent’s opposition. Light travels so fast because it follows the efficient precision of a straight line. A punching motion in Taekwondo may serve as an example. A loose motion that does not maintain a straight line will be slow, and thus unable to pass the opponent’s defenses.

On the other hand, a circle has in itself the principle of correct motion in its nature of harmonizing the many into One. A certain part stands opposite to another in a circle yet they are finally united in an entity with no angles. Its motion does not have the parts opposed each to the other yet promotes their harmony. Here the falling technique in Taekwondo may be taken as an example. Its basic form is a circular motion. In this, the earth and your body, composing this part and that part of a circle, do not harm one another if they maintain a circular harmony. We can add another point to the falling technique. Using your hand or foot you can mitigate the shock of hitting the ground, based on the principle of replacing your life with a part of your body. Therefore, when you have your opponent opposed to the world you control them in straight movements, while when you mix yourself in between them you make your motion circular. All of the movements should be led by the unrestricted point.