Div.7 Chapter 49

Sparring with Myself as Imaginary Opponent

“What is it to conquer oneself?”

“It is to do what one does not want to do but must, and to not do what one wants to do but ought not.”

Taekwondo begins from you who are with your opponent. Thus, it is desirable that a Taekwondo disciple always trains with his opponent, something which is not always possible. There are some cases, however, when it is rather more helpful to practice alone, and it should also be stated here that it is difficult to remain safe from Taekwondo’s extreme power. Observing all of this, the ancients invented a sound method for Taekwondo learners to train alone, and this is Poomsae.

Poomsae is the established pattern of correct motions, with a focus on technique, that every Taekwondo-Een should follow in most general situations. Doing Poomsae of Taekwondo you can learn how to properly control your body through its continuous techniques. In Poomsae an opponent is always taken as an enemy. Taekwondo Poomsae is sparring with such an imaginary opponent. Therefore, in its essence Poomsae does not differ from Kyorugi. The fact that an opponent is already in Poomsae as an image determines its essence. You, practicing Taekwondo Poomsae, should understand that making perfect motions in no way differs from making motions harmonized with your opponent.

The fact that Taekwondo Poomsae contains a hypothetical opponent is its essential distinguishing feature from dance. This difference, however, is also nothing at the same time. For every actual entity does not distinguish itself from another by itself, and every motion of man is the same as another. Therefore, a perfect dance can be perfect Taekwondo and vice versa. Both of them are the same in that they are man’s motions and the best motions which express you.

This Poomsae is composed of forms with which to practice movements, forms everyone is taught to follow. This formality of Poomsae is based on the limitedness of man’s action. In other words, when an opponent attacks you, though his attack contains some random forms, his movement cannot help but be restricted within formal limits. The most reasonable and sound form of his attack from any given pose can take several forms, but all are still within limits. In turn, it is possible for you to fend off those attacks using particular formulated actions, though they too may contain some randomness. When you block your opponent’s Dollyeo Chagi (turning kick) you can add slight modifications by varying its height or twisting some part, just as he can kick you in various ways within the limits of his movement.

The formality of Poomsae is also a result of natural laws. It is the ordered regularity, which you can find at the end of life and death without all intended rules. For example, the limit that dictates an opponent with two fists cannot make an attack composed of three fists no matter how fast he moves, or that he can move in one direction – forward, backward, upward, downward and sideways – at any one time. Considering this, we can realize that the law of nature does not differ from that of man.