Living Poomsae
All technique should be based upon proper training. Technique
without training results in failure.
Taekwondo
Poomsae is composed of the connected series of a man or woman’s motion.
Comparing its component motions to human skin, we can also conceive of the
muscles and sinews that fill such skin or the skeleton that gives it support
and structure. No living body can be composed of skin alone without flesh and
frame. That which corresponds to flesh or skeleton is called either
“Sseuim-sae” or “Sseuim-nal”[1],
or more briefly, Sae or Nal.
Sseuim-sae
is a technique or method of subduing an opponent with a protective movement,
i.e. a principle of organizing motion in Poomsae. This is the underlying
meaning and mission of each motion in Poomsae. Just as a knife’s blade must be
sharp if it is to cut, the motion of Poomsae requires power if it is to fell
and suppress an opponent as you perform the motions in the way of Sseuim-sae.
This power is Sseuim-nal. Though you learn Poomsae, unless you know its Sae you
can neither use your skilled motion nor think of using them when needed. Unless
you have Nal in your Poomsae you will fail to fell or subdue an opponent, even
if you succeed in hitting your target. Although you practice and make a series
of similar motions, unless you have Sseuim-sae or Sseuim-nal, it cannot be Poomsae.
Though a balloon may be shaped to resemble a man it cannot be one.
Ultimately
it is the Taekwondo-Een’s mind that controls the motions of Poomsae, full of
both Sseuim-sae and Sseuim-nal. Since Sseumin-sae, Sseuim-nal and mind
correspond to the Samjae (three materials) of Haneul (Heaven), Tang (Earth) and
Saram (Man) respectively, every motion achieves perfection when comprised of
these three. In this manner, every Taekwondo movement, which constitutes the
perfect Poomsae, never veers from the three ways of Haneul, Tang and Saram.
Thus, each motion of a skilled man includes the harmony of center, rhythm,
breath and meaning, impressing observers with its natural beauty, while an
unskilled man can only imitate its appearance without achieving its meaningful
motions. The perfection of the complete motion reaches even to the harmony of
an art form, and this is why we call the perfect martial skill Muyae, reflected
in the English term “martial art”. .
Because
Taekwondo and art are thus related, it is only natural that in its essence Poomsae
resembles dance. For this reason the best dance is smooth, powerful and
energetic without losing its flexibility. It sometimes reveals knots and linked
strong and sharp movements, at other times demonstrating a smooth and graceful
flow. In the same manner, Taekwondo Poomsae is not only strong and sharp but
also smooth, rhythmical and energetic when performed in the correct manner and
with meaning. What then is dance and what Taekwondo?
Dance
and Taekwondo can be the same because there is a non-distinctive Do behind what
we know as distinctively dance and Taekwondo. This non-distinctive Do alone is
what makes their distinction possible. The Do of both dance and Taekwondo is
that of motion. Further, center, rhythm, breath and meaning all have their
inner Do. Do is one and has neither part nor entirety, it is the shapeless form
behind all. Thus, each thing when perfect makes all the others complete in its
perfection, while if but one is faulty the whole fails. Everything has Do while
nothing is Do.
[1] The “Sseuim” of Sseuim-sae and
Sseum-nal means ‘use’, while “sae” means
‘pattern’ and “nal” means ‘knife’s edge’.
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