Div.8 Chapter 58

A Piece of String Makes the Beaded Necklace

“What is my deficiency?”

“You are deficient in the basics.”

When you perform Taekwondo you should first understand Musool. In practicing techniques in the process of understanding Musool, when you advance to the level of technique for the sake of technique over any other objective, then you can understand Muyae. It is an expression and an art. When you grasp that Musool is no different from Muyae and recognize there is something beyond their mutual distinctions to finally grasp that they do not differ from all other sorts of trivial truths, then you will understand Mudo, and thus, all of Taekwondo.

Taekwondo has various figures, and thus, it has various techniques. You should try this one and attempt that one. In this way you will come to know everything is the same and, on the other hand, that you have to stick to your pursuit of one technique. You must reconcile your Ki with your sword and your body in Kendo just as you must reconcile your Ki with your hand, foot and body in Taekwondo. Tai Qi Chuan’s counterattack of a circular motion complying and accepting the opponent’s attack is on the same basis as the counter back kick (Dui-Chagi) in Taekwondo. The basic principle you rely on in volleyball to strike a ball with the elastic force of the waist is the same one you follow to perform the Dollyeo Chagi of turning the waist in Taekwondo.

You will come to realize that it is always better to perfect your own one skill, whatever that might be, rather than knowing a little bit of many different techniques. It is possible to be skilled in a technique only through repetition and practice, and after all, we all enjoy but a limited time. After you master that one skill you can apply other techniques along the same principle. But it will be difficult to realize any of this before you have attempted and experienced numerous techniques.