Laser Focus and A Minute to Win It

05/08/2012

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Tonight's lesson part 1: Laser-like focus. Forms with emphasis on shi sun and concentration. Find the line and hold on to it. Check the mirror, lock eyes with the instructor or otherwise look off of the line and it's time to get strong (aka pushups). 

Part 2: A minute to win it! A "King of the Hill" sparring game where it doesn't matter if you score the most points but you must score the last point to win and hold the ring. Great strategy exercise for tournament sparring.

Tang Soo!

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Pyung Ahn Hyung - Peaceful Confidence Forms

01/01/2012

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Students of Tang Soo Do typically begin learning the Pyung Ahn series of forms at Orange Belt (8th Gup). These forms are an important part of our Moo Do (martial discipline) development.

The modern Pyong Ahn forms were introduced as a series of five forms in 1901 by Itosu Yasutsune (1831 – 1915), a Shorin-ryu Karate master on Okinawa. The words Pyong Ahn translate to "Peaceful Confidence". The diagrams of the forms resemble a balanced scale. There is some differing opinions as to the exact history of the forms. Some claim that they originated in China and exemplify the southern regional style (Nam-Pa); that they were created by a Chinese military leader named Jeh Nam and were once known as the Jeh Nam Hyungs till late 1800.  Others would argue that they originated in Okinawa and were adapted by Itosu from older forms such as Kusanku and Gojushiho into forms suitable for teaching karate to young students and introducing martial arts practice into school systems.

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Bunkai - Forms Application

11/05/2010

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During his visit this past weekend Kwan Jang Nim Sgro once again discussed how the movements we practice regularly in class have a variety of applications. Bunkai (分解), literally meaning "analysis" or "dis-assembly", is a term used in Japanese martial arts referring to the application of fighting techniques extracted from the moves of a "form" (kata or hyung).

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Hyung aka Forms Training

04/01/2010

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SBN Gilliland as a Green Belt circa 1989
Ancient people had a deep interest in the development of forms as well as a profound understanding of them.  The following is a translation of what is found in the text, Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji, author unknown, of the 17th century:

"Performing with hands and feet and conditioning of the body is the beginning of the study of the art of Tang Soo Do.  In actual combat, form does not seem in an obvious way to be a necessary part of the martial arts.  However, practicing forms perfects the ability to perform hand and foot techniques freely.  This is fundamental to making the best use of one's body at all times."

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