Chang's Hapkido Academy UK

CHA blog moving home

2011-11-18T09:36:00.000-08:00

Our new Chang's Hapkido Academy UK website went live today.

Among other things, it has a blog section. So this blog is moving to http://www.changshapkido.net/blog/

I'll keep writing my usual one/month, and look forward to your comments.

You should easily be able to access the area - though there have been some teething problems. Let me know if you have any issues.

Best
Tammy Parlour

Believing it to be so.

2011-11-02T01:32:00.000-07:00

The Guardian newspaper recently reported on a study done by Charles Lee at the University of Virginia. He took 41 undergraduates who had previous golf experience and enthusiasm for the sport, and randomly split them into two groups. The first was the control; the second group were told that the putter they had been given had once been used by the professional golfer Ben Curtis. All of the participants were then shown a putting matt and asked to do two things: estimate the size of the golf hole on the matt and then use that putter to take 10 putts.

What happened? Well, those who believed they were using the professional golfer's putter consistently perceived the golf hole to be larger than those in the other group. Furthermore, the belief seemed to improve their performance; in other words they sank more putts.

The researchers suggested that this might have happened because the belief they were using the professional golfers putter may have encouraged them to use positive mental imagery associated with his past successes. Maybe also there was some sort of placebo effect – a lucky club!

Now we can poke fun at this and say, “Silly people, it was just a normal club, you can’t get special powers from an inanimate object”. Or, we could ask the question….if this is how our brains work, can I tap into that somehow and improve my own performances?

I wonder what might happen if we believed that we were wearing Grandmaster Chang’s uniform. Can we somehow embody that feeling and therefore tap into the potential psychological boost?

Reference:
Lee, C., et al. (2011). Putting Like a Pro: The Role of Positive Contagion in Golf Performance and Perception. PLoS ONE, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026016

Guardian Newspaper Article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/neurophilosophy/2011/oct/24/psychology-neuroscience?CMP=twt_gu

Do You Have Competitions?

2011-10-03T01:51:00.000-07:00

When meeting someone new, and after answering the ‘What do you do?’ question, nine times out of ten the person will follow that with an enquiry as to whether I compete. My answer is always, “No”. And then I usually give the response, “Hapkido is an art of self-defence” or “we compete against ourselves not others”. But what does that actually mean?

Two ways in which an instructor/coach or leader can manage the environment that they create is through
1. An ego climate
2. A task oriented climate.

An ego climate is all about competition and being the best. Students are compared to others. Success & outcomes (at any cost) are highly emphasized. This sort of environment creates anxiety within the participants as there is a constant need to be better than others and to be told they are the best. Unfortunately there is only ever one winner -which naturally makes everyone else a loser. People begin to doubt their ability; and those with lower levels tend to drop out. No one can be successful all the time, so naturally people start feeling like failures. Motivation is all extrinsic; there is a high need for that external reward.

In contrast, a task climate is primarily about personal growth. Students seek to improve their personal best and focus on technique and goals. People tend to give more time and effort to training; they try harder and feel lower anxiety. Amongst participants there is open communication and mutual respect. Confidence increases as does enjoyment. Motivation tends to be intrinsic; the reward is internal.

Even in competitive environments, good coaches want to develop task centred learning. If you think about the backdrop of low funding, the competitive nature of sport and the time required to achieve excellence, athletes must have high levels of intrinsic motivation in order to have any chance of success or longevity.

If we want to really learn something, we have to allow ourselves to be rubbish and to take enjoyment out of putting time in and seeing slow progress. If we worry about how good we are compared to others, it’ll only be a matter of time until we drop out.

That’s why black belt isn’t a destination … it’s a sign post along the way. And that’s also why, “no, we don’t have competitions”.

Hapkido training as we age.

2011-09-01T03:01:00.001-07:00

How old do you feel? I often find that the way people answer this question has a direct correlation to how active they are. The greater the activity level, the greater the difference between reality and fact.

If we look closely at sport, we can find many examples of athletes, supposedly past their prime, still performing at elite levels; Dara Torres and Martina Navratilova immediately come to mind.

Many people stop sport when they leave school/university. The 70year old weighlifter doesn't owe his success to being a worldclass athlete, but rather he is an individual who kept training when others quit.

We can't deny that certain physiological changes do happen as we age: decline in lean body mass, muscle power, skin elasticity and heart rate to name a few. But studies show that the decline is much less than we tend to accept. Simply put, 'if you don't use it - you lose it'.

As we age the rate of regeneration slows so we may not be able to train with the same intensity and at the same frequency of a younger athlete. But by continuing to take part in activities like Hapkido training, we ensure we work on our muscular strength and mobility as well as maintaining all-round fitness. In this way, we will always be younger, in the physiological sense, to our real age.

And before we classify an 'old' athlete as being 'over 40'... I'm told that Jean Borotran and Kitty Godfrey still played tennis into their 90's.

Ki Meditation Book Published

2011-08-08T05:47:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I published a book on Ki Meditation. For more information please follow this link: http://www.changshapkido.net/hapkido1_017.htm

Power and Vulnerability

2011-08-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Many are afraid of being vulnerable. But is vulnerability really a bad thing and something to be fearful of?

When we punch, for example, we actually put ourselves into a deeply vulnerable and off balanced position; but this same body weight shift that causes vulnerability also enables us to get the most power into the technique.

In our personal lives, without vulnerability we never step out of our comfort zone…we never grow…we never connect to others. When we make ourselves vulnerable we actually open ourselves up to life.

Can we be fully alive or powerful in both our Hapkido and our personal lives without a degree of vulnerability?

I would be really interested to hear your thoughts on the relationship between power and vulnerability.

Continued Learning

2011-07-04T06:32:00.000-07:00

I’ve just finished my first year (of three) of an MSc in Strength & Conditioning. The year ended with a 10-day on-site period of assessment and intense study.

It’s been a challenging year and an even more challenging 10 days. I feel exhausted. I felt at times like I was being put through a ringer both intellectually and emotionally, pushed to my limit. Coming out the other side, there is a massive feeling of accomplishment. I’ve learned loads, not only the course content but actually more importantly stuff about myself: what causes me stress, how do I respond, and what might I be capable of doing.

As an instructor I think it is incredibly important to be pushing myself to keep learning. It could be very easy to become complacent, to think that I knew it all, to think, ‘I am the instructor so they should listen to me’. I believe that as soon as that sort of thinking creeps in we stop our learning and we stagnate. Surely if I expect my students to grow, then I must keep growing as well, putting myself into situations that create anxiety and/or challenge me, and learning how to cope and hopefully to excel.

Can we be effective teachers, if we are not always learning and growing ourselves?

Kibon dong jak

2011-06-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

As a white belt we learn basic stances (front, back and horse riding) and spend hours simply walking up and down the mat. I remember it being the part of the class I always hated; but now as an instructor I can see how essential this exercise is. Almost thirty years since I first learned basic stances, I welcome the chance to practice them.

Kibon dong jak (basic movement) produces mobility, stability and durability. Lack of mobility is like having the parking brake on in your car...sure we can accelerate, but if we do we'll just end up eventually destroying the system.

Proper movement primes the body for longevity, not just short term performance.

How deep and balanced are your stances?

Holding

2011-05-03T05:23:00.000-07:00

Master Chang often talks about the concept of 'holding'.

I was in Chicago over the Easter holidays. In one of the daybreak ki classes, Master Chang shared the following poem:

Blowing wind makes bamboo forest
shaky and noisy.
But after the wind dies out,
the bamboo forest remains still,
without holding the wind.

A flying goose over the lake makes its own shadow
on the water,
But after the goose flies away,
the lake does not hold the shadow.

Two Wolves

2011-04-11T02:15:00.000-07:00

Master Chang was in London this past weekend and shared the following story in the morning Ki Seminar:

Two Wolves
An old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside each of us. The battle is between two 'wolves'.

The black wolf is evil. It has anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The white wolf is good. It has joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed".

Don’t neglect the kihap!

2011-03-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

Recently a few of my newer students have been asking why we are ‘grunting’ or ‘shouting’ during techniques.

What they are referring to is the ‘ki-hap’: literally, Ki means inner power, and Hap means coordination. So the shout is an expression, or perhaps the result of the student coordinating their inner power.

The shout shouldn’t be breathy and originate from the chest or voice box. The noise actually emanates from a much deeper place, and elicits a contraction of the anus and lower abdominal region.

So what’s the point?

Briefly, the kihap has both physiological and psychological benefits. Psychologically it will help you to focus on what you are doing, and improve your concentration. Physiologically, it will raise the pelvic floor muscles and produce intra-abdominal pressure which will buffer the spine, guarding against injuries and enabling you to translate your power through your torso.

Without a strong kihap, the student will risk injury and is likely to lack focus.

We shouldn’t neglect the kihap!

Experiencing Hapkido

2011-02-01T05:27:00.000-08:00

I like the occasional cappuccino; I frequent a few cafes, but there is definitely one that I prefer. If you asked me why this cappuccino in particular, I’m not sure that I could answer you. Strong, but not too strong, the milk is creamy but not sickly the froth is light, but doesn’t evaporate… The only way for you to really understand what I mean is to taste it. This is how Master Chang introduces the concept of ki, but he tends to use the example of a hamburger. His point? To really understand something you need to experience it.

Mushin is about experiencing. Mushin means no-mind. When our heads are clear, when we are not influenced by external conditions, or internal prejudices we can then experience how something really is. Unfortunately, we tend to get in our own way; we have prejudices and over think things… we stop experiencing them, and start to get distracted.

I had a student the other day who repeatedly needed his stances corrected. Finally, I asked him to close his eyes and walk, in stance, across the room. I was amazed…his stances were perfect… when he switched off cognitively, he stopped analysing and overthinking…when he shut his eyes, he stopped the other voices and could FEEL it… he could EXPERIENCE it.

This is how we should be experiencing Hapkido. True Hapkido can’t be read about, discussed, picked apart, debated or overly intellectualized. It must simply emerge out of you.

As Master Chang often says, ‘just do it’.

From stress to personality trait

2011-01-05T03:59:00.000-08:00

I read somewhere that 70% of people who show up at hospital have a stress related disorder. That’s huge – our stress level is something we should take notice of!

One could say that stress is our reaction to the outside world.

To have a reaction is natural, it’s human. But if our emotional reaction goes on for days it becomes a MOOD. If it continues for weeks/months, it becomes our TEMPERMENT. If it continues beyond this then we are moulding a PERSONALITY TRAIT. The longer it goes on then, the more ingrained it becomes and the more it will dictate our actions and reactions.

We turn stress on, but if we don’t turn it off then we are headed for disease.

Hapkido and Ki meditation both teach us to recalibrate, to manage our emotional reactions…it brings back choice; and I strongly believe it makes us healthier human beings.

Changing Ourselves First

2010-12-01T02:36:00.000-08:00

Students often tell me that as they progress in Hapkido other parts of their lives also seems to move forward, to improve... like somehow things are linked...

The following is an epitaph from an anonymous Anglican bishop who was buried in the crypt of Westminster Abbey in A.D. 1100. I think it speaks for itself...

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change.
So I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.
But it too seemed immovable.
As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt I settled for changing only family, those closest to me.
But alas, they would have none of it.
And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realise:
If I had only changed myself first
Then, by example I would have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement,
I would then have been able to better my country
And who knows, I may even have changed the world"

Philosophical Definitions

2010-11-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

This month I thought I’d try and define a couple of philosophical concepts we often discuss within our Hapkido and Ki training. I would love to hear your own thoughts/definitions.

Karma
Karma comes from a concept of Indian philosophy meaning action. It is a part of living and cannot be avoided. It is something which we cause, not which is forced upon us by other people. If we can control our thoughts, our speech and our actions then we can change our Karma.

Because of the principle of Karma we should not judge people in the same way simply because they do the same thing at the same time. Each person has different Karma, different motivation, which forces them to act.

To clarify Karma, firstly one should empty one’s mind; Ki Meditation is a fantastic tool to help us with this. Negative Karma can then be cleansed by positive action and positive thought. Provided our new habits are stronger than our old habits then we don’t have to worry.

Mushim
No-mind or mindfulness. It is a state of being fully alive, an ongoing expression of pure human nature.

Mu-Wei: No-action
Lao Tzu in his famous book The Tao Te Ching, spoke about Mu-wei. Chapter thirty-seven starts,
Tao abides in non-action,
Yet nothing is left undone.
In other words it is a state where actions are in accord with nature. Doing something unnaturally creates problems; it creates karma. Mu-wei is acting in Mushim; it is about getting out of one’s own way: nothing doing but everything done.

What happens on the mat...

2010-10-04T05:28:00.000-07:00

What is the single biggest factor that will affect your Hapkido?
Your mind.

If you are upset, carried away, scattered, preoccupied...your Hapkido will be poor. If you are relaxed, focused, attentive, calm...your Hapkido will be good and your ki will flow fluently.

One could say that Hapkido is a microcosm of what is happening in our lives outside. Taking the time to meditate and perform DanJonHoHup before we do physical techniques allows us a moment to reconnect with the present. Will our Hapkido be good today?

Special Conditions

2010-09-02T02:20:00.001-07:00

I read a definition of meditation a few years ago. “To see our original nature and not become confused”. I've always loved that quote.

In our Hapkido training, and meditation practice, Master Chang often says that we should, ‘surrender our ego’. So we could say that our Hapkido training and meditation practice is about letting go of our ego and being present.

Actually, we spend a lot of our time not being present. We worry about the meeting that we just came out of, what we need to do later, what we should have said, what we actually think.... All these thoughts buzzing around in our heads aren't actually real; in the same way that the 'A to Z of London' is a map, a picture of London, it isn’t actually London. This ego, this picture of ourselves that we create, is based upon our past experience and our future projection – but the past and future are just ideas – memory is a thought that changes depending on our present state. The only real thing is the present. So, to surrender one’s ego means to become totally present.

Sitting meditation is one way that we create the special conditions needed in order to realize that… it is the journey to this awakening, but also the destination and an expression of that state. We’re not trying to get anywhere, we are just being.

‘Ki has no beginning, it has no end, it is just being’. The concept of time is something we intellectualized, it resides in our ego.

As we sit in meditation our mind pulls us to the past and future… it’s frustrating. But that’s the point. We resist being in the present, we hold on to our egos. If our resistances weren't being frustrated we probably wouldn’t suspect that they were there.

So when your mind drags you in all directions, don’t give up. See it as information, you are showing yourself that you are holding on too much. We must let go of the illusions.

Taking time to appreciate a Black Belt

2010-08-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Last month, after years of training and months of testing, one of my students received her black belt. As is the custom, the belt was presented to her at the end of a recent rank test. She was called to the front and asked to remove her red belt. Master Chang then congratulated her and personally tied her new black belt around her waist.

After the applause had died down she was asked to perform the formal (on her knees) bow to her instructor (me). She was asked to do it not just the once, but once for every year of her life. She is 35. Thirty five formal bows can actually take some time to do; but as she performed them the room was silent, falling in to a quite contemplation.

A few students and spectators either came up to me or emailed me afterwards questioning why she had to perform such a task.

Kneeling opposite her, watching her perform the bows, I felt a huge sense of respect for her. I felt impressed by her dedication and commitment, and the seriousness with which she approached this task. Other black belts who have been through the same process have told me that when bowing they felt a sense of humility, gratefulness, confidence, inspiration and pride.

How did I respond to those who questioned? Well…. Black Belt is a huge accomplishment; should it really be over with a nod of the head and a sit down?

Maternal Instincts

2010-07-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

We have a student in class at the moment who is about 7 months pregnant; obviously we take every precaution to ensure her (and her baby’s) safety during classes. That said, there are many things that she is still more than capable of practicing. One of those things is Chumuk Cheegi (Punching) free motion with a partner.

Being paired up with this student is quite extraordinary. She has always been extremely focused and a formidable opponent, but she has even more of an air about her recently. Paired with her this morning I became incredibly aware of how relaxed she was standing, and how she couldn’t help but keep her weight low. Now I’m not advocating that everyone goes out and gets pregnant, but I think there is a lot we can learn from this experience. The more we relax, the more we hold our weight low and release our shoulders, actually the more confident we seem and the greater our ability to use our power effectively.

Another student also pointed out that the maternal instinct to protect one’s child would naturally make a mother a fearsome opponent. It reminds me of the quote: “The fighter can best fight if he thinks of himself as being already dead.” Faced with an aggressive situation, the mother will think nothing of her own safety; her only concern will be the protection of her child.

Giving Back

2010-06-02T04:41:00.000-07:00

I remember about a year ago a blue belt student being very annoyed about having to work with a young yellow belt girl.

I told him that I understood how he felt, "Yes, I know... Sometimes the black belts also come to me and complain that they have to do skills with you because you are just a blue belt."

He looked shocked, "Really?"

I replied, "No of course not; that would never even cross a black belt's mind"

He was speechless; it wasn't the response he was expecting.

After that conversation he seemed to treat the lower belts a little kinder. Lately I have noticed him helping others without even being asked.

I suspect he has realised that not only must we give back, but also that learning and practice can come in many forms.

Doing Our Best

2010-05-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

Master Chang regularly tells us to 'do our best' during Hapkido classes, but why?

The first obvious reason is, and he uses this quote often, that "Excellence is not an act, it is a habit". We become what we repeatedly do. So if we always do our best it is that self that will show up the next time we perform the same act.

There's another related reason though that I've been pondering these past few days; and that relates to the effect that 'doing our best' has on our daily life.

Have you noticed that when you feel down that everything else seems to go that way too? Work seems uninteresting, relationships are more problematic, aches and pains seem to surface. Conversely, when you are feeling great everything else takes on a wonderfully positive glow.

Often after students start Hapkido, their family and friends will tell them, "You're different, a little more confident..."

Master Chang says that, "Every aspect of our life, mirrors every other aspect". I know that sometimes, when I've had a problem in my daily life, I've noticed that this same problem is reflected on the mat. When I've taken time to fix my Hapkido, then naturally problems in my daily life have also eased. It is for this reason I can probably say that Hapkido has saved my life!

So when we show a good attitude and try our best in the dojang, then naturally this will carry forward and help all aspects of our life.

As Master Chang says, lets "do our best".

Boredom vs Concentration in Sparring

2010-04-01T02:34:00.000-07:00

Recently, a lower belt student told me that when he spars with more junior belts he is often afraid of hitting them. He also disclosed that he gets bored sparring with the junior or less ‘able’ students. My response to this lower belt was, “If you are worried about hitting the junior belt then either you need more physical practice, and/or you need to develop your concentration.”

It reminded me of a similar question I was asked about 4 years ago from a now much more senior belt. He asked me, “Can you pair me up with senior belts more, I don't get much from sparring with lower belts.”

The two comments are actually quite similar. Both the students I mentioned were becoming distracted by their egos and as such becoming separated from their experience during sparring situations.

The words Hap-Ki-Do mean ‘coordination of mind and body’ or ‘total concentration’. Through the practice of Hapkido we learn to become one with what is happening. Unfortunately my two students were not only sparring, but also thinking about being better than their opponent, wondering why they had to spar with a lower belt again, and more than likely getting annoyed at me for ‘inflicting’ this on them and not recognizing their superior ability. With all that going on, it's no wonder the lower belt was worried about hitting junior belts.

Concentration is fascination of mind. If you are bored, you're not paying attention to what you are doing. So how do you put the ego to rest and cure boredom and in so doing get the most from every session? Simple. Just pay attention. By paying attention you will also have the possibility to excel no matter who your opponent is.

Rugby coach David Alred (the guy who helped Jonny Wilkinson kick the rugby ball to victory in the last moments of the 2001 rugby World Cup Final) understood how important concentration was, particularly during stressful situations. "I'll say to the kickers, strike a particular stitch on the ball so that they make the right contact, and I'll get them to aim at someone in the crowd to tunnel in their accuracy."

We should develop this same feeling behind every kick and punch we make.

At Chang’s Hapkido Academy, our sparring is no-contact. Though we might not actually be hitting our opponent, we should know exactly where we are aiming. Not just the head, or the forehead, but the eyebrow, or maybe the left side of the eyebrow… Practicing this way will hone your concentration, improve your accuracy, increase your ability to control your own body and yes, get rid of boredom.

If Hap-Ki-Do means coordination of mind and body, if you kick without engaging your mind, without concentrating on what you are doing, are you really practicing Hapkido?

Strength vs. Power

2010-03-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

I find that many new students need to first spend time understanding the difference between tension, strength and power. In the English language, if we want to improve at something, we often say that we must knuckle down, train hard or grit our teeth. Each one of these strangely denotes a state of tension, something that we must learn to let go of if we are to improve in Hapkido.

The new student will often hold stress and tension in their upper body, and try to muscle an opponent down. Some students, being physically stronger than their opponent, can get away with this sort of approach; but if we are smaller and weaker than our opponent, this pushing or pulling is totally ineffectual. I have lost count of how many students will look at me with a bewildered expression, sweat pouring down their faces and say, “Saboumnim, I’m using as much strength as I can, why isn’t it working?”

A student may be physically strong, but what is more important is their power, the ability to use that strength, to communicate it to their opponent. In the example above, the student often feels their own tension and gives them the mistaken belief that they are really hurting their opponent. As a student progresses though, he realises that the more energy he consumes through his own tension, the less he is able to communicate to the opponent.

Other than physical tension, how else do we consume energy?

I find inappropriate posture to be a huge culprit. If our posture is misaligned, then we waste energy stabilizing ourselves, which again means less communicated to the opponent.

Our mental conditioning will also play a huge part in how much energy we consume. The student, who is preoccupied with fear, anxiety, or their own ego, will already be putting themselves at a huge power disadvantage. If our minds are in two places, how can we act?

So if we are to improve our Hapkido we must get control of our bodies through relaxing and releasing unnecessary tension and improving our posture, but also let go of our mental preoccupations. In this state then all our energy can be focused on one spot, we consume less energy and we become more effective and powerful Hapkido practitioners.

In Front of Your Eyes

2010-02-04T00:40:00.000-08:00

I was on the tube on the way to class the other night, and sat right next to me was a business man. He had his briefcase open and was reading a report and scribbling changes and notes at the side.

We arrived at South Kensington station and as the door opened he started panicking, "What stop is this? Where are we? What is this?". There was no room to answer his questions. What was strange, was that directly in front of us was a massive "South Kensington" sign. He continued panicking until the driver spoke over the PA and said we would be held momentarily at ‘South Kensington station to even out the gaps in the service.’

Stress/anxiety causes us to change. We lose ourselves, become separated from ourselves. The story of this business man gives us an example of someone literally not being able to see what was right in front of his face.

Through Ki and Hapkido training, through disciplined practice, we learn to reconnect with ourselves, to coordinate mind and body and see reality.

You may know a thousand techniques, but if you can’t see a sign post in front of you what's the point?

Expert technique takes time

2010-01-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

A green belt student asked me for advice on his side kick the other day. He expressed disappointment when I told him that his side kick was fine.
"But it doesn't snap and sometimes I lose balance. Your kick is much better!", he told me.

Each class, students are instructed to perform 100 side kicks. I calculated that between white and black belt I must have done a minimum of 125,000 side kicks. I've been a black belt now for about 23 years so I couldn't even begin to estimate the number I've now done, but I hope that one day my kick might be as good as my own instructors is! My point is this... Sometimes there is nothing to correct; sometimes you just need to practice more. My student was performing his sidekick like any other green belt; by the time he is a red belt his kick will be much better because he will have done a lot more side kicks. Of course, techniques need to be performed correctly, and it's important to train with an instructor who can identify any errors you may be making. But there is nothing that can substitute for 'time on the mat'.

I mentioned this in a class just before Christmas, and one of my senior students told me a few quotes he had found:

In The Book Of Five Rings, where Miyamoto Musashi talks about understanding a technique and how when you deliver 100 strikes you don’t really get a feel for something – but if you deliver 10,000 or 100,000 strikes you actually start to have an understanding of a technique on a deeper level.
I also found this quote by Bruce Lee too:
‘I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.’

What great quotes!

Running for Life

2009-12-01T03:50:00.000-08:00

Last week we held a few seminars and rank test at the London school. At the end of the test Master Chang gave a short lecture. I'd like to share one of his short stories:

A martial arts instructor was walking with a student and they both noticed a rabbit running away from a fox. Much to the surprise of the student the rabbit was able to get away. "Do you know why the rabbit got away", the Master enquired. The student did not. "The fox is running for his dinner," the master continued, "the rabbit runs for his life".

When we 'run for life' we can achieve many things we thought were impossible. Master Chang concluded that he wants all students to run, not for dinner, but for life.

The Monk who can be cut into 10 Pieces

2009-11-04T03:17:00.000-08:00

I was browsing through some old notes and found this story. I heard Master Chang recount it about 20 years ago! I would love to hear what it means to you...

The Monk who can be cut into 10 Pieces
During the 1950’s the Chinese invaded Tibet. All the monks had to flea to the hills before the armies stormed the monasteries. The army went to one monastery, however, and discovered one monk still there meditating in front of the Buddha. The soldiers were scared of him so went back to their general to report what had happened. The General decided to see for himself what was happening. Upon arriving, the General said, “I can cut you up into ten pieces why do you sit there and do nothing?” The monk shouted, “because I am the man you can cut up into ten pieces”. The general realised he could not kill him spiritually and bowed to the monk with respect.

Embodying Technique

2009-10-02T04:56:00.000-07:00

I was asked today about whether I experience ups and downs in my training. Of course, it’s only natural; progress is never a straight line. If, however, we spend too long judging our own performance as good or bad, then we risk not actually ever experiencing it.

I notice this when holding a target for some students. Sometimes they miss and become so annoyed at themselves that their next three kicks are equally as bad. Only after they have been able to let go of the self condemnation can they start kicking effectively again. As soon as we judge ourselves, we separate from ourselves and can no longer connect with the energy of what is occurring in the present.

Of course the technique must first be learned, but then a wonderful performance is unselfconscious and allows for a deep spiritual connection between technique and partner. In many ways we embody the experience.

Death by Overwork

2009-09-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

I read the other day, that there is a Japanese word, Karoshi, which means, “death by overwork”. A number of workplace studies highlight that extended work schedules and overtime are associated with increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, stress, depression, muscoskeletal disorders, chronic infections, diabetes, etc.

We are working through our lunch breaks and late into the evening, disregarding our body’s call for food, sleep, etc. One could argue that we are training ourselves to ignore many of our bodily messages in order to cope. According to a Global Survey conducted in 2008, 19% of workers globally suffer from work-related ill health.

I’ve often taught how Meditation practice can help us on a mental or emotional level by teaching us to cope with stress for example. But this study also made me think of how Ki Meditation practice helps us at a more physical level too. Through Ki Meditation practice we begin to notice how our body feels; we begin to reconnect with our bodies once again and help guard against the many examples of ill-health listed above.

Calming the Mental Clatter

2009-08-03T02:56:00.000-07:00

In Ki Class we often start with moving meditation. Sure, it helps strengthen and stretch us, but probably the main benefit we get is that it helps us to start to concentrate - to calm that mental clatter.

Some people tell me “Oh I can’t do meditation, my mind is too busy.” What they don’t realise is that it’s not just in meditation that it is too busy – this is a constant state; it’s only when we meditate and we try to calm things down that we realise how much of the time we are preoccupied (our mind is in one place, our body is somewhere else).

Our internal voice tells us we can’t do things, we’re not good enough, we’re stupid etc… A lot of the time we try to distract ourselves… other times we listen to the voice and it stops us from fulfilling our potential.

When the mental resistance rears it’s head while sitting, I often speak about simply bringing your attention back to your breath, and using counting as a tool. Another tool you can use when that mental clatter starts is to simply name it “Thinking”, then come back to your breath. When we name it in this way it takes the power from it – you recognise it for what it is – not real, just another distraction.

You know, it’s natural for you to have mental distractions when you sit in meditation. But the more adept you become at calming those distractions/resistance in Ki Class, the more it also helps us in our daily life. People start to say, “you’ve changed you’re not reacting like you used to. You seem more confident.” Each time we bring our mind back to our breath in class… we strengthen our ability out of class.

Thoughts on Perfectionism

2009-07-03T06:08:00.000-07:00

I shared the following story in class this week, dedicated to all the perfectionists we have amongst us.

A monk was tendering the garden making it perfect. Japanese gardens are always just so. They have perfectly raked sand and pots in just the right spot. When the master arrived the monk said that he had tried to make it perfect but something just wasn’t right. The master looked down at the pile of leaves the monk had swept up. He picked up the leaves and threw them over the garden, smiled and walked away.

Ben, a student at the London school, emailed me afterwards with these thoughts. I thought it was so lovely I wanted to share it. (Permission was given for me to use this quote)

(The Lecture) reminds me of a thought I had on that, that stems from Ki seminars and other comments you've made about the illusion of permanence. That striving for a state of perfection is like holding ice in your hands. No state is fixed forever. Ice melts to water, just as leaves and flowers in a garden grow then fall to the ground, only to grow and fall again. Such is the cycle of life. Each of us and everything is here today and gone tomorrow. An appreciation of impermanence can free us to see things as they are. We remove the lens and reveal the truth. Which is all great in theory! But a better aim to strive for at least.

Practicing what we're bad at.

2009-06-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

I had a student about 4 years ago who complained to me that people were advancing ahead of him and that I wasn't teaching him any new skills.

To some degree this was actually true; he had reached a bit of a plateau in my opinion (as we all sometimes do) and I felt his heart wasn’t totally in it. I could see him getting frustrated with others and a little angry at me. He saw his situation as my fault, something I was 'doing' to him. After a few months, he eventually quit at brown belt (intermediate) level.

I’m sorry that he left, but I saw two main problems which were stopping him advancing.

Firstly, he blamed his age for not being able to do skills. Of course age is a factor, but attitude beats age every time. Actually, it was less that he was old, and more that others were younger than him that was his issue. We do ourselves incredible harm when we make comparisons with other students who we think are younger, better or more talented than us. All this does is hurt our self confidence because others are placed on some unachievable pedestal. I don’t need to be the best. But I want (not need) to be the best that I can be. Instead of making comparisons with others we should look at ourselves, and our own progression.

Secondly, and most importantly, despite my nagging he never practised what he was bad at, those things that didn’t come as easy to him. Practising what we excel at is obviously enjoyable, but it doesn't necessarily mean we'll improve overall. Through the years, my struggle with my own Hapkido practice has taught me great determination, patience and perseverance. Struggling to fall properly, perform a spin kick, do anything that involved jumping, developing confidence when sparring, building a school and being a confident instructor, have all had their challenges for me. When we overcome what we find difficult then we not only improve physically but we also bolster our self-esteem. Sometimes it can feel like you are not making any progress, but then all of a sudden those neural pathways light up and everything ‘clicks’.

What have been your struggles? or what/how have you overcome?

Confidence

2009-05-07T01:59:00.001-07:00

Myself and a few students visited our main school in Chicago last month. At one of the early morning Ki Classes Master Chang spoke of confidence. He said that essentially a lack of confidence impacts human beings in three main ways: emotional, intellectual and motivational impairment. When we lack confidence then, we can feel depressed, stuck and helpless; we can also start developing physical ailments. So, having confidence is important to our general well being.

'Confidence', he said, 'comes from a belief that you are in control of what you do, your life'. 'To develop confidence', he continued, 'we need to do those things that we enjoy and are good at. If we don't know what they are we need to be bold, exploring new things until we find them.'

He often talks about the need to take responsibility for ourselves. When we feel confident and in control of our own lives then we can fully express our human potential; then we are no longer blocked.

Who is the bow for?

2009-04-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, when I enter the gym, I will look directly at the students who have congregated outside the studio. Naturally they bow, “hello Saboumnim”.

Occasionally I will overt my eyes. My peripheral vision sometimes allows me to see their response. Sometimes I see a student who is ready to bow, but then stops himself when he realises I’m not looking.

To me, this shows that the student has totally misunderstood why he must bow.

Who is the bow for? It is not for me.

The bow, calling your instructor “sir”, and the many other etiquette or discipline related things we do, is a way of training our own minds.

When you bow you must empty your mind; it means let go, be totally present.

Whether I see you or not should make no difference to your own mental training.

These ARE your skills!

2009-03-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

Boxers have about 6 punches - but they practice and practice and practice. The difference in skill between Amir Khan and John Doe is obvious… but 6 punches, that’s it.

I heard a great response recently…
One instructor overheard his students talking, “When will I get to practice MY skills?” one said.
“We are always doing white and yellow belts skills, helping lower belts”.
The instructor responded: “These ARE your skills”.

Sometimes students ask for more techniques … or they say, “When can I learn the next thing? Or be the next rank?”

But now is the time to become excellent at the basics – it’s not about learning new skills.

Sometimes a student can focus so much on getting to this ‘other’ place that they actually forget where they are at – right now.

We must be proficient in ALL the techniques. The better we become at the basics, the better we become as a whole… remember the boxer who has just 6 strikes.

Learning new skills will not make you the Black Belt you want to be; doing what you know well – really well… that’s the only way.

So, don’t worry about getting somewhere else, or being anything than just what is needed today…

What is the expression?!?!...take care of today, and everything else sorts itself out…

Or as Master Chang always says – “Excellence is not an act – it is a habit”.

Training with Heart

2009-02-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

A new student shared this story with me last week:

In a Japanese hospital in a small village, one old lady used to chant hymns for speedy recovery of patients. She used to sit near every patient and chant. Patient's used to actually recover faster. One day a scholar visited the hospital. He realized that what she was chanting had incorrect pronunciations and some incorrect words. He told her to correct herself. She corrected herself but soon they realized that patient's were not recovering like earlier. She forgot about the scholar’s advice and started chanting her usual way once again. The moral of the story was: When you do something with complete heart, mind and honesty, it works.

You know, I talk to Master Chang a lot about student’s progression. He asks me about certain students – particularly those at Black Belt level or close to Black Belt testing. He has NEVER asked me, “Is their side kick any good?” or “How is their number 3 skill?”

The most common question he has asked me is, “Justin….does he do his best?”

To me, this is a little similar to the story above. I don’t mean to imply that physical proficiency is not important; but how much we invest, how much heart or ki we put in to our training is equally, or even perhaps more important. This attitude tells much more about the individual and how they approach the rest of their life.

Why must I accept with two hands?

2008-12-18T07:16:00.000-08:00

As the Rank Test results arrived at the weekend, I have spent the week handing out new belts. It’s so wonderful to see all the new colours…

Before conducting the presentations I always explain the process: When your name is called, answer loudly and step forward. Accept the belt and certificate with both hands and bow. Turn and bow to the class. Wait until all belts have been handed out until changing yours.

“But why must I accept with two hands?”

Simple, aside from it being general etiquette, in many ways this simple act represents everything that we are trying to attain within our training. By accepting with two hands I invest one hundred percent of myself into this simple act. I am mindful. My power is concentrated. I am totally present.

Love it, to be Good at it.

2008-12-04T07:12:00.000-08:00

A few students have come to me recently and said that they “love sparring”.

Others might say, “of course they love sparring, they are good at it”.

I would say the opposite: “They are good at it, because they love it”.

When we love something we care for it, we concentrate on it. When we love something we become more present, taking joy in the process, not the outcome.

The mind makes everything, so when we love what we are doing we can transform our present reality.

So how do we love what we are doing, no matter what? Just concentrate on the present moment, and smile… Can it be that simple?

The Ki-hap

2008-11-05T01:30:00.001-08:00

You can tell a lot from someone’s yell…

The Ki-hap is a yell; but it is much more than a simple shout. The actual noise doesn’t come from your throat, but from a much lower place. As you make the noise your abdomen should slightly tense, and your anus contracts. Your power becomes focused and concentrated.

The word “Ki-hap” is a combination of two Korean words:
Ki: which we can translate as Inner power, energy, spirit or mind
Hap: translates as coordination (of mind & body) or total concentration

So, thru the shout we concentrate our inner power…

The Ki-hap then, is a “Concentration of spirit”.

I did an experiment in the kitchen the other day whilst washing up. Much to my neighbor’s confusion, I made a few funny shout-y noises, and tried to think about what I ate for breakfast. Not a problem…. some fruit, oatmeal, a green tea.

Then I did the same thing whilst performing a ki-hap. I couldn’t think! My mind went blank and I became totally focused on what I was doing – not being distracted by other silly thoughts.

What does this highly scientific experiment mean to our Hapkido practice? …it means that through the Ki-hap, our whole ‘being’ concentrates itself. We are able to totally concentrate on what we are doing, which enables us to generate the maximum amount of power needed for the technique.

So, we should perform the ki-hap correctly; it helps us concentrate, but is also an outward expression of our mind.

Reacting with Anger / Identifying with an emotion

2008-10-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

If an article catches my eye, I often will rip it out and place it in a huge box in my office. The other day I was flicking through the top layer and came across an article from last June.

The article talked about a man who had got angry with someone who he thought had been abusive to his wife in a supermarket car park. "That's the man", said his wife. Filled with rage the man lunged forward and attacked the wrong person. This innocent man later died in hospital.

Actually, what he experienced happens quite a lot. What I mean is that the man started to identify with his emotion… no longer was he, “I feel angry”… but he became “I am angry” – even the language we use shows the shift.

On a similar note – just because we feel something doesn’t mean it is real. Maybe your wife has been very busy lately at work and preoccupied at home. So you think, “Oh she doesn’t love me.” You feel it, but that doesn’t make it true. We must discover what is the reality? The reality is your wife is working too hard. What is important then is not blame or anger, or insecurity, but how can I help her? Also by understanding why I immediately jumped to thinking she doesn’t love me can teach us a lot about who we are, and help us become more mature.

As far as the supermarket man goes and anger as an example …. If we feel anger or a strong negative emotion, we have three options.
We can vent the anger, like this man.
We can suppress it.
Both these will cause problems. I don’t mean that venting is never right – sometimes in the right circumstance… but mostly it causes problems.
The third option is to disperse the anger.
To disperse the again you need to separate yourself from it, not identify yourself with it. Look at the emotion like it was a burning fire, and then stop fuelling it. As soon as we stop fuelling it, it won’t last.

A student told me that a young man had tried to spit at someone on a bus. He missed the person and the bus and instead the spit landed on my student. Most people would be angry… “what did you do this to me for!” But it wasn’t a personal attack – wrong place, wrong time. If we take it personally then we are stoking the fire.

"Don't be weird"

2008-09-03T00:45:00.001-07:00

At the end of his last Ki Seminar here in London, Master Chang said with a wry smile... “Don’t be weird”.

He says they try to meditate at home when the children are playing. “Be quiet, stop playing, can’t you see I’m trying to meditate!” This response is silly, he claims. He says that now is the time to play with children...

Ki meditation and Hapkido then, is not about escaping the world, but becoming more ourselves within this world.

When we are anxious, or fearful, or angry, our minds often get stuck. We might start to obsess over small details or become attached to a way of doing something or to a particular doctrine.

A state of mind that is rigid and fixed in any situation is a disease. Someone who has mastered himself, is someone who’s mind is not stuck. Through ki meditation and Hapkido practice then, we are creating a mind that resembles water, not one made of ice. Both water and ice have the same composition, but one is rigid and stuck, and the other flows freely.

A mind like water is adaptable, persistent and confident; it is soft, powerful and constantly moving. So as we practice, we are working on melting the ice. When we melt the ice, our whole body becomes free and relaxed. This means we must abandon anxiety, fear, and prejudice.

As far as Hapkido goes – to perform at an optimum level your body must be relaxed. How do you relax the body? By relaxing the mind. Melt the ice.

Taking Time

2008-07-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama was in London over the weekend. He was overheard having an informal, private conversation with the Conservative Party leader, David Cameron.

Cameron asked Obama if he had taken any holiday. Obama mentioned that he would hope to take a week in August and then continued,

"…somebody who had worked in the White House – not Clinton himself, but somebody who had been close to the process – said that, should we be successful, that actually the most important thing you need to do is to have big chunks of time during the day when all you’re doing is thinking."

It made me think of what we do in both Ki and Hapkido classes, and the importance of time-out, away from the constant barrage of demands at work or at home.

In the short term, Ki Class forces us to take a pause in our increasingly chaotic world. More importantly, one significant long term effect is our ability to manage our day-to day stresses much more effectively. Similarly, we experience this when we practice Hapkido, particularly though the discipline – which teaches us to be more present.

Sometimes the more stressed and busy our lives, the harder it is to take time out. But, paradoxically, it is usually then when we most need it.

I’ve lost count of the number of people who have come up to me after a class and said, “Saboumnim, I almost didn’t come to class tonight. Work is really full on at the moment, I felt shattered. But, I’m so pleased I came. I have so much more energy now, and my head is clearer.”

I’m really pleased. Let’s keep taking time.

Finding the meaning of Black Belt

2008-07-06T09:10:00.001-07:00

There is a story that Master Chang has told many times:

Being the best Karateka
A young boy travelled across Japan to the school of a famous martial artist. When he arrived at the dojo he was given an audience by the sensei.“What do you wish from me?” the Master asked. “I wish to be your student and become the finest Karateka in the land,” the boy replied.“How long must I study?” “Ten Years at least,” the master answered. “Ten years is a long time”, said the boy. “What if I studied twice as hard as your other students?”“20years” replied the master.“20years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?”“30 years”, was the master’s reply. “How is it that each time I say I will work harder you tell me it will take longer?” the boy asked.“The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the way”

I heard someone say a little while ago, “If I know I’m going for my Black Belt, I’ll train much harder”.

Of course, when you are testing for Black Belt you naturally increase the intensity of your training – you want to do your best.

At Chang's Hapkido Academy though, the Black belt test is taken...then a few months later you must complete a written test...then you must continue to wait for your result. It’s a long process that might last 6-12months.

All through this process Master Chang asks me about your attitude, your attendance, how you treat your instructor, what else is happening in your life.

This seems a lot; does it seem too much?

Mr Presser, who was awarded his black belt in March 2008 would probably say that the process made his achievement even more special. I would agree. If it was easy, or simply about performing for one hour on one day, somehow it would be worth much less…

Through this long process, Master Chang not only checks the external – your physical abilities – but also your internal.

Are you motivated just because you have an external goal? or have you found inner motivation? for example.

So often we look outside when we are lacking something inside…

Maybe if I run the marathon then I’ll be fit, healthy?
Maybe if I compete against someone in the boxing ring then I’ll be strong?
Maybe if I train in 2 martial arts at once, then I’ll be a good fighter?
Maybe if I earn £10,000 more then I’ll be secure?
Maybe if I lose 10lbs then he’ll like me?
Maybe if I do … whatever…. Then I’ll be worthwhile?

The ironic thing is that by seeking the answer externally – we get further away from the real answer – the internal answer.

That’s why the process isn’t instantaneous… time helps you reflect, and find the real meaning of black belt.

The Right Ingredients

2008-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

The gym that I attend is also a squash club (similar to Racquetball). A few weeks ago they hosted a squash championships and I went down to see the finals. I saw three matches in total.

In the first match, the women's final, one competitor was far superior. Technically more proficient, she naturally won.

In the second match, the 'B' league final, both players were equally skilled, but one 'lost it'. Every time he made a mistake he swore and openly chastised himself. He was defeated by his own mind, and naturally lost.

The third match was fantastic: two highly skilled players, both in control of their own minds. At the end of a very long match it all came down to fitness.

Proper technique, mental toughness and fitness.

To stop disempowering ourselves

2008-05-06T03:35:00.000-07:00

I was looking at some sculptures recently. When asked how they came up with the design, I understand that some artists say that they don't decide what the sculpture should look like, but rather they could see the inner nature of that piece of marble or block of wood, and then they just uncovered it.

Hapkido-ists of the past didn’t create techniques, rather they discovered that human anatomy generates more power one way than it does another, that it bends certain ways, breaks other ways.

Your true power of Hapkido already exists in you. It’s there now. Waiting. Dormant.

So another way of looking at things is to say that Hapkido is not about accumulating practices that empower us, but rather ceasing all practices that disempower us!

In other words becoming who we are, or, in Master Chang’s words, “uncovering your true potential”.

It takes a long time, but we must keep chipping away at the marble.

Control in Sparring

2008-04-07T00:59:00.000-07:00

When your opponent is moving, when they are unpredictable in sparring, it demands a lot more skill to not hit your opponent...sometimes they don’t block, or they walk into the line of your attack. When you don’t hit them, they feel like they have more room to attack you, this in turn will give you more to play with, to react to. The whole experience becomes much more enjoyable and useful for all involved.
----------------
In sparring we are learning more about control: control of ourselves under a more dynamic, unpredictable situation.

What do I mean by control? I don’t mean rigid predictable, life must be like this, holding on, forcing our will. I mean that we are able to hold who we are, in other words that we are not influenced by circumstance. That means, control of fear; control of arrogance; control of your body physically: balance, agility, technique, power ratio (effort to impact)

In other words ….Self-control….. this is extremely important.

When lacking self-control, we might win a fight by chance; however when we are in control, we don’t lose a fight. We lose a fight when we are out of control, not in control.

The greater our self-control, the greater our control over the situation/fight.

But often, we attempt to control the external to compensate for the lack of control over the internal.

So in sparring, I don’t wanna see you pounding your opponent…. Affecting the aggressor is not the objective. The objective is to maintain control of the self.

If we accept the premise that Hapkido is powerful and effective, then the calibre of the opponent becomes irrelevant, if not distracting. We need not and should not focus on what we do to our opponent but rather on our proficiency in technique, or more pointedly, our proficiency of the Hapkido principles.

Therefore opponents are illusions. Yet illusions have power if we believe in them.

When you come in too close like this, your technique goes down - because it hinges on diminishing the quality of the attack rather than improving the quality of the defence.

Change Takes Time

2008-03-01T08:50:00.000-08:00

Today I turned the light on in my home office. It seems like a small thing but the light has been broken for about 6 months. During that time I kept frustratingly switching it on and then thinking, “What am I doing, I know it doesn’t work”. But finally, I stopped switching it on.

Two weeks ago we had the lights fixed; now, it would seem, I had the opposite problem. There I’d be, sat in my dark room with the computer screen illuminating my desk, when I would suddenly remember, “Oh yeah, the lights work”. But today, without thinking, I turned the lights on when I walked in the room …. finally!

I’ve thought about this quite a bit. How many times does this sort of thing play out in our lives? Maybe we think, “damn, I know I should be twisting my foot when I kick”, or “why do I continue to mention my ex when I go on a date?”, or “I told myself that I would not back down when my work colleague asked me to work overtime and I just went and said I’d do it, again”.

What I was reminded of by the incident with the lights in my office was:

1. Change takes time
2. we must take responsibility for change and act
3. but not get down on ourselves when things don’t go to plan.

That last one is so important – it can be such a waste of energy. In Hapkido and ki class we are learning to channel our energy. If we have to deal with all that self-flagellation then we’re only going to have so much energy left to focus on changing the habit.

Master Chang talks of energy going one direction until obstructed, then naturally another way. So, we need to first notice the transgression and then take responsibility to act, just pull it back to where we wanted it to be.
Then finally…. the light goes on!

Noise, Noise, Noise

2008-02-07T00:50:00.000-08:00

When I started teaching in Lincoln years ago, we would do ki class on a badminton court. Obviously the other courts would be being used, so at times there was a bit of noise, or a shuttle cock would fly onto the mat. Noise outside is never as bad as the noise in our heads, so it was never a problem.

In London, three of our Ki Classes are now held right next door to a boxing gym - the wall is so thin, which means you constantly hear people pounding the punch bags and swearing.

Before I began classes there, the Centre Manager mentioned that he was concerned that the Studio would be too loud for us. After he mentionned this I worried a little bit, so I brought up the issue with one of my ki students.

The Ki Student said, “Surely it can’t be any louder than the music we hear when we are in the other room”. I thought to myself, “What music!” The next day though, I heard the music for the first time.

You know, often they blame outside for the turbulence inside. Actually if inside is okay, then outside there could be a whirlwind and it doesn’t matter.

Don't Stress

2008-01-07T00:48:00.000-08:00

Someone new came to ki class one Monday recently. It was just him and me so I chatted for a little bit. Half way through ki exercise he looked very stressed. I asked him if he was okay. He said that he had seen us many times through the windows and it seemed so easy, but actually he was finding the whole thing very difficult and was noticeable getting more and more stressed by this. "Is it normal to be struggling to move and breathe?" He asked. I told him that it was new and different - that I was asking him to step outside of his normal way of being, to let go of things that he might be holding on to. I told him that I would be quite surprised if he didn't find that initially quite stressful. "Oh really!" he responded. He physically relaxed in an instant. "So it's okay to find it difficult!"

A considerable percentage of our suffering is linked to the anxious desire to suppress it.

In Ki Class a few days later someone told me about the nephew of a friend of his. The boy had a pronounced stutter so he asked his friend about it. Apparently up until a year ago the child (5yrs old) had not spoken at all. He would make a little bit of noise and then go crazy, braking things and hitting things. They taught him sign language. As soon as he was able to say what he wanted, he relaxed. As soon as he relaxed, he started to talk!

A student spoke to me the other day. She said, "Saboumnim you often talk about not worrying that the opponent is big etc... I've been worrying, 'how will I ever not recognise that my opponent is big?' But now I realise, I will always notice that he is big, but it is about not being controlled/paralysed by that."

Don't worry if something is difficult. Don't worry if the opponent is big. If you worry you make things twice as hard. Just face reality. By transforming our minds we can transform our world.

What's holding you back from fulfilling your potential?

2007-12-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Having moved to America with my family when I was 11yrs old, I started studying Hapkido with Master Chang when I was 12 …. I am now 37 so I guess that’s quite a while.

For the first 12 years of my training I lived in Chicago. I was twenty-three and a 2nd Dan when I had immigration problems and finally had to leave my family and life in America and return to England.

I moved in with my Grandma in Lincolnshire and started the Lincoln club. In 2001 I met Jo, moved to London, and started the London branch of Chang’s Hapkido Academy.

Now a 4th dan and a full-time instructor, Hapkido in many ways has been a barometer in my life. It’s been a constant that has challenged me and made me realise things about myself. As I have improved in Hapkido I also have become more and more myself outside of the dojang.

Less so the lower belt colours, but each Dan grade that I have achieved has been curiously timed with something significant happening within my life – a realization, a step forward, a release of some sort.

I’m not saying that you will realise this at 1st Dan, this at 2nd Dan…

But through the process of achieving within Hapkido we are challenged to face reality, to face ourselves.

Many of the London students mentioned to me how inspired they were by the lectures Master Chang gave during his last visit to England. That’s wonderful…

Many are realizing that Hapkido isn’t just about performing techniques in class.

Let’s take the lessons we learn in the dojang and connect them to our daily lives – that’s the real benefit of Hapkido training.

What’s holding you back from fulfilling your potential?

The Tea Master

2007-11-08T00:17:00.000-08:00

I was looking through some old lectures of Master Chang yesterday and was reminded of the story of the Tea Master.

Mistakenly bumped by him in a busy crowd, a samurai challenged an old man to a duel. This old man was actually a Tea Master who knew nothing of fighting, so he went to see Miyomoto Musashi who many had gone to for sword fighting lessons.

When he met Musashi, the Tea Master simply asked, "how do I die with honour?" Musashi was surprised, most people came to him to learn how to kill, "who are you?", he asked.

"I am nobody", he responded, "just a Tea Master", said the man. "So, make me Tea", replied Musashi.

The Tea Master, though only hours away from death made tea, and did it so single-mindedly that Musashi told him to leave because he could already die with honour.

Time for the duel arrived. The Samurai was already there and was frustrated, “so you finally decided to come, lets fight!” The Tea Master said nothing, but bowed. He placed his sword down and bowed again. Finally he lifted his sword above his head, and stayed there, unmoving.

Seeing his composure the Samurai began to shake. “Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong opponent,” he thought. As the sun reflected on the Tea Master's Sword he saw red. "Is that my blood?, am I already dead?" Finally the samarai dropped to the floor apologising, "I am so sorry Master, please forgive me". The Tea Master said nothing, just collected up his belongings. The Samuari started running after him, "please take me as your student", he begged. After much persistence the Tea Master agreed.

The Tea Master taught the samurai how to control his mind. The samurai knew how to fight but that was all.

Waking up!

2007-10-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

So often in our daily lives we can find ourselves trying to do twenty things at once – in essence, this means that we spend most of our lives with attention somewhere other than with what we are doing – in this situation we can come to feel empty and numb.

Within our Hapkido training, discipline and etiquette are tools intended to help the student wake up!

Discipline though is not simple bowing and saying “Yes Sir”.

Discipline means, now is the time to study Hapkido. So we study Hapkido with all our being – when sitting we watch, when kicking we kick – focusing always on the present moment.

That’s why the instructor will chastise them if she sees a student chatting in the middle of class about going to the pub or complaining that they have a tummy ache.

Always practicing this way is equivalent to 10yrs of training.

So let’s not be controlled by our circumstances; our fears and insecurities are so often based on unrelated past experiences not on present conditions. Let’s wake up; let’s keep trying to understand our own minds. Let us practice Hapkido with all of our being – now is the time.

Good to Great - Choice & Discipline

2007-09-06T01:36:00.000-07:00

Master Chang often says that we should not be controlled by circumstance.

There’s a well known Business book called “Good to Great”. I just finished reading the sequel, “Good to Great and the Social Sectors”.

There was a quote that particularly resonated. Though the author is talking about organisations, I also see how this can apply to us as individuals.

He says,
Every institution has it’s unique set of irrational and difficult constraints, yet some make a leap, while others facing the same environmental challenges do not. This is perhaps the single most important point in Good to Great. Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline.

That’s why I firmly believe that everyone who starts Hapkido can achieve their black belt (and beyond).

We all have amazing potential – circumstance may challenge us, but let us not be distracted and defeated by circumstance. We have the power within us. We can be the architects of our own destiny.

Coping with Fear

2007-08-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

You have incredible potential within. Through Hapkido we are learning to tap into that potential, you are developing an amazing power.

- - - -

Everyone is nervous or afraid (to varying degrees) of sparring or of breaking wood etc.

For some that fear is irrelevant. For others it creates a state of paralysis.

One has power. The other has helplessness.

Sometimes they come in to my school with a big ego. Maybe they have to prove that they are better than me or my students – I really don’t know?

When someone has a big ego though it often means that they are living within a state of fear. They need to be better than others – in other words they are depending on external circumstances for their survival. Externally they appear to have a hard shell – but if circumstances aren’t kind they will feel helpless, depressed and paralyzed.

True power has nothing to do with anyone or anything else. The real power developed through Hapkido, is power within the self. This means, power over how you react within your life. It isn’t the ability to control another; but the ability to control oneself. When we blame others or a situation for what is happening within our lives we give up that power and replace it with helplessness.

With responsibility, comes power. This type of power is freedom.

You might have fear - fine. You also have the ability to choose how you react to that fear. If you put blame elsewhere then you are giving away your power.

The fact that you have that fear becomes irrelevant.

Breaking wood, for example, isn’t a test of your body. Any instructor can look at your kick and know if it is any good – we don’t have to make you break a board. Breaking wood is a test of your mind.

Creating Energy in Class

2007-07-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

This month I'd like to share with you part of a paper written by Justin Presser. Justin is one of the London students who accompagnied me to Chang's Hapkido's main school in Chicago last Easter.

He said...

"On my final night we had ten black belts training with us (including three fourth dans). I was feeling quite tired but still wanted to put my best in, though I wasn’t sure that I would be able to.

But an amazing thing happened to change my ‘mental block’ at the start of the class. During the basic movements the black belts (in fact the whole class) were screaming so loudly in unison that it created an incredible energy and atmosphere that I was able to ‘tap into’. This led me to think about the whole idea of yelling as loudly as possible in class back in London.

When we do this, particularly in unison, we give ourselves and each other fresh energy. This means we have an incredible opportunity each class to create an amazing atmosphere and energy. However it is up to each and every one of us to put this into the class. I hope we can try this in London and see the difference it makes."

Thanks Justin for some wise words!

The story of Won Hyo

2007-06-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

There was a monk called Won Hyo, who lived around 600AD.
The story of his enlightenment is still famous today and marked a watershed in Korean Buddhism.

As was the way at that time, Won Hyo decided to travel to China for enlightenment. The journey was long and arduous. Along the way he took a nap; early in the morning he awoke with an incredible thirst. It was dark, but blindly feeling around his body he found a cup with water. He drank the water and drifted back to sleep feeling much relieved.

In the morning he awoke to find that the cup which he drank from was actually a human skull. And the water that he drank was stagnant.

He immediately felt nauseous and vomited.

At that point he had a realization. Won Hyo exclaimed, “Last night I thought this was water and it quenched my thirst. This morning I see that it is something else, so I am relating to it quite differently and am sick to my stomach. Therefore, mind makes everything, and without mind everything is empty.”

With this great insight Wonhyo realized he did not have to travel to China. Instead, he remained in Korea, resigning from the priesthood to teach as a layman.

Wonhyo’s astonishment at his unknowing actions and the power of the human mind to transform reality continue to be relevant even today.

The Spirit of the Kihap!

2007-05-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

Beginners believe the kihap is simply a shout to frighten their opponent but it has a much more profound meaning and use.

The word “Kihap” is made of two words: “Ki” means inner power; “Hap” means to coordinate mind and body. This expression or shout, therefore, is a way of connecting with our inner strength and then physically manifesting it. It is a noise not generated in the throat, but something coming from a much deeper place, creating a tension or stimulation of the abdomen in the process.

Our actions come from our thoughts. When our thought is concentrated on a definite purpose we produce power. Adding feeling to that concentrated thought allows us to fully express that power. Through the kihap we express that feeling, augmenting our skill and manifesting power in its purest and most concentrated way.

Why should I not ask to learn new skills?

2007-04-16T04:19:00.000-07:00

Students are always told never to ask their instructor for new skills. Having said that though, occasionally a new student, still getting to grips with etiquette, will utter the "unspeakable"!

So why are students told not to ask?

Physically, the difference between an expert and a normal student???...Speed and accuracy. These can only be developed from long time practice and constant repetition.

Remember to be an expert does not involve learning millions of techniques - it's about how you perform the techniques you already have.

Thoughts create reality

2007-03-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Master Chang was here last weekend. In one of his lectures he cited an example of a man who got trapped in one of those huge industrial freezers. Apparently the man froze to death within 22 minutes of being locked inside. When the investigators arrived they discovered that the temperature had actually been 45 degrees Fahrenheit, way above freezing.

An unfortunate example, but one that seeks to demonstrate just how much our thoughts create our reality. So, when we are suffering from pain, sickness, stress etc. we need to examine our own expectations!

The Desire to be Perfect

2007-02-07T01:40:00.000-08:00

A young boy travelled across Japan to the school of a famous martial artist. When he arrived at the dojo he was given an audience by the sensei.
“What do you wish from me?” the Master asked.
“I wish to be your student and become the finest Karateka in the land,” the boy replied.
“How long must I study?”
“Ten Years at least,” the master answered.
“Ten years is a long time”, said the boy. “What if I studied twice as hard as your other students?”
“20years” replied the master.
“20years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?”
“30 years”, was the master’s reply.
“How is it that each time I say I will work harder you tell me it will take longer?” the boy asked.
“The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the way”

I’ve been reflecting on perfectionism recently.

How ironic that often the drive to be the best can sometimes cause that thing which is sought, relaxation and satisfaction, to be replaced with anxiety and restlessness. That often in the process of trying to achieve flawlessness we actually destroy the thing which we are trying to improve.

I don’t want to imply that we should not improve or hope to achieve our potential. But perhaps viewing perfection as wholeness rather than flawlessness is more useful: one makes us tight whilst the other has a much different and more positive effect on how we feel about ourselves.

What have been your experiences?

Mental Training

2007-01-15T05:16:00.000-08:00

It’s a new year – and as such an opportunity for us to sharpen things – of course on a physical level, but I also mean mentally in terms of etiquette.

Martial artists use etiquette/discipline as a form of mental training – it’s about achieving a certain mental state. Through such practices the student can learn to control the controllable whilst developing mushin (no-mind) or alertness; they also become more self-aware recognising what causes their mind to become agitated and lose balance.

As time progresses students realise that saying “Yes Sir” isn’t for their instructors benefit, but is actually a key part of their own mental training.

Sports psychologists talk about mental toughness building confidence, teaching to control emotion and aiding concentration. All of these are essential for the expert martial artist.

Be in control of yourself

2006-12-07T04:26:00.000-08:00

Anyone can injure someone else – you don’t need any training for that! If that’s the students aim then I would recommend they leave and try street fighting.

In Hapkido the aim is to control without injury.
Even in sparring.

Instructors often say that the most dangerous person to spar against is a beginner. Why? Because a beginner is still learning control.

We could discuss control on a physical level (not being too close, when to pull back etc…), but accidents like this are less likely to cause injury. What students learn as they progress is control of themselves on a more emotional or spiritual level – in other words, how do we control our own fears, arrogances, anxieties and so forth.

Actually, as far as sparring goes, how you kick/move will influence how they kick/move – that is a much harder skill to learn.

Lower belts are always clashing – the more advanced have speed and power but never touch – it’s not that they are not close or don’t have intention, but they are in control of themselves.

How has your experience of sparring changed as you have progressed?

Opponent Within

2006-11-07T04:21:00.000-08:00

I was teaching at a seminar a couple of weekends ago….After performing a joint lock, someone asked me, do you then break their arm with this? Without thinking I said "no, I would never break their arm. Why would I do that?".... then a long pause, ... "Sure maybe you could."

When we look at Hapkido from the outside, it’s easy to think it’s all about fighting. But, who is more deadly an opponent, the opponent out there…. or the opponent within here?

I heard a wonderful story recently. One of my students (a white belt) was walking down the street. This man started staring at him. He said my old self would have stared back, but since coming to Hapkido and Ki class I didn’t need to, instead I smiled and looked away. When he and his friends came out of the shop that same guy was on the other side of the street in a fight.

I think this white belt is already a successful warrior!

Have you noticed any changes in yourself since attending Hapkido and/or Ki class? I’d love to hear about them!

Transforming an enemy into a friend

2006-10-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

The name ‘Hapkido’ actually combines three Korean words: Hap means the coordination of mind and body, Ki is the inner power needed to create hap, and Do refers to a disciplined life.

It is this concept of discipline that can be found throughout the martial arts, but what does that actually mean? To the new student it may be about doing what you are told, calling your instructor “Sir”, or bowing as you enter the dojang. As the Hapkido practitioner develops though he later realises that even the simple bow has much more of a profound meaning.

When asked why people want to train in Hapkido, Korean Grandmaster Gedo Chang responded, “Some want to learn self-defence techniques, some to condition mind and body, some for physical discipline. No matter what they want first, eventually they realise that Hapkido is much deeper, more profound than they ever expected. Hapkido is more than physical health or self-defence techniques. The more important part of Hapkido training is inner peace, wisdom and discipline; which is what I try to teach.”

To Master Chang discipline means emptiness of mind. This is not a void, or empty space, but rather a place where the layers with which we distort our own reality have been set aside. It is a place where one is free of fear, hatred, anxiety, or arrogance. Our ki (internal energy) flows fluently around the body; we are at peace; we see things as they are.

Freedom from fear does not mean absence of fear. We achieve freedom by making peace with our own internal enemies. Ironically we learn to stop fighting and are able to transform our enemy into a friend who no longer bothers us.

Being Together - producing miracles

2006-09-04T01:34:00.000-07:00

Master Chang talks a lot about relationships – one of his key messages is how do we get along with others?

We often say that we have incredible potential within – we call this “ki”. Sometimes, immature people will think this is a special power - like Spiderman they think we shoot 'the force' from our wrists!! Of course on a physical level we can learn to do some seemingly amazing things, but if we cling on to this blinkerred view of what it’s all about … surely this is an immature understanding of what ki really is.

Master Chang commented in one lecture:
"Life is the process of overcoming one’s separateness from others and ultimately oneself"

Through Hapkido training, as we grow in confidence, we begin to understand our true self more and more - then we can begin to understand others, to help others.

Let's say that your friend has a problem – Master Chang would say that you should spend time with them – maybe go to lunch. You don’t necessarily need to talk but.... by simply being together, showing an interest, eating together, etc... these alone can help cure many problems.

One stone dropped in water produces many ripples.
... ... ...
Even myself – sometimes I feel a little low, maybe tired – I arrive and one of you is in the corridor stretching before class – you give me a big smile – I suddenly feel amazing.
That’s a miracle in action!!

Where is your mind?

2006-08-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

"Where your mind goes your ki will follow."

A student can often get dragged out of his own experience when catching sight of his reflection in a mirror.

Often students’ kicks improve remarkably as soon as I hold up a target. Having a target in sight naturally enables the student to focus better on where exactly they are kicking.

So what about when we repeat kicks with no target? Or when we practice forms? Where does our mind go?

By focusing on what we are doing now – and visualizing an actual opponent, we can not only perform better but also increase our energy.

Try to visualize an opponent, see what happens – surely performing techniques with intention is one of the many things that set us apart from an aerobics class?

Attending Ki Class a few times is not enough.

2006-07-25T03:21:00.000-07:00

You have a cloth which you dip in coloured water - but for some reason you only dip partially - then you take out. A little bit has changed colour but not the whole.

We can do this a few times, but the original colour is still more - or we can say, still being controlled by the bigger part - it's like an iceberg, controlled by the larger part underneath the water. Momentarily it's okay but then the larger part will control.

We must soak the cloth deep into the water, then when we take it out it is difficult to change the colour. Once or twice is not enough.

Through long time regular practice of ki class mediation we purify our minds (get rid of fear, anger, arrogance, anxiety, etc...), then naturally everything will follow.

How can we re-motivate after a period of absence from training?

2006-06-26T02:03:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in everyone’s training when suddenly it’s a little harder to motivate oneself. Even habits that have been developing over years can suddenly be held to ransom by an injury, a need to be perfect after a long break, or a life that has become a little too hectic.

Master Chang always says that our energy flows in a certain direction until it is obstructed, then naturally it will flow the other way.

So when the inevitable happens, how can we reengage in this thing that we know we love and that makes us feel good too?

Master Chang would say that our new habit must be stronger than the old habit, and then you’ll be all right.

To me this says that it will take effort and discipline on my part; that I must take responsibility for myself; that I must act. I am reminded of one of Master Chang’s visits:

We got onto the train – suddenly Master Chang disappeared – I thought he had gone to the toilet – I turned around and he was helping a husband and wife, both half his age, to lift a heavy suitcase on to the train. There he was, carrying this huge suitcase as the couple looked on in amazement. When he returned he said to me, “Whenever I see people like that struggling I always help, I forget how old I am, I just do it”.

So maybe that is the answer – maybe to stop debating, stop thinking how can I get the motivation, how can I reengage????…. Master Chang would say, “just do it!”

I would love to hear your tales and thoughts on motivation – why not post a response? (click on "COMMENTS" below.)

The Alchemist

2006-06-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

I get many questions:
- Have you ever had to use Hapkido?
- How often do you practice?
- What skills must you learn for the next black belt level?

Actually the more the student trains, the more he realizes that many of these types of questions are irrelevant.

The Story of the Alchemist:
In the olden days the Master Alchemist lived high up in the hills. At that time there was one young man who desperately wanted to be rich. Hearing the stories of the Master he decided to go and see for himself - he would climb the mountain and intimidate this frail old man into giving him much gold. He set out on the journey, strapping the largest stone possible to his back and climbed high up in the mountains to reach the Master.
Master “I want you to turn my rock into Gold”
That’s silly!!! – but the Master said “I will give you much gold to take with you, if you stay with me for 1 year”

What he spoke about during the year was finding inner harmony – harmony from negative emotions.

The master taught the young man to take out his garbage and cultivate the positive. This we call inner alchemy.

When we change our
- anger into kindness or
- our hatred into love,
- our fear into courage,
- our frustration into patience – that’s modern gold

Then, when we go home they make even more gold.

So when someone says to me – have you ever had to use Hapkido, I say “everyday”. Many people think I live in a bad neighborhood!

Life Viewed Through a Lens

2006-06-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

Master Chang often talks about mind principles.
He says that we are like different colour papers – some red, some blue, some black, some white.
Take a green pen and draw on each paper and each one will show something different – each one changes the original colour – green mixed with blue, green with red etc… Each is a lens through which we view the world.

Do you remember Master Chang's story of the Rabbit running away in the forest?
The rabbit makes a noise as it tries to get away from you. Some people will scream or be immobilized by fear, because of a bad past memory. (The situation is seen through the lens they have put on their life). The expert knows that it is just a rabbit!

Through Hapkido training we must strip away the colours – so we are able to see things as they are. When the mind is still, we free things up and ki energy can flow more freely.

There is a samurai saying:
He who has mastered an art will reveal it in his every action.
-samurai maxim

Because mastering is not purely about being proficient at physical movements, but being master of your mind

You stand in front of your opponent – if you worry about getting injured, or think about doing a particular kick, or about a meeting you need to attend – how can you act?
Where your mind goes ki will follow

Growth and maturity in Hapkido is not restricted to class.

Every aspect of your life mirrors every other aspect in your life – showing good attitude in the dojang - will natuarally carry forward and help all aspects of your life.

There was a monk who asked one disciple to whenever he saw dirt to clean. Wherever this disciple would go, everything would gleam, because he’d constantly be cleaning and polishing. Through this work the disciple became enlightened. He realised that in this manner he must also cleanse his mind.

Struggling with difficulties

2006-06-19T00:09:00.000-07:00

A student came to me last week and said, “I love Hapkido, but I think I’ve reached my peak”.
I was a little confused because that was not what I was thinking at all. “What do you mean?”, I questioned.
The student said that he didn’t think he could do the current skills, that he was finding them very difficult.
I immediately responded, “Oh, that’s wonderful!”. The student looked at me rather confused, so I had to explain:

Often we see difficulty as being something bad. They hit a difficulty in Hapkido so they leave and go to Jujitsu. Then there is a difficulty there so maybe Judo is the answer… then maybe Karate… etc….

A difficulty is an opportunity to learn – if everything was easy what would you get out of that?

If you want to be a Hapkido expert I guarantee you that you will have difficulties. Some of you will struggle to fall, others will be afraid of sparring, a few might have motivational problems, someone else might have an issue with calling their instructor “Sir”, another might start to feel anger because I don’t teach him new skills, maybe someone fails their grading or gets an injury, maybe they resent helping lower belts with skills …. Every students problem will be different.

But……If you stay committed to your practice through difficult times then you will find gold at the end… physically better, but what you learn about yourself is invaluable.

Remember Hapkido expert is not only physically proficient, but also patience, perseverance, confidence, leadership skills, humility …. All these things….

Practice – practice – practice. Don’t let a little difficulty make you quit!

There is a Zen saying,:
<< Behind each Jewel there are 3000 sweating horses” …. Don’t give up.