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KOREAN MARTIAL ARTS
What Are Martial Arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense for military and law enforcement applications, competition, physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage.
Why Martial Arts
There are many reasons to study martial arts and there are several benefits from physical training to improved discipline and mental sharpness. It has proven effective in managing many physical & mental afflictions, from childhood asthma, attention disorders, stress and anxiety.
Korean Martial Arts
The roots of modern Korean Martial Arts have its origins from Okinawa, Japan, Northern and Southern China. Between 1910 and 1945, Korea was part of the Empire of Japan and because of this occupation much of Koreas pre-occupation martial arts were almost wiped out as the practice of it was deemed illegal in order to “Japanise” Korea. The 1910 Japanese invasion of Korea led to a banishment of Korean culture.
The Korean Martial Arts are:
HapKiDo
TaeKwon-Do
TangSoo-Do
HAPKIDO
HapKiDo is Korean martial art and uses the same three Chinese characters as Aikido but the similarities between the two end there.
HapKiDo is a hybrid Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, throwing techniques, kicks, punches, and other striking attacks. It teaches the use of traditional weapons, including sword, nunchaku, short stick (28”), middle-length staff (4’) and long staff (6’).
TAEKWON-DO
Tae Kwon Do is a martial art that traces its origins through Korea’s 5,000-year history.
The literal translation for TaeKwon-Do is "kicking," "punching," and "the art or way of.“ It is a martial art that attacks or defends with hands and feet anytime, anywhere without any weapons.
TANGSOO-DO
Tang Soo Do translates to mean "Way of the China hand".
Korean martial art based on Karate and fighting principles from northern Chinese martial arts. It also teaches the use of traditional weapons, including sword, nunchaku, short stick (28”), middle-length staff (4’) and long staff (6’).
BENEFITS OF MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING
Research shows that people who train martial arts are more alert and focused than those who have never trained before. The study also shows that the longer a person has trained, the more enhanced his or her cognition becomes.
According to experts, these drills may help reduce stress and anxiety. Engaging in martial arts also helps people in their battle against emotional, physical, and mental stress and ailments. The deep breathing exercises, similar to the techniques of yoga, produce a calming effect on a martial artist.
Assertiveness and emotional stability, improvement in self-esteem and alleviation of depression and anxiety are a few of the positive impacts that martial arts have.
Although martial arts are majorly associated with self-defense and fitness, it can also boost your level of confidence to overcome any challenges you may encounter in life. Self-confidence comes from self-belief and self-compassion and this ancient practice can spike up your level of confidence.
With martial arts, you can learn to relax so that you can better cope with mental illness. Low self-esteem takes a toll on your mental health. Physical activity, particularly martial arts, helps raise a person's self-esteem. As you build strength of mind and spirit, you also start to build confidence.
Arm Conditioning Pad Work
Punch Conditioning Pad Work
Ladies Strength & Conditioning
TYPES OF WEAPONS
The 3 main weapons used are Dan Bong, Jung Bong and Jang Bong.
1. Dan Bong.
The Dan Bong is a short wooden weapon measuring about 8" to 12" long. It is used for close quarters defence: striking, jabbing techniques and joint locks.
2. Jung Bong.
The Jung Bong medium length stick measuring about 28" to 56" long. It is used for medium range defence: blocking, striking and jabbing techniques.
3. Jang Bong.
The Jang Bong is a wooden staff measuring about 6' long although it may vary in accordance to the users height. It is for long range defence
: blocking, striking and jabbing techniques.
JANG BONG 6'
JUNG BONG 28" TO 56"
DAN BONG 8" TO 12"
BENEFITS OF WEAPONS TRAINING
It Is a Training Tool To Help You Focus Your Mind
Self-Development - Being mentally and physically centred is one of the great benefits of any martial arts training. Weapons further this, making you concerned not only with the balance and positioning of yourself, but also an extension of yourself.
The Jang Bong is great for teaching you hand-eye coordination as well as getting all your major muscle groups to work in harmony.
Weapons training will allow you to develop very sharp sense of accuracy and precision.
Increased strength – handling a weapon, even a light one, increases the load on our muscles and joints and helps them get stronger.
A stronger core – weapons’ handling forces the two halves of the body (lower and upper) to work in tight coordination. This then helps build core strength as the different muscle groups begin to move smoothly together.
Better coordination - because handling a weapon adds to the overall amount of force being applied to the body, it requires better hand/eye coordination.
Improved stamina – weapons training is not just about strength; it requires a sustained number of movements carried out convincingly. Sustaining that requires muscles that can perform without failing for a longer period of time than if they were performing without a weapon.
Better mental agility – the mind is the greatest weapon. Having the ability to create complex mental models of what we do and how and then adjust them on the fly requires the kind of mental computing power few people can manage. Weapons’ training becomes an intense mental workout the moment you pick up a weapon and start to wave it around.