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Post by Colin Wee on Mar 1, 2004 17:13:20 GMT 8
“Pen name of Yi I, Philosopher and scholar who was nicknamed Confucius of Korea” (http://www.itatkd.com/pattern_yulgok.html). According to Breen , “Yul-Gok and Toi-Gye are two closely related and yet opposite patterns. Both Yi I (Yul-Gok) and Yi Hwang (Toi-Gye) were important figures in Confucian scholarship in 16th century Korea, but the two men were leaders of two opposing schools of philosophical thought. According to Neo-Confucianism, all existence reflects two vital components, i and ki (sometimes written li and ch’i). The first, i, is the formative element. This describes the nature and behaviour of a thing. The second, ki, is the energising element. One cannot exist without the other. The argument between the two schools, therefore, is not to do with the definition or existence of these two components, but rather their relative importance. Yul-Gok believed that ki, the energising element, was the primary and fundamental factor. To this school, i exists only to govern the motion of ki, to give it form and direction. Accordingly, the performance of the pattern Yul-Gok should stress ki over i. Energy takes precedence over form. The physical movement of a technique is only required to provide a channel, a medium, for the power of the technique” (2001 p10). At one level, you can say that Yul-guk emphasizes strength over form. However, I think that with the recognition that Yul-guk was a scholar, I would say it’s the correct use of strength over form that is important. At another level we can equate strength with effort, intention, or willpower. For the fighter, I think Yul-guk advocates the innovative use of power to dominate an opponent. The fighter should explore such issues of power and understand how to generate perceived or real power.
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 17, 2005 22:03:25 GMT 8
Just when the practitioner thinks he's starting to get used to Chang-hon and how a person is supposed to move 'Taekwondo Style', up comes Yul-guk. I approach it with trepidation. The first four patterns pass by with a good rhythm, and then your momentum is stopped short by Yul-guk. Like a brick wall. The kata hits you with these tension press isometric exercises that are guaranteed to burn your muscles and make you sick with breathlessness. This kata sorely tests your endurance and the power of your muscles -- just like if you were in an actual clinch or tough encounter. Yul-guk invites you to think of how muscle goes against muscle.
The opening move, a slow tension press followed by two centreline strikes (Step 1-3) looks like a standing arm bar/elbow break followed by two knockout strikes.
You can see grab-strike combos (Step 7-10, 15-17) unlike what you see in Chon-ji. Other forms get you to grab and strike. This form seems to want you to grab-strike-control-strike. I can see the forward tension presses (step 15-17) going for a neck or hair grab and the user forcing the opponent around like a rag doll. Then there's the side kick which is followed up by an elbow strike (Step 22-24).
Then there's the jump backfist (step 36) similar to Bassai where you cross the gap and use your entire body like a weapon; so rather than only focusing on the backfist you look at the inclusive effect of a body strike and/or foot stomp.
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 17, 2005 22:10:01 GMT 8
I hate this form, the opening of the form sucks and is not practical.
Tim
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 17, 2005 22:12:26 GMT 8
I hate this form, the opening of the form sucks and is not practical. Tim So says the person who demonstrated an arm bar using similar mechanics in his last seminar! :-) Colin
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 17, 2005 22:18:20 GMT 8
Ok, Maybe I just don't like how the form opens, but the rest of the form is ok, basic techniques. I understand. Maybe I will re-read your comments again to get a real feeling for the form. Because, I thought that this form based on joint locking and about breaking the joints. This is a military system you know.
Tim
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 17, 2005 22:49:18 GMT 8
All of the forms have basic techniques, Tim. But it's not about how basic or simple a open palm press is. The form is telling us something very different from what we were told in the first four patterns. It prompts the user that sometimes a fight requires a blatant display of power or brutality or ruthlessness in order than you win. It's not all about knocking out one opponent and then looking for the next. It's like going for the leader in a pack of dogs. You hurt it. You make it whimper. Once it runs, all of the rest of the pack runs. They lose their will to fight. This can be for one person or it can be for a few. Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 18, 2005 10:21:17 GMT 8
Actually in truth, Yul-guk is not one of my favourite forms. There's a lot of show of power and that's not what I usually get into. I like more precision, more finesse. Also it's real tough to perform. Makes you feel wasted. But saying that, it prepares you like no other form prepares you for physical performance. Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 22, 2005 12:18:21 GMT 8
Yul-guk BUnkai PMA1 www.practical-martial-arts.co.uk/practical_tkd/yul_gok_bungai_1.htmlMoves 16/17 You face the attacker who does a right straight fingertip thrust. You do a hooking block and grab with your left hand while stepping with your left foot forward. Pivot counterclockwise on your left foot while stepping with your right and putting your right hand behind the attacker's back reaching around their hips. Your backside is now squarely against their pelvis in a classic hip throw position. Sourced from the ITF-Taekwondo list at yahoogroups.com
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Post by sifuwhite on Nov 22, 2005 12:26:21 GMT 8
Actually in truth, Yul-guk is not one of my favourite forms. There's a lot of show of power and that's not what I usually get into. I like more precision, more finesse. Also it's real tough to perform. Makes you feel wasted. But saying that, it prepares you like no other form prepares you for physical performance. Colin Colin, I would have to agree on the power stages of this form. Even though it has many years since I have did this form. I remember the power generation parts were very powerful. Tim
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 27, 2005 21:12:20 GMT 8
Re: Power Generation
You have the explosive forward drive creating massive amounts of striking power in Chon-ji and Dan-gun. Then you have the pile driver effect learned in Doh-san where you drop the entire bodyweight on your opponent through each downward technique. In Yul-guk, you learn a new and exciting type of power: the hip twist.
While many styles may teach the hip twist at first, it is first introduced at Yul-guk. This means that a student would have had trained for more than a year before getting to this point. Perhaps it's in order that the practitioner learn how to target and deliver a technique properly before needing to mess around with getting close and having an increased probability of getting hit (remembering TKD was forumlated to be a military system, rather than a civilian 'self defence' one).
The hip twist is there in Yul-guk as we see the powerful tension presses come into play. When do you start to force and grab with the opponent? When the opponent is up close of course. This negates the brilliance of the linear forward drive. So in order to create additional power at this range, one needs to generate a hip twisting motion to drive strikes harder into the target. Look at step 2 and 3, they come *after* the tension press open palm.
Step 7 & 12 should also show the pronounce hip twist; as oppose to just doing a linear 'lunging' middle block. The rest of the form should encourage you to look at how the hips are rotating, chambering and unleashing force; very different to the first few forms that are studied.
Step 32-35 should also show the pronounce hip twist punch, as opposed to just doing the middle outer forearm block like the opening sequences of Doh-san.
Remember the hip twist is done at a close range. Look for those techniques that get you grabbing the opponent and delivering a strike. Elbows, backfists, palm heels, short punches. These are the things you should look out for as you drive them in with the hip.
It comes just in time for the next pattern - focusing on short range scenarios ...
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 28, 2005 16:16:30 GMT 8
Yul-guk BUnkai PMA1 www.practical-martial-arts.co.uk/practical_tkd/yul_gok_bungai_1.htmlMoves 16/17 You face the attacker who does a right straight fingertip thrust. You do a hooking block and grab with your left hand while stepping with your left foot forward. Pivot counterclockwise on your left foot while stepping with your right and putting your right hand behind the attacker's back reaching around their hips. Your backside is now squarely against their pelvis in a classic hip throw position. Sourced from the ITF-Taekwondo list at yahoogroups.com Firstly, the performer of this form is facing forward after step 17, rather than backward with backside toward enemy pelvis. Also the hip throw (which is a rather simple move) was already introduced at Doh-san. So no, I don't think this Bunkai is applicable here. Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Jan 19, 2006 17:32:42 GMT 8
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Post by sifuwhite on Mar 1, 2006 21:25:32 GMT 8
I am changing my stance, so to speak on this form. I am thinking of relearning it.
Sifu White
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Post by Colin Wee on Mar 1, 2006 21:32:36 GMT 8
I am changing my stance, so to speak on this form. I am thinking of relearning it. Sifu White Why? There are other forms to choose. Why Yul-guk? Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Mar 2, 2006 13:00:27 GMT 8
We do a drill which looks similar to the folding moves between Step 27-28, done as a defence against kicks. This is modified from the above technique (which features clearly in the Tang Soo Do forms). Essentially it is a low open palm heel block outwards. You start in a fighting stance with right hand up. A left (same side) front kick is thrown at your ribs, you block this by turning towards your left and bringing your right hand down to deflect the kick out to your right. If the opponent continues and throws a right roundhouse kick to your chest, you take a small step back with your left leg away from the kick. This means you are pivoting on your front right foot rather than stepping away from the opponent. Breathe out and perform the raising arm motion of Yul-guk, using your upper forearm/elbow to stop the kick. It helps to pull your chest/abdomen back and push your shoulder out to meet the kick. This will create sufficient distance to buffer yourself from the striking weapon.
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