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Post by Colin Wee on Mar 1, 2004 17:10:31 GMT 8
“Translated literally from the Korean, Chon-Ji means the heaven and the earth. This pattern reminds us that we human beings are just one element in the universe” (http://www.tkd-itf.org/TechnicalPatterns.htm). Yates says that this pattern “symbolizes the creation of the world … [and] it is a fitting name for the first form” (1982 p30). The individual words making up ‘Chon-ji’ links the transcendental-ness of the heavens with the solidity and pragmatism of the Earth. While most of the English translations insert an ‘and’ between them, the Korean terminology is really ‘Heaven Earth’ which prompts us to re-evaluate the relationship between these two variables. For this document, I would interpret ‘Heaven’ to mean strategic initiatives while ‘Earth’ means the solid grounding of techniques that the fighter has under his command. I further extend the imagery of ‘Heaven Earth’ to extol the interconnectedness a thinking fighter has while standing grounded and attacking straight on. It also prompts us to think about the possible disruption to the opponent’s centre of gravity when such a linear force is levelled at a less-than-stable opponent. Chun-ji reminds me of Sun Tzu’s idea to ‘know yourself’, creating a stability for yourself that cannot be unsettled by any opponent, however strong.  Checkout this link: www.itatkd.com/aa_form1.html |
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Post by David Moore on Mar 3, 2004 14:06:46 GMT 8
This certainly gives me new perspective to think of - and you know, Bruce Komar Frantzis (teacher of internal Chinese arts) wrote in his book "Opening the Energy Gates of the Body" that the beginning movements of Chi Gong practice represent heaven and earth, and how we stand between them, our head in heaven and feet solidly within the earth. What an interesting view.
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 14, 2005 10:06:19 GMT 8
Chon-ji is a real significant kata for me and my beginners. What I like about it is that it contains a very simple yet effective weapon: the lunge punch. Beginners (and even some intermediates) seem to think the kata is just there as a soft introduction to the style. But the lunge punch is a great singular takeaway from Chon-ji. I also like the simple downblock (Step 1). Many people discount it as an item with little use - until we start using it for self defence and one step sparring. The act of folding itself (Pre Step 1) allows us to have good coverage of the body, and allows the use of the elbows to strike oncoming weapons. The downblock itself can be used to strike an oncoming weapon (basically the opponent's arm - not *a* weapon per se). The hitpoint on the top of the forearm is my favourite. This is not to say that we should cover hitpoints extensively, it is just to highlight that techniques shouldn't be flailed around haphazardly. One of my beginners asked me recently how I was generating the kind of power I was using to strike their arms. To that I said, it was exactly what the pattern taught: you drop the body as you perform the strike so your entire body weight is striking the target. For intermediate belts this power is augmented and complemented by the hip twist action - which doesn't as yet need to be taught to beginners.
I can't stress how important the forward drive is to this kata (step 1-2). The Chang Hon set of kata is an entire lesson plan for me. So Chon-ji has to teach the basics of TKD to a person that has no idea what's going on, in this case, it is the stances and the power generated by the linear movement forward. It is not a mere step or walk. It has to launch you towards the opponent and generate momentum through acceleration. I always use the analogy of sprinting when teaching beginners how to do the forward motion. And rather than say 'step', I'd say "go!" to get them going.
Kent asked me recently whether I not I knew that there was a typo in our syllabus as Step 18-19 of Chon-ji was represented as an osotogari. This can be done as the step back allows the right body mechanics for the leg takedown. Given that we teach all beginner's to breakfall, the osotogari leg ripping exercise is an acceptable non-striking technique to teach. I have seen some bunkai which teaches a lot more (like using an irimi for step 2 to take down the opponent). I don't think this is acceptable to teach beginners, though that is an interesting technique to introduce at perhaps the Won-hyo stage. Beginners however should only focus in on the major hard style dynamics/mechanics at this point. Meaning striking, covering, and blocking.
I maintain that Chang Hon is a great teaching program. For instance, this leg reaping throw allows us to introduce a breakfall to the beginning martial artist. Meaning - if you get to learn to throw someone to the ground, you should also know how to defend against being thrown to the ground too. Therefore - if you strike a person in the chest, you should also know how to defend against a chest-high strike - which is mentioned in the next few posts.
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 21, 2005 15:51:37 GMT 8
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 22, 2005 14:49:49 GMT 8
Some variations based on theme. I also like the simple downblock. Many people discount it as an item with little use - until we start using it for self defence and one step sparring. The act of folding itself allows us to have good coverage of the body, and allows the use of the elbows to strike oncoming weapons. This is opens up opportunities to use other hard parts of your body against oncoming weapons. FOr instance, the upper part of your shin against the lower part of the opponent's shin. Many people who use protectors don't understand how painful it is when a hardened part of the body collides with a more sensitive part. The forehead, the elbow, knuckles, etc. are the 'corners' of the body. Expose the corners and cover up. Also focus on the elbows helps beginners think of the entire arm as a weapon or tool. Many beginners think only of the hands, slapping the strike away or punching. Yet there is great efficiency of movement when you block with the elbow to strike with the hand. The arms move in tandem and naturally this way. And guess what - you can do it all day without feeling a thing. Your poor opponent however will feel slightly different. I don't teach a formal hitpoint or acupoint class in my school, but I do pinpoint areas on the body that are much more susceptible to injury and which result in major amounts of pain to the recipient. This allows practitioners to think of spots on the body to strike rather than just blindly swinging a kick that would better be used on a bag than on a human. |
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Post by Colin Wee on Nov 24, 2005 22:41:34 GMT 8
Lastly, I can't stress how important the forward drive is to this kata. Part of the secret of linear based martial arts, and this style of TKD is that power is generated through an exponential linear motion. This kind of weapon/gimmick/gameplan that starts with Chon-ji is rather addictive. You know you're going to be able to accelerate forward and have a high chance of hitting the opponent - so you use it many times. But the main problem is that not all situations will allow you to do this. Certainly everyday problems which may invite an escalation of emotions will not allow you to 'set' your opponent up. Instead you'll be want to try and avert the fight. So such linear motion forward is not going to be a major weapon that will be initially used to obliterate the opponent. Such being the case, the practitioner should be cognizant that other gameplans will probably be called on first for 'daily use' before a huge lunching technique is used. There are an increasing number of shorter range weapons available at higher forms. |
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Post by Colin Wee on Jan 18, 2006 14:07:29 GMT 8
Chon-ji is a real significant kata for me and my beginners. What I like about it is that it contains a very simple yet effective weapon: the lunge punch. In the next thread I continue to talk about the difference between the lunge punch from Chon-ji and Dan-gun. In Dan-gun, the lunge punch is done how we 'usually' do it, at head height and in multiple succession. But why does Chon-ji have the lunge punch at chest height? As I do mention later, this pattern seems to suggest that the lunge punch is done at a shorter range and is performed as a finishing blow. You do a block, you do a punch, then you turn. This turn means that you are finished with the previous opponent and are ready to deal with another. A recent conversation with my Savate instructor friend, reminded me of the different levels that we use when targeting our strikes. We were discussing the making of a Wooden Dummy (or a striking post). The two arms needed were first place at neck height and then at navel height. The point being is when you are crouched down in a combat position, the neck height becomes your nose height, and the lower one is more accurately aimed at your solar plexis. So for Chon-ji, the strike to your chest at a low stance may suggest that the punch is performed lower on the opponent. If the opponent is standing this 'new' level is at his belly button. If the opponent has raised his leg to kick your head, this new level is now at his groin height! This is an interesting way to end a fight, to punch while the person is kicking. This is something I've done before, and is not as difficult as it seems. The most important aspect is not to get knocked out by the incoming kick. Aside from that, all you need to do is to get in real quick by launching your whole body forward and downward. I like to use the downward motion as this helps to target areas which are available when going under the kick. You keep your head buried way down into your shoulder, and aim either for the groin or the support leg. The counter hand is held up in front of you to provide coverage. If you keep the fold of your punching arm tight, this accentuates the upset punch movement, and may provide a better angle of entry to strike at the opponent's groin. Fun to be had for both sides! Colin |
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Post by Colin Wee on Apr 15, 2006 21:20:23 GMT 8
Today we did some drills for those learning the basics and Chon-ji. We did defence against a wrist grab when your hands are held in the 'please don't hurt me' stance. So you start with hands held palm out and up. The attacker does a same side grab on your right wrist and throws a strike at your nose with his right hand. The left hand does a face wipe, using the whole forearm (the analogy was that of a squeegee wiping a window). Your right hand is extended downward and applies tension on the attackers left arm. After deflecting the strike, we'll step forward with the left foot and strike down on the top of the forearm or the side of the upper arm witth the left hand. Breathing out, stepping forward and dropping the weight is done all at the same time. The right hand is drawn back to yank the attackers arm straight. If you're pulling at someone's arm or on a rope, like a tug-of-war, the right hand will be pulled towards your lats. This is where the hand is chambered during the drill, without the opponent.
On the line, going forward and blocking is slightly different as we include the hip twist into the motion. The hip forces beginners to deal with the turning motion of the hip whilst stepping forward. Most beginners will lunge forward and step the front foot in a direct stright line going forward, or aligned with the back leg. This is common as beginners think of the strike as long reaching 'fencer's' type strike.
Even working off on an opponent, most beginners attempt to step either left or right - out of the way of the opponent's leading knee or body. However, this martial art ... Chon-ji requires the practitioner to step directly at the opponent with the body. It's as if you're aiming to do a head butt or you're aiming to strike his leg with your knee (from the front lunge stance).
This driving body posture is very different from anything you're familiar with, as we do not actively attempt to 'walk' into people, but to bypass them. So you need to change your mindset, and calibrate strikes to go through the body's profile instead of around them.
The hip rotation is a natural movement. Not all strikes in Taekwondo require a lunging move. The lunge works at mid to long range and is a great tool. But at short range, the practitioner requires the natural hip twist (the 'squeegee' motion) in order to generate the power for short distance strikes. This natural movement should not be eliminated from long range movements, just tone down a little.
'Toning down' was a theme we started with at the begining of class when we were doing knee raises up and down the line. Holding the hands up, I didn't want the class to hold them stock still. I wanted the guys to be able to move the left hand forward when the left knee was raised, and be able to use natural body movements whilst holding the arms up in a natural relaxed fashion.
This theme was repeated after the blocking drills - on the front kick. Typically I don't emphasize the front kick at this level, but given that this particular group was fine with it, I organised the drill to use the opponent to provide upper body contact. So the opponent would extend a hand, which the kicker would make contact, and control, then launch the kick into the opponent's gut. This is a mid to short range front kick and was to teach the practitioners how to judge short distances using their legs and to strike effectively at one point using the ball of the foot. So tense while striking, relax, and then tense again when driving the front kicking leg down to the ground (presumably to finish off the opponent with a hand strike). The hips, the strike must be timed with the breathing and tension of the body.
Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Apr 16, 2006 21:50:46 GMT 8
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Post by Colin Wee on Apr 22, 2006 10:09:41 GMT 8
We taught yop marki middle block today with a drill off cross handed strike to deflect and pull the opponent into yourself.
Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Apr 23, 2006 20:19:49 GMT 8
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Post by Colin Wee on Apr 24, 2006 19:32:43 GMT 8
Email out after the test...
****
Hi all. 5 respondants, and so quickly at that! The quiz was just me testing this online survey/testing software. We've just started another round of beginner training, and it was a nice way to chat a little about what we do. However, I don't think our beginners have responded yet. In fact I'm quite surprised that 'Dr Thai' has responded - given that she's not been on our email list for the last year. Anyway, Chon-ji and the white belt syllabus discusses something that is very important all the way up to black belt and beyond - the issue of commitment. I'm not talking about the emotional commitment. I'm talking about commitment to a technique or course of action. No way is the punch going to work unless you're putting your heart and soul into striking the opponent - with speed and technique. There is no trick about this. Sometimes if you have no clue about anything all you've got to do is decide to go and JUST GO. That's a good lesson for many other things beyond the martial arts too.
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Post by Colin Wee on Apr 26, 2006 8:43:47 GMT 8
Last night we talked about the formation of the fist for a basic punch. How the two knuckles are 'pointing' at the target, and how they strike on a point without having the fingers land flat on the target. Also we compared this centreline punch with the punches used on a punching bag - which use upper body and shoulder rotation to generate power. The basic punch is not really a close range strike, though it could be. With the forward stance, it's a lunching mid to long range strike.
We also talked about 'sighting' down the arm in order to strike correctly with the first two knuckles. If you just rotate the hand in place and strike with your 'fist' most beginners end up striking with the flat of their fingers, along with the first two knuckles of course. What we try to do is to 'point' using the first knuckle, like pointing with the first finger, this positions the knuckle to be nicely aligned to the arm so that only the knuckles strike the target, the fingers are held off.
The basic punch also required the elbows to be rotated downwards. Unlike striking a bag where you're lifting the elbow to have your forearm parallel to the floor, the basic punch has the elbow held tightly by the lat. This provides stability to the striking arm when your body is driving it forward.
Colin
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Post by Colin Wee on Apr 24, 2007 14:20:46 GMT 8
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Post by Colin Wee on May 24, 2007 23:39:39 GMT 8
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