Hwa Rang Do

Hwa Rang Do's Seven Principles of Training

The original Korean system of hand-to-hand combat, Hwarang-Do, was conceived over 1800 years ago by the then famous Buddhist priest, Won Kwang Bopsa, who based it upon the governing laws of nature, Um and Yang. At that time in history, Korea was divided into three kingdoms: Paekche, Koguryo, and Silla. King Chinhung of Silla called upon the services of Won Kwang Bopsa to instruct a select group of young members of the Toyal Family in the martial arts, religious training, intellectual and artistic pursuits. These young warriors were to be the generals, statesmen and leaders of the kingdom in the years to come and were collectively known as the Hwarang. They were given officer positions in the kingdom's military and their civilian charges were referred to as Rang Do. A Kukson was a master in Hwarang-do and possesed the rank of general in the military. The ferocious spirit of the Hwarang Warrior became legendary, with history documenting literally thousands of instances concerning the heroic deeds of the chivalrous Hwarang (including General Yoo Shin Kim, Kwang Chang, Sa da Ham, Moo Kwan Rang and innumerable others). The Hwarang were known as gentlemen of high intelligence who concurrently were feared as the fiercest fighting sects of all Asia. The adherence to their strict martial code of chivalry, coupled with their superlative fighting techniques, enabled the Hwarang to be the major driving force behind the eventual unification of the Korean peninsula. However, the prevailing governing forces of the Yi Dynasty (1392-1910) desfavored the image of the warring arts and therefore disbanded the Hwarang, which resulted in training being continued only to select individuals in the secrecy of the mountainous Buddhist monasteries. It was here, in the monasteries, where the art was perserved and carried on from master instructor to student in a continual chain until the present day, when two brothers, Joo Band and Joo Sang Lee undertook training from the 57th generation of Supreme Grandmaster of Hwarang-do - a Buddhist monk named Suahm Dosa. After training in the mountains under the direct tutelage of their master for nearly 20 years, both brothers received permission from Suahm Dosa and the necesary sanctions from the Korean government to teach selevted individuals in public. The year was 1960 when the Lee Brothers opened the first public school of Hwarang-do in centuries in Seoul, Korea. Since that time, Hwarang-do schools have spread to all corners of the globe, all under direct supervision and auspices of the World Hwarang-do Association - presided over by Supreme Grandmaster Joo Bang Lee (58th successor to the title which was accorded him upon the death of Suahm Dosa in 1969) and Head Grandmaster, Joo Sang Lee. Having introduced this venerable combative martial art/healing art system to the world, it is their hope to further disseminate the teaching of this ancient martial art throughout the world for the benefit of generations of martial artist yet to come. The Ancient Korean martial art/healing art of Hwarang-do is one of the most diversified yet comprehensive martial arts systems to be found anywhere in the world. Designed for everyone, its study integrates the mental dimensions with the physical disciplines in such a way as to enable its practitioners to realize their full potentials. Moo Sul: For ease of explanantion, the martial art (moo sul)aspects of Hwarang-do can be subdivided into four major paths of study: 1) Nae Gong - internal power, 2) Wae Gong - external power, 3) Moo Gi Gong - weapon power, and 4) Shin Gong - mental power. Nae Gong deals with the study of developing, controlling, and directing one's inner energy force-ki-through the use of specialized breathing and meditation exercises in conjunction with specific physical techniques. Due to the internal nature of these exercises, this phas of study demands superior patience and concentration. in the study of Hwarang-do, one learns to develop, harness, and apply this human energy resource at will; to make the body heavy/light, oblivious to pain, strong as steel, and to make the body move faster than would otherwise be possible. Initially studied to make the individual healthy, at more advanced stages this power can be controlled in conjunction with the thought process and be transmitted from one individual to another for combative as well as healing applications. Wae Gong takes form in the over 4000 offensive and defensive combative applications found within the art. Combining elements predominately tense and linear in nature with those soft and circular, these techniques mesh to form a natural, combative fighting system. This phase of instruction includes full instruction in all forms of hand strikes and blocks; 365 individual kicks; throws and falls from any position and onto any surface; human anatomical structure as it pertains to combat applications (knowing the body's weak points and how to most effectively utilize them against any assailant); joint manipulation; joint breaking, finger pressure point applications; defense agains multiple opponents; breaking techniques; advanced killing techniques; counter-attack aspects for the above; and even more advanced secretive techniques. These applications are taught in their combative form, yet with full control so as to minimize any danger to the student. By practicing these diverse aspects one can become healthy through physical exercise while simultaneously learning to contain and control any antagonist withing one movement to whatever degree the situation calls for. Moo Gi Gong deals with the offensive and defensive use of 108 individual weapons found within 20 categories of weaponry. by learning these weapon systems, the advanced practitioner can most effectively use any available object as a weapon as the situation dictates. Shin Gong involves the study, development, and control of the human mind in order to attain one's full potentials and menatl capabilities. Techniques are taught to achieve an increase in one's total awareness and concentration levels. This realm includes: instruction in controlling one's own mind; ESP; clairvoyance; development of the sixth sense; the natural laws of the universe,; the study of human types; telepathy; visualizations; the arts of concealment and stealth as used by special agents (Sulsa); as well as advanced secretive arts. The powers and more lie within the potentials of every human being can be developed through the proper training methods. The In Sul aspects (the study of Oriental healing arts) of Hwarang-do are every bit as complex and demanding as the study of Occidnetal medicine. The student of Hwarang-do learns to become one with the natural laws of the universe, learning all aspects of defense in an ever-changing enviornment. These defensive applications can apply on a basic level concerning hand-to-hand combative technique as well as on a more intricate level of healing injuries and disease. Therefore, in order to most effectively defend onself from these outside elements, the practitioner of Hwarang-do learns to develop the capacity to heal himself as well as others. First-aid applicatinos and revival techniques are taught in conjunction with the traditional studies of acupuncture, Royal Family Acupressure, herbal and natural medicines and bone setting.

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