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The Lost Alchemy of Classical Martial Arts
By Daniel R. Segarra
Adapted from Mediation the Secret to being peaceful and confident anytime anywhere.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/daniel-segarra/meditation/paperback/product-1783688.html

Quite often in classical martial arts we devoutly follow traditions without understanding the purpose of those traditions. Certain salutations, hyung applications, and basic rituals are often practiced with either an incomplete understanding, incorrect understanding
or no understanding at all. It is often a valuable learning experience to seek to understand the purpose of those unknown aspects, not question their value but understand their purpose. For example I will illustrate this point using a movement common to almost all martial arts the Choon be usually known as the ‘ready position’.

Almost always choon bee is thought of as a combat ready position. But if one were to really analyze the posture realistically you would have to come to the conclusion that it has no tactical combat value and to think so would invite disaster in a realistic combat situation. So why is choon be so frequently practiced and almost always bookends forms, sparring and drills?

Choon be is a ready posture but it is an energetic ready posture where you wake up your spirit and center your energy in your hips.
You train yourself not to tense any other area’s unnecessarily and concentrate you energy in your Dan Jun (center). This is complemented at the end with Paro or the finishing posture. The Paro is to calm the energy created to take action and transform it into a complimentary virtue. Thus we use conflict to transcend our primitive instincts and transform them into higher spiritual levels.

This is the Alchemy of the martial arts, we transform the lead of conflict into the gold of spiritual mastery. This is what makes classical martial arts so unique and special. In Korean martial arts there are five elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each is associated with an emotion that can be transformed into a virtue, each time an emotion is transformed it feeds a cycle and each time the cycle is completed you reach a higher spiritual level. In ancient times these practices were given interesting names like the “Wood Test Skill” of the “Fire entrance record”, etc.

Wood – Mokshijae 木試才 Wood Test Skill – The element wood is associated with anger. Just like fire needs wood to burn, so, too, does anger. As with all emotions, we do not want to suppress them; nature gave them to us for a reason, but it is equally important not to let them get out of control. To pass the wood test skill, take away the fuel, and the fire dies out; focus on being centered, and the anger subsides. Transform the anger into compassion. Compassion for others leads to propriety.

Fire – Hwa-Ipjeok 水受牌 Fire Entrance Record – Joy is the emotion associated with fire. As with all of the elements, we want to have balance. We want to cultivate our center, finding joy where ever we are. Even the most mundane tasks can provide us with joy, if we apply the proper attitude. Focus on the present moment; find joy in the simplest things. Don’t chase happiness. Invite it in, and you will pass the fire entrance record. The virtue associated with fire is propriety. When we have empathy and compassion for ourselves and others this leads to respect (propriety) which transforms the heart.

Earth – Toseunggeup 土昇級 Earth Ascending Level – Pensiveness is associated with the Earth element. The Earth element can be grounding, or when deficient dreamy. As with all of the emotions, we must be sensitive to our present level of centeredness, and adjust ourselves accordingly. Aspirations are important but to turn our dreams into our reality we must balance aspiration with perspiration. In other words, dreams are nothing without being grounded in action. Acknowledge the present, take appropriate action and center yourself, to pass the Earth ascending level. The virtue associated with earth is faith. When we have empathy and compassion for ourselves and others this leads to respect (propriety) which transforms the heart and strengthens our faith.

Metal – Geumsureon 金修練 Golden Cultivation– The metal element is associated with sadness. It is natural to feel sad at times, but it is important to acknowledge the emotion, let it happen and let it go. Instead of letting the sadness overwhelm us, we can cultivate the emotion and turn it into something positive, like the alchemist who turns the metal lead into gold. The virtue associated with metal is justice. When we have empathy and compassion for ourselves and others this leads to respect (propriety) which transforms the heart and strengthens faith. Our faith allows us to believe and gives us the motivation and confidence to act righteously, just, and in harmony with our higher self.

Water – Susubi 水受牌 Water Reception Pillar – Fear is the emotion associated with water. Crying and bladder control, weak knees are all effects rooted in fear. Fear happens when we are thinking outside the present moment thereby projecting our minds into imaginary situations. You cannot have fear when you are centered. Also fear affects the posture, usually making you hunch your shoulders; straighten your posture like a column (pillar), breathe and center yourself and you will pass the water reception pillar. The virtue associated with water is wisdom. Empathy and compassion for ourselves and others leads to respect (propriety) which transforms the heart and strengthens faith. Our faith allows us to believe and gives us the motivation and confidence to act righteously, just, and in harmony with our higher self. Justice develops wisdom and wisdom deepens our compassion. As our wisdom grows we can see past illusions and outward manifestations of our inner selves. Wisdom allows us to see past each person’s mask and have compassion for their transgressions and struggles. Each time we complete the cycle of the five elements our true nature becomes more brighter or as Grandmaster Hwang Kee would say more ‘luminous’.

So all the ingredients of the classical martial arts can be used as a vehicle to self mastery. From the most basic actions to the challenges of combat we must practice them with the original intent in mind. Which is to transform ugliness of conflict into the beauty of mastery. This practice is called Su Il (守一) or keeping oneness. Su Il means literally to keep, protect, guard the one.

So as you can see one can practice a tradition such as choon be ignorantly thinking it is has value as an actual combat application and completely miss the opportunity to use it and the many other aspects of classical martial arts as steps towards self mastery. There is a schism of understanding in classical Korean martial arts for many. Much of the classical martial arts were taught by people that were born of its culture and some naturally and intuitively understood these concepts, many if not more did not, and with each passing of these traditions especially when passed to the West the real value of them began to fade and was lost. But when seeking to understand their original intent their value still echo’s hundreds of years later to those sincere few that seek it. Those few that put this alchemy into practice understanding the value and purpose of traditions, techniques and philosophy are rewarded with something more valuable than all the gold of the world.

Moo Sa!