What sorts of thoughts do you have about yourself? Are those thoughts overtly positive or negative?
An Exploration of Tang Soo Do's Eight Key Concepts: Him Cho Chung SBN Mary Cayte Reiland
Tang soo readers, happy July! This month, we continue with the discussion of the sixth of the Tang Soo Do Eight Key Concepts. Up next is Him Cho Chung, also known as control of power. According to the dictionary, power is defined as “physical strength and force exerted by something or someone.” When I think of power and the control of it, I think of it both externally and internally. Externally, power equates to the amount of force applied by our techniques. Say we’re in class doing partner drills or sparring. I’ve heard numerous instructors say to exercise control and common sense in these situations, so you don’t end up hurting each other. For example, would you really punch your partner in the face, or would you exercise the control to stop the punch before you reach your partner’s face? I’ve heard this is the art behind the martial art, exercising control to know your distance and extend your punch to the point where you fully extend your arm, but you don’t actually hit your partner. As with most things, this control over your external power will only come with years of extensive practice.
power is a very different concept from external power. Philosophical power is defined as “a measure of a person’s ability to control the environment around them, including the behavior of others.” When I think of internal power in this way, I often think about one of my instructors, who has a very intense energy and presence in the dojang. When there are little kids on the mat, he has this ability to make them focus and train hard. His entire persona screams “I will not tolerate you misbehaving, I demand your best”. I marvel at this internal power that he exercises over everyone on the mat. I think it has very little to do with his voice, despite the fact that it’s deep, because I’ve seen the looks that he has given students who misbehave… it’s not pretty.
Another thought on internal power, think about everything that you consciously and unconsciously do, positive or negative. This is not a reasonable request, but go with me here. Internal power can be conceptualized as fuel for your mind and spirit. Martial arts training is supposed to unify our mind, bodies and spirit… coincidental? I think not. Controlling your internal Internal power or philosophical power = controlling your thoughts.
This is where I’m going with these questions. Fueling your mind and spirit with 100% negativity is not a good thing. As martial artists, we want to achieve a state of cohesive zen, where our minds, bodies and spirits are genuinely unified. Being constructive is one thing, as every one of us needs to consistently learn, but being so very tough and demanding of yourself will only take you away from the pursuit of which you seek. Keep that in mind the next time you mess up in your training. Take away and learn from the experience, but set aside what does not serve you in the long term. It will only negatively impact you in the long run. This article was a difficult one for me, but I learned a few things for myself and hope you will also. Until next month, take care and Tang Soo!
SBN Mary Cayte Reiland, USA
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