the power of martial arts: confidence...

In the art of Jung SuWon, we are taught to challenge ourselves. By challenging ourselves we can achieve a greater sense of our own potential. As we overcome these challenges, there is a sense of accomplishment and belief in what we are capable of.

Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim teaches a simple set of principles of mental conduct.

Conquer your own weaknesses and fears rather than others.
Learn from your mistakes.
You have the ability to do, the capacity of act, and the capability to perform and produce.
Have a quality purpose and determination.
Have a positive mental attitude.

By focusing on our self and overcoming our weaknesses and fears we gain confidence. During sparring in class I am paired up from a wide range of opponents that vary greatly in experience and skills. In my rise through the ranks, I have gain confidence in physical and mental control. When facing my juniors, I understand their challenge and push them to allow them to recognize there ability. The sense of being able to block an oncoming attack or being able to initiate an attack without fear. When facing my seniors, I need to give them the freedom to push me and to recognize my fears and weaknesses. I need to maintain discipline of my thoughts and emotions.

This builds confidence in myself and it carries off the do jang. In work I am able to take on new projects that I might have shied away from because of the scope or difficulty. At home I am learning to play guitar, because I have the confidence that I have the ability and willingness to make mistakes. With confidence, life becomes an opportunity to explore and learn. It opens the door to try new things. Think of the alternative. What would you accomplish, or even attempt with a lack of confidence? Confidence is a tool in building a successful life. Like a muscle is must be worked to expand and grow.

Jung SuWon can be considered a gym to strengthen your confidence.

the power of martial arts: being humble...

When faced with a challenge, there are two forces that can defeat you before you make the first move. The first is being controlled by fear. The second is over-confidence. In martial arts, the sense of being comfortable can allow you to put your guard down and to assume too much of the situation. This results in lazy thinking and inaction. Why the martial arts is such a great teaching tool it that this thinking is very easily corrected. And usually that process is a painful realization.

In Jung SuWon, breaking a board is a test of your discipline of technique and attitude. The first time in breaking a board, there is a lot of fear to overcome. The unknown if you will break it and what pain you will endure. With focus and discipline, the board would break effortlessly. So much so that I was shocked and surprise that it happened. This is also the seed of over-confidence. Your mind recognized the ease at which it took place and builds the confidence in your abilities. What started as an impossible task became simple. This is true in overcoming any challenge that overcome seemly effortlessly.

A few months later, I was tested to break two boards and then demonstrate some techniques. The techniques were difficult. Rather than thinking about breaking the boards, my mine was thinking of going through those new techniques. When it was time to break the boards, I remembered how easy it was to break. So instead of focusing on my technique and attitude, I was thinking of the next set of tasks. The shock, the surprise, and the pain I went when I slammed my hand against a hard wooden board. But that did not wake me up from my over-confidence. I must have just not hit it hard enough. Again I through my hand at the board. And again I was showered with pain and surprise. Now my hand really hurt. All eyes were on me wondering if I could break that board. I tried again to slam my hand against the board even harder, but my body refused to cooperate. In my mind I was going over how much it hurt and did not want to experience more. I held back on the next attempted to still achieve more pain with less results. Great Grandmaster Kim ask me to stop and breath. That break helped clear my mind. It did not matter what are my next techniques. My focus was on this board at this moment. I notice I had got emotional because the board did not break as I had planned. What should have been simple and become the critical and challenging part of my testing.

In acknowledge where my mind had gone, I started fresh as if it was the first time I was breaking a board. I reposition myself slightly, focusing on my target. Focus on my breath, be aware of my environment yet focused on the goal. With a loud Ki-yup, I struck and broke the board.

What prevented me from breaking that board was a lack of humility. If I had been humble and approached the breaking as a new challenge (which it is), I would not have been thinking of what was coming up next. I would not have assumed that it would break easily. I would have been aware of my technique and attitude. Without this humbleness you take things for granted and lack appreciation of the moment. Humbleness allows you to be flexible to plans without getting emotional when things don't go your way.

To be able to maintain that humble attitude not only allows overcoming obstacles in the Do Jang, but in other aspects of life. In relationships, were over time we get lazy and comfortable and start taking others for granted. In business were our success can blind us from learning new things. And in life, to achieve happiness, from the recognition and appreciation of the little things.

the power of martial arts: facing fear...

Fear is a powerful force. It defines our boundaries and creates limits. In most cases this is a good thing. Fear allows us to recognize dangers and take actions to assure we will live another day to learn and grow. But recognizing fear and being controlled by fear are two different things. Recently during a demonstration Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim ask me to break cinder blocks using a martial art technique. The martial arts teach us that we can transform our bodies as weapons capable of breaking board and brick. Although the physical demonstration is impressive, the true challenge happens within your mind.

I remember the first time I broke a brick. In my mind I knew how hard that solid chunk of concrete was. I knew my hand was soft and flexible by comparison. If I fail to break the brick I was just as likely to break my hand. The only reason I would be able to break that break was to commit 100% of myself. Any hesitation would not apply the force needed to break the brick and potentially resulting a serious injury to my hand. My challenge was not breaking the brick, it was overcoming my fear.

In training in Jung SuWon, I developed confidence in my body, mind, and spirit. I knew I could get hurt, but I will not die. In many cases, the fear of getting hurt was worst than the actual injury (a bruise or a sore muscle). In training you learn you how your mind limits you real potential and as you discover more on how you body works the greater the freedom you have to "push the envelope". In Jung SuWon, the first principle in the Jung SuWon code of ethics is Body and Mind as One. As you develop your body, your mind gains strength. As you free your mind, so your body gains more freedom.

In facing those bricks, I felt fear. It did not matter whether it was my first time or my fiftieth time. But I did not let fear control me. I acknowledge it, making the moment real. Fear has a way of clearing your mind and focusing on the "now". My body responded in my commitment. There was no second chance, I had to focus all my energy here and now.

Whether it is breaking a stack of bricks or speaking in public event, we can face own fears and take control.

he can do, she can do, why not me...

I train in a Korean martial art founded by Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim, Jung SuWon. At the end of class, after pushing ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally, we cheer our selves on with the chant, "He can do, she can do, why not me!"

Mediating on this saying, I find that it is an answer to a question that I ask myself when pushed to my limits and not believing I can do anymore. "How can I do this?"

I can draw strength from those that have come before me. I am not the first to be challenged, to be pushed. Yet there are those that were able to rise above the obstacles and claim victory. He was able to do it. She was able to do it. Why not me? If it is possible, it can be done. Why not me.

And then something special happens. In overcoming my challenge, I become part of that foundation for those who encounter their own challenges and search for the answers to overcome and claim victory.

"He Can do! She Can do! Why not me!"