Hyungs & Form

[delta1]

I just got a couple of books by Jhoon Rhee that covers the first three hyungs, and of course I now have some questions.

 

The class I joined is not a traditional TKD class, so there are some things that are done differently. One glaring difference is in the hyungs when turning to face a new direction and executing a block. Ex: start from a ready stance. Look left, transition through a cat with a wall block, then step out into a front stance as you execute a left low block. Now, we do the full cat stance (in transition), and the wall block is similar to a Kenpo universal block- right inside downward palm up block and left inward block, both out away from the body. This clears and covers you as you turn, and positions the left hand/arm for the downward block.

 

Mr. Rhee does this initial turn into what looks like a back stance, though the rest of the turns flow through a cat. I can see the bennifits of practicing that stance transition and contrasting it to the cat. But he also does the wall block (if it is a wall block and not just a part of the downward block) by wraping his arms close to his body. His left fist is by his right ear, and his right fist is at his left lower rib cage. This is consistant throughout the hyung. This position would not give you any protection from an incomeing strike at a time when you are extremely vulnerable, turning into an opponent. It also seems to set up a lot of tension, and the block has to travel out and around, covering a lot of distance. It does force you to put an in and back angle on the block, which is good. But you can do that from the left inward position too. Is there a reason for doing this move with the "wrap"?

 

I hope that was clear. I'll ask about this at class tonight, but I'd like some input from some of you traditionalists (and others) also. Thanks.

[tufrthanu]

I do American TKD...the style Jhoon Rhee teaches and we always wrap our hands for blocks. There are several reasons for this. One is that pulling with one arm while striking down with the other provides twice the power of just one arm moving downward. Two the more distance something travels at an increasing velocity the harder it will hit. As to moving into a cat stance between positions I dont know about that. I assume you are doing the Chang Hon forms, but at our school at least we just transfer from one stance to the next as smoothly as possible without putting a cat stance in between.

[delta1]

tufrthanu, thanks. So that wrap is not a wall block, but just part of the downward block? How do you do your wall/universal/double inward block?

 

The "pulling with one arm while striking down with the other" that you describe is a power principle American Kenpo would call opposing forces. It does add power, but if you do the wall block to the downward block as one smooth movement you would get the same effect. I asked my chief instructor about it, and he said the first school he was with was the traditional style, and they did it the way it was depicted in the book. He said it is just another method, and either way works for him, though he likes his current system better (no big surprise). Of course, with a Kenpo base, I'm partial to the continuous motion/flowing and covering also. My big problem is comeing to chamber with my non blocking hand. I allways tend to come to a check instead- great in a fight, bad form in a hyung.

 

Going through the cat is done as a smoothe transition also. We don't stop in it, but they like to see it in there. That too is consistant with my base (AK), so I'm used to that. Another way to think of it is as a crescent step. I didn't get to ask more about the blocks tonight because we got in to a lengthy discussion and workout on the reasons and applications for the crescent or cat transition in moving between stances (closes the groin, checks, sweeps,...).

[tufrthanu]

No, it is just the chamber for the block. As to the wall block thing im not sure what you mean by that. Is it a block where both forearms are brought together in front of the face like a two armed out to inside middle block, or is it closer to a simultaneous low and middle block one with each arm?

[Toast]

You wrap for more power in your block...

 

We use the philosophy: "Action- ReAction"

[delta1]

...is it closer to a simultaneous low and middle block one with each arm?

 

That's it. Ex: assume either a cat or a back stance, left foot forward (we'll do it static for simplicity). Now, do a left inward block and hold it there. Bring your right across your body so the fist is in front of your left leg. Palm can be facing in or out, depending on several factors, but palm in is probably more common. The right arm is out from your body at the same angle and distance as the left arm with the inward block. Depending on what you want to do with the block, elbows can be anywhere from touching to (more commonly) about a hand span apart. Now, look mean and hold that pose until a photographer for BB Mag comes along!

 

Actually, the wall block (Kenpo universal block, Taiji energy ball, etc.) may be used statically, as in block and stop momentarily to either block or positionally check. It is also used in transition, where the motion does not stop. The path of the arms into and out of position are a clearing, covering movement. You come out into any other block, strike, check, pull, parry, break, lock, bar, trap, or whatever. The continuous movement, as well as the opposing forces as you move your arms apart, adds power. The block can also be used as either simultaneouse blocks, strikes, or block/strike combo's.

[tufrthanu]

In that case delta it depends on how we are facing and what we are trying to block. If I want to block something coming straight and actually make a wall we do an inside to outside middle block with one arm and actually punch straight down to get the other hand in position. If instead I'm actually blocking two attacks from either side our arms hinge at the elbow. For instance, let's say your arms are horizontal across your chest, one arm would hinge up for the middle block and the other would hinge down to a low block. This also works for something coming in straight at you over its not quite as quick as the other method.