Dear Corrales Sa Bom Nim,
The three key concepts I will specify are 1)CHUNG JIK; Honesty 2)SHIN CHOOK; Tension Relaxation and 3)CHUNG SHIN TONG IL; Concentration. These three concepts are my favorites at this time in my MOO DO training because I feel it impossible to assess my past, presence, and future performance without being honest with myself and others. As I face a SHIM SA I must concentrate on the skills necessary for advancement and balance that concentration with the wisdom of the SIP SAM SEH; ‘Bent and stretched, open and closed, Let nature take its course…Skill will take care of itself.’ The natural and essential movement of my lungs teaches me of the continual concept of SHIN CHOOK.
The benefits of the eight key concepts are the high definition and unity they bring as a SOO BAHK DO practitioner incorporates them into his art. They are the keys to WEH GONG, NEH GONG, and SHIM GONG. One of the key concepts-HIM CHO CHUNG; Control of power directly expresses this benefit. Without YONG GI; Courage, IN NEH; Endurance, and KYUM SON; Humility-the combat is over before it begins. In order to fight in justice and rightness we must fight as God gives us the light to see right, then our action philosophy takes over and we preserve life and freedom with the appreciate movement, applying the key concept of WAN GUP; Speed Control.
1975 seems like a pivotal time in the history of SOO BAHK DO MOO DUK KWAN in the United States and around the world, as our style and school reached a more perfect unity and standard. While Kwang Ja Nim Hwang Kee studied ancient texts and different martial art styles, the Federation and Dan pedigrees ensured a tradition with a heritage and a future.
The five MOO DO values are driven for me by KI SOOL; Technique- because of the detail and precision of movement which pushes my mind to remember the history; YEOK SA, appreciate the Tradition; JON TONG, and live by the Philosophy; CHUL HAK, as I work and learn in the DO JANG, where I balance Discipline/Respect; NEH KHANG WEH YU, and develop etiquette with others.
The Ten Articles of Faith on Mental Training are harmonized in the three flags we salute before any training. I am an American and saluting this flag reminds me of my loyalty to my country, obedience to my parents, and love for my wife, all who are Americans and many who were American soldiers. Saluting the Republic of Korea flag reminds me to cooperate with my brothers, respect my elders, be a faithful student and teacher, and be faithful with friends. And lastly, saluting our flag reminds me to face combat in justice and honor, never retreating, and finishing what I start.
Sincerely,
James R. Jefferies
Your student