| The spiritual and philosophical nature of the martial arts | | | | but rather a place where the layers with which we |
| is rightly gaining more and more attention. Increasingly | | | | distort our own reality have been set aside. It is a place |
| martial arts students in London are looking for more | | | | where one is free of fear, hatred, anxiety, or |
| than a physical experience - a purely beat-um up | | | | arrogance. Our ki (chi; internal energy) flows fluently |
| experience is no longer enough! | | | | around the body; we are at peace; we see things as |
| London Martial Arts school Chang's Hapkido Academy, | | | | they are. |
| teaches Hapkido, which is a Korean martial art of | | | | Master Chang continues, "As far as self-defence |
| self-defense. The name 'Hapkido' actually combines | | | | goes, when faced with an actual situation a very |
| three Korean words: Hap means the coordination of | | | | strong man can be paralysed in an instant by fear. |
| mind and body, Ki is the inner power needed to create | | | | Therefore, MAN vs. HIMSELF is the most important |
| hap, and Do refers to a disciplined life. | | | | part of any martial artist's journey. In overcoming |
| It is this concept of discipline that can be found | | | | dangers posed by one's own anger, fear, hate, |
| throughout the martial arts, but what does that actually | | | | arrogance and desire one is able to achieve maturity |
| mean? To the new martial arts student it may be | | | | and wisdom." |
| about doing what you are told, calling your instructor | | | | "I heard a wonderful story recently", says a Chang's |
| "Sir", or bowing as you enter the dojang (martial arts | | | | Hapkido Academy Instructor. "One of my students (a |
| training hall). At a martial arts school in London though, | | | | white belt) was walking down a London street. A man |
| the Hapkido practitioners realize that even the simple | | | | started staring at him aggressively. My student said, |
| bow has much more of a profound meaning. | | | | 'The old me would have stared aggressively back, but |
| During a recent London Martial Arts seminar, when | | | | since coming to Hapkido and Ki Meditation class I didn't |
| asked why people want to train in Hapkido, Korean | | | | need to. Instead, I smiled and looked away.' He then |
| Grandmaster and founder of Chang's Hapkido | | | | told me that when he left the shop the same guy was |
| Academy, Gedo Chang responded, "Some want to | | | | on the other side of the street in a fight with someone |
| learn self-defense techniques, some to condition mind | | | | else. I think this white belt is already becoming a |
| and body, some for physical discipline. No matter what | | | | successful warrior." |
| they want first, eventually they realize that Hapkido is | | | | The expert martial artist is said to achieve freedom. |
| much deeper, more profound than they ever | | | | Freedom means freedom from, not freedom to: |
| expected. Hapkido is more than physical health or | | | | freedom from fear, freedom from anger, freedom |
| self-defense techniques. The more important part of | | | | from ego. We achieve freedom by making peace with |
| Hapkido training is inner peace, wisdom and discipline; | | | | our own internal enemies. Ironically it is through martial |
| which is what I try to teach." | | | | arts that we learn to stop fighting and are able to |
| To Hapkido Master Gedo Chang, discipline means | | | | transform our enemy into a friend who no longer |
| emptiness of mind. This is not a void, or empty space, | | | | bothers us. |