The Ryu

 

The Hyung of Tang Soo Do were influenced by Ryu, or styles.  

Weh Ga Ryu (Outside/External House Style). Weh Ga Ryu came from Southern Chinese Schools emphasizing speed, aggressiveness and dynamic action. Examples of the Weh Ga Ryu style are the Kee Cho Hyung, Pyung Ahn Hyung, and Bassai.

 

Another Ryu is Neh Ga Ryu (Inside/Internal House Style). Neh Ga Ryu came from Northern Chinese Schools emphasizing more deliberate technique, stability and fluid motion. Most of our advanced Hyung come from the Neh Ga Ryu, such as Nai Han Ji and Sip Su.
 

The third Ryu is the Joong Gan Ryu (Middle Way Style) This Ryu was a Korean influence due to the fact that they had to be versatile because of the threat of living between China and Japan. The traditional Tang Soo Do Hyung like the Yuk Ro Hyung and Chil Sung Hyung come from this style.
 

The types of moves in a Hyung are important to the character also. These techniques often represent something from nature. By symbolizing an animal in our Hyung we show a respect for nature, as we should for all life. The Joong Gan Ryu is not based on animal forms but on human/natural style of breathing.  Grandmaster Hwang Kee made special emphasis in teaching these styles of breathing to further develop Tang Soo Do training.  Your hyung is not truly Tang Soo unless these breathing techniques are accurately incorporated into your training.

In a later post we will talk about ho hop as it relates to this.

KJN

 

 

Message from my 2nd Teacher

I began training in Kyokushin karate in 1969.  These are my first two teachers.  On the left, Joe Deguzman and on the right Armando Carandang.  I was wearing a green uniform for outside summer classes.
These men began training in their homeland the Phillipines.  They were both Navy men who were stationed in New London.
Mr. Carandang was also a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Shorinji Kenpo as well as very experienced in Arnis De Mano (Phillipine stick fighting).  Often times we would meet him at his apartment and venture down to his basement for training.  One day when we arrived he had us dress in his new kendo armor.

This was to protect us from his full power blows during sparring.  He would swing our heavy bag away from himself and as it came towards him, he would fold it in half with his side kick.  

I have stayed in touch with him although he is currently living outside Washington, D.C.

I invited him to my eight dan graduation and I wanted to share a note from him.  Thank you Sir for helping me become the Black Belt and the man I am today.
We walk on the shoulders of our teachers.


From:  Armando Carandang
To:  Mike Bogdanski

Dear Mike

I deeply regret that I'll unable to attend your promotion due to distance and my recuperation.

I am extremely fortunate to have you as a student for more than forty one years.  You are an outstanding Martial Art student, a superb sensei and above all else a good and loyal friend.  Your dedication to the Martial Art are always in the highest caliber. You have met every challenge with distinction and can look back with justifiable pride on Martial Art.

Lita and I wish you and your family every success and happiness for the future.

Sincerely and with warmest regard,

Armando Carandang

Hyung Training

Hyung (Forms)

Forms are a fundamental and elemental part of our training. Ancient people had a deep interest in the development of forms as well as a profound understanding of them. Below is a quote from the Moo Yei Do Bo Tong Ji, which is the oldest documentation of Korean Martial Arts (300 Years), the author is unknown:
“Performing with hands and feet and conditioning the body is the beginning of the study of the art of Soo Bahk. In actual combat, form does not seem in an obvious way to be a necessary part of the martial arts. However practicing forms perfects the ability to perform hand and foot techniques freely. This is fundamental to making the best use of one’s body at all times.”
Basic to all martial arts is this: After the basic movements are learned they are applied to and transformed into forms. As established, traditional and clearly defined sets of steps, jumps, blocks, kicks and punches, each of the forms in our art has a unity and purposed. The elements which make up the character or personality of a form are as follows:

1. Form Sequence
2. Power Control
3. Tension and Relaxation
4. Speed and Rhythm Control
5. Direction of Movements
6. Spirit or Attitude
7. Power of Technique
8. Understanding Form Technique
9. Distinctive Features of the Form
10. Perfect Finish
11. Precision of Movements
12. Intentness

Promoted To 8th Dan

You can't imagine the feeling you get at this kind of promotion.
Here I am being presented my certificate to Pahl Dan by Grandmaster Estioko of Sacramento, California.  Grandmaster is the second American to be awarded Dan rank in Tang Soo Do.  I will post again later about his journey.

This was an amazing weekend.  Getting ready to run the Nationals,  Senior Master training with Kwan Jang Nim Estioko.  Promoted to 8th Dan with my long time friend and Tang Soo brother Wesley "Chipper" Jenkins.  An accomplishment of a lifetime!

I want to thank all my teachers.  I believe we stand on the shoulders of all of our teachers.
I will have to post some photos and comments about their teaching and my learning.
I want thank my wife for supporting me in this pursuit.
I especially want to thank my student, business partner and training partner Master Kristin Duethorn for her constant push to be a great Black Belt, which in turn forces me to be a great teacher.  Our workouts over the years have been rigorous and plentiful and together we have sought true Tang Soo Do and Moo Do training.

When I began training in martial arts, somewhere around green belt, a friend asked me how high a Black Belt I hoped to achieve.  After a little thought I said 3rd degree Black.  He asked how I came to that?  I responded, that is how high my teacher is.  One thing I have learned is that we can all do better than we think we can.

Writing this has brought on many more thoughts of things I would like to write about.  I will need to be more consistent with my blogging.

Thanks for the journey and the memories!


MB