Technique and Skill – There is no End. By: Koby Bernard November 28th, 2011   Technique and skill are two interrelated factors that together, form the backbone of a strong martial spirit. Technique can be described as the utilization of one’s mind and body, in harmony, to create a desired result. Skill is the product of hard work and repetition to achieve a goal. Technique is a product of skill. Technique and skill are two variables in an equation that ends with perfection. However those who are more inclined to math than I, would frown upon this equation because it is circular. There is no end. Perfection is a concept. It is not a real thing. Take a line for example. There are many things in our world that are lines, street lines, linear regression lines on graphs, and the Equator are all examples of lines. There is however no perfect line. A perfect line, mathematically speaking, is not curved and is infinite. A line is like martial artists, there are many great ones, but not one who is perfect. In the equation of technique+skill=perfection, the final product is never concrete, it is never final, and always slightly beyond our grasp. This begs the question, why continually develop technique and skill if there is no definite end? The fact of the matter is that there is an end, there are many in fact. Life is full of ends, goals, and achievements. How we apply ourselves to the development of them and what we do after realizing them is the real “end.” Those who claim perfection in their work, and believe that they have achieved their desired goal or “end” could benefit from looking at what they have gained from the process and what they will do with the skills that they have gained. Skills and techniques can lay dormant until needed. Oftentimes, they will slowly wither away if left unused. Life is a process of progression, to meet a definite end would mean an end to every bit of personal development that went into its process. Life is not like this. If an end product is realized or a goal is met, we continue on, using skills developed along the way and adapting them to future challenges and situations. One should not look at the seemingly dismal prospect of never achieving perfection as never reaching an end, but rather as reaching a number of ends along a path of self-betterment inherent in the passionate pursuit of perfection. A definite end is a narrow-minded construct bred by those who lack vision. It is a sad artifice present in nearly all goal driven cultures. The development of skills and techniques is often used as a means to an end. These skills and techniques, whether they be in the form of powerful oratory, mathematics, or leadership do not merely disappear upon realizing an end. They stick with the person that devolved them and shine through to some degree in every facet of that person’s existence. Developing skills and techniques go hand in hand with reaching goals and achieving ends, but never will they constitute perfection. Never will skill and technique lead us to a definite end. There is always room for more. An old idiom tells us that in all of life’s twists and turns, it is the journey that counts, not the destination. This is especially pertinent to the subject at hand. The development of mind and body should be ongoing. There is always room for improvement. This train of thought can translate to nearly everything in life. For example, if an architect were to say that he created the perfect angle in a structure, I would challenge him to think how could he have improved upon the process of building it so that in the future he may create the structure in a more efficient manner. There are always ways to make a process faster or better. Because of this it is unclear as to when perfection is actually met, ergo, there is no perfection, only a constant cycle of one-upmanship. This may seem counterproductive, and somewhat defeatist at face value, but combined with a certain mindset, one can strive for perfection, never achieve it, and thrive. The process of developing technique and skill is what matters in life. Perfection may never be achieved, but by realizing that it will always be out of reach, accepting that fact, and moving past it, we can improve ourselves to no end. Apathy is the ultimate enemy of skill and technique. It can eat away at what we have achieved and destroy what might have been. To be content with the status quo is not necessarily a bad thing, but with it, comes a weakening of will and stamina. The things that we have worked so hard for: knowledge, self-discipline, respect, and physique, can melt away as quick as an iceberg drifting through the sea. Contemporary views of technique and skill generally focus on it being a means to an end rather than a constant and ever-evolving process. This is not necessarily a bad thing. There comes a time, when all our hard work comes to a head and a desired outcome is either met or left unachieved. It is at this point that we must make a choice. Do we let ourselves sit with how things are, or do we venture forth with the same vigor and passion that got us to where we are, if for nothing else, at least to see where we end up. A true martial artist cannot sit still, cannot rest, just as a successful business person, cannot elevate himself in the social strata and expect to maintain his position for long if he quits managing his assets. Those who stand by the wayside and let opportunities slide by, are destined to be surpassed by those who continually reach with unyielding drive for excellence. This is not to say that skill and technique will fade away if no effort is made to better one’s self. Sometimes it is best to sit back and maintain what you already have. Sometimes it is necessary. Very few people can maintain a constant drive for self-betterment. This is both physically and mentally taxing and can burn a person out. Knowing when to give yourself a break and sit on what you already know or have accomplished requires skill in and of itself. This points to yet another layer of skill and technique. The intra-personal manifestation of these concepts is crucial in understanding both their importance and origins. Within a strong-minded person, ideas often lay dormant, surpassed by the harsh realities of everyday life. Dreams are dashed upon the rocks of social difference before they get a chance to take flight. When a person decides to bring mentality to reality, certain changes must occur within themselves. Mental skills begin to form as we strive towards out goals. For example, if a martial artist looks to earn their next belt, they must develop concrete and tangible skills. What is often taken for granted are the intangible skills that form within us along this journey. It is easy to become transfixed by the visual motion of skills in action. Kicks, blocks, and punches are all physical and dynamic. They tend to draw attention from the fact that beneath the skin lies an infinite world of intangible, often subconscious skills that allow thoughts to transfer into motion.  At any given time, during the application of our skills, millions of synapses fire in our brain allowing us to form complex thought and react to a number of situations. The ways in which we develop these neuro-functions determines what skills we will possess and how effectively we will be able to draw upon them when needed. Skill and technique manifest themselves in every facet of our existence. Like a stream, skill and technique originate in the mind and flow through the body, eventually becoming many different things. Any respectable martial arts practitioner can harness the mental and physical aspects of their skill and apply them to a variety of challenges. Difficult deadlines, strenuous work, household stress, and physical ailments can all be brought in check by a strong martial attitude. The martial spirit is not impeded by difficulty, but rather thrives on it, even if not at first. Dealing with adversity can be a challenge for even the strongest of minds, but with the creative application of well-developed skills, there are very few poor situations that we cannot either turn for the better or surpass altogether. Author Vivian Greene once stated, "Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain." This becomes especially poignant when dealing with common injustices of everyday life. Seldom do sudden catastrophes or freak accidents lead people to become unhappy. Most often this is caused by the repetition of slowly destructive little things. When a person possesses skills and techniques that allow them to increase their quality of life, the amount of slowly destructive little things such as alcoholism, poor health, and depression can be greatly decreased. There are a great deal of limiting factors that can affect the development of skill and technique. Of these, healthy living is one of the largest. This is a blanket term that encompasses diet and lifestyle. A martial artist must be especially proactive in taking care of his or her body. Heavy drinking and smoking most immediately affect one’s cardiovascular system and are a very common limiting factor for young athletes. These activities will slow a person down substantially over time, and affect balance and body mass index (BMI) as one’s level of physical fitness beings to decrease. If muscles that were once free to move and grow are hindered by body fat and lack of oxygen, workouts and practices will become less and less effective at developing skill and technique. It is difficult to say which attribute begins to decline first. It can be argued that skill forms the mental basis for all technique. For argument sake, let us limit this hypothetic to the skill and technique of a martial artist. When the body begins a slow death spiral into unhealthiness, wind and mental capacity are most immediately affected. These play directly into the physical expression of a martial artist’s technique. Mental capacity and cognitive ability will decline slowly, however it only takes the slightest decrease in one’s mental processing ability to mean the difference between a win and a loss in continuous point sparring when split second reactions are a prerequisite. When we begin to let our bodies slip into disrepair or become unhealthy, technique and skill will decrease in unison. You cannot have one without the other. The nature of skill and technique is symbiotic on a number of levels. They interplay with one another, as well as with the mind and body to form one whole functioning unit. As skills develop and techniques are honed, we notice this and how people react to what we can do. This forms a process in which we self-evaluate. We then form conclusions about how we believe our peers perceive us. The outcome of these two processes leads people to change themselves or be content with the status quo. This is one of many ways in which skill and technique can contribute one’s overall wellbeing and mental health. When it comes to physical health, skill and technique weave together perfectly, allowing us to use our minds in conjunction with our bodies to complete physically grueling tasks and activities. While unhealthy people can let their skill and technique fall apart, they can just as soon draw upon past experience to re-develop skills and techniques that have faded away. The reimplementation of old ways of living and routines, that once honed the mind and body can bring a person’s skills and techniques back into their prime. The body is a truly incredible machine. It can change drastically in a relatively short amount of time and endure incredible hardships. Most people take pride in skills and techniques they hold, or once held dear. This pride can become an impetus for restoring their bodies and minds to a desired state of being.  When we internalize skill and technique as parts of ourselves that we love and take pride in, they become powerful driving forces in keeping our body functioning. Unhealthy people seeking to get back in shape need only look to their past to affect their future. A great deal of motivation can be derived from a desire to redevelop lost skill and techniques that an unhealthy lifestyle has affected. The quality of one’s character is in large part a product of attitude and mindset. The martial attitude is a mindset derived from countless hours of well-honed and focused thought. This mindset can be viewed as an independent variable, with skill and technique being dependent variables, seeing as they are constantly influenced by the thoughts, goals, and ambitions that form the backbone of a strong martial attitude. Mindset is key to developing skill and technique. Without hard work, the ways in which we strive to better ourselves will never blossom and grow. Hard work and dedication go hand in hand. Dedication can only be maintained with the proper mental tools at one’s disposal. Put in layman’s terms, these mental tools form a model for the development of skill and technique. A strong martial attitude is the culmination of a mindset that allows one to be determined and strive toward goals. Along the path to achieving said goals, we develop skill. Thus, technique becomes the manifestation of skill in a physical form. Our bodies and minds possess near infinite capacity for self-betterment. Together, skill and technique, in both mental and physical forms, combine to accentuate every fiber of our being well through the end of our days. The nature of skill and technique, simply put, is unyielding.  My Pil Sung, My Indomitable Spirit By: Evonne Arlene Hawe   Modesty * Etiquette * Perseverance * Self-Control * Indomitable Spirit *     When I started Tae Kwon Do it was two-fold.  One was to spend time and do something with my daughter and the other was to get some physical exercise.  Ultimately it was an opportunity to do something together.  My daughter wanted to try it out and I was intrigued with the thought of learning something new.  We decided to start together and I would go to classes with her as she was a bit nervous about it.  We both agreed that if we did not enjoy it, we would stop.  She knew that if I did not like it and she did then she could continue and I would support her along the way.    I also knew I had to try to do something for myself as I was getting lost in a world of being a single parent with no identity.  I had spent a lot of years putting myself aside and believed this was an opportunity to change an old behavior.  For me, changing an old behavior is putting it mildly. In some ways it was more than letting go, it was like a death.  My life revolved around going to work, taking care of household duties and yard work and being responsible for my child.  Knowing that I had very little opportunity to actually spend time with my child after working all day, I tried to spend every free moment with her.  I felt guilty even considering doing something for me that meant spending time away from her.  I didn’t want to miss any milestones she would have and I wanted her to know her mom was always here for her.  I had begun to question “who was I”, and “where did the part of me go that loved to be active”.    When I first started Taekwondo, I (probably like most people) felt very self-conscious about shouting at the top of my voice in front of a collection of new people. There were other people in the class that were higher belts who were fairly quiet. On the other hand, there were some people there making more than enough noise for the entire class. It only took a few classes and I decided I wasn't going to be the quietest in the class. Funny enough, while I see myself as quite self-conscious, once I started using a loud Kihap, I actually felt more comfortable in the class. The fear that everyone else would start laughing turned out to be...irrational. From time to time I might get it slightly wrong, and a girlish scream might escape causing the odd snicker, but no matter what I continued on.   In an attempt to learn more about Tae Kwon Do, I decided to look up what Kihap means and why do people do it.  Was there more to it than just making a loud noise in class?   The word Kihap comes from the Korean martial art Tae Kwon Do and is a war cry.  The word consists of 2 parts, Ki – meaning “force/energy” and hap – meaning “bring             together/combine or coordinate”.  So if you put the meanings together you come up with something like “to combine energy”.  A Kihap allows the spiritual and physical energies of the martial artist to unite.  It is a guttural sound, meaning it comes from the gut - not the throat, as some may think. More like grunting - rather than yelling - a Kihap is the release of energy from deep within that enables the martial artist to direct focus to the task at hand.   Many clubs encourage all participants to Kihap loudly, and aggressively. It really works and is an important thing to get right because:   A loud Kihap right at the beginning of sparring helps you channel up some controlled aggression, and if done right will put fear into the heart of your opponent. A Kihap before performing a break channels energy and focus as well as sets up confidence to follow through. Kihap when striking (either with the fist or foot). The exhalation of air helps in channeling energy, and stops you getting winded if you're counter struck by your opponent.  A Kihap also helps to generate power and focus our energy on the target in front of us. During sparring and self-defense, “Kihaps" can also be used as self-defense and may often cause an attacker to momentarily pause in their attack.  Kihaps" are used to insure that the abdominal muscles are tensed and able to withstand a blow. When being hit, we Kihap to absorb the impact and lessen its effects. During forms and weapons presentation, Kihap exhibits focus and control during the execution of techniques. A Kihap forces you to breathe - some students seem to forget to do this at times!  Kihap expends air from the abdomen, which aids the breathing process. Though Kihap is a simple concept, it is one of the most difficult for martial artists to master. A symbol of martial arts self-expression, your Kihap is your own...make it so!   Proper breathing technique or breath control, is another important concept, and will not only improve one’s stamina and speed, but will also focus the power of a technique. Correct breathing in martial arts is performed using the diaphragm. A sharp exhaling of breath during movement, with a sudden stop on impact of technique tenses the abdomen and maximizes power and effort of delivery.   Since starting Tae Kwon Do I have had to learn about my voice (Kihaps) and my breathing and my whole thought processes have begun to change.  I’ve actually had moments where I felt my left and right brain integrate.  I’ve become less judgmental towards others but mostly towards myself.  I’ve spent many a day being hard on myself but between Tae Kwon Do and the instructor this is getting better.  I’ve learned that there is always more to learn in Tae Kwon Do and there is no perfection.  I’ve come to value the mistakes because they teach me humility and allow me to know I can correct them to become better.   I’ve learned to value the positives in others and let any negative qualities I see in them, fall to the side while being cautious of their behavior.  I can learn from their weakness and their strengths, incorporating their strengths into my life and Tae Kwon Do.   Tae Kwon Do, to me, is a way of life, taking me full circle.  It’s a way to live, a way to think, a way to feel and it is a death.  In many ways the death has to come first.  I have to allow the death of my ego, my perfectionism, my judgments, my fear.  Allowing the death of an old way of being in order to connect spiritually with the creator, God and birth a new life.  In doing so, I begin to take a new path and institute a new mantra into my life.  That mantra is Pil Sung – which means Certain Victory, Indomitable Spirit.  As long as I move forward I will always have these and live them.   My White belt was about a fresh start, a new beginning in my life. My only intention was to wear that belt.  Seeing another belt on me was never the goal.  I was happy just “being”.  In many ways it satisfied my urge to analyze and strive for perfection.  I had no clue where Tae Kwon Do would take me but I knew I needed to “be” on that path.   My Yellow belt was a representation of heaven and light.  As I learned my first Poomse, a light literally was switched on.  That switch was connected to my passion.  When one’s passion is ignited, one is connected to heaven.  I knew I loved Tae Kwon Do in my soul.   My Yellow with a Green Stripe belt represents joy and image of a lake.  For me that meant seeing the importance of being calm and yet seeing every ripple on the lake was an opportunity to overcome obstacles and bumps in the road and still have my joy.  To be able to see the stillness of a lake and the ripples as blessings and learning opportunities, are monumental to me.  I am seeing the importance of calm and relaxation in Poomse and sparring but I have yet to learn it. I have yet to figure out how to incorporate it into my Tae Kwon Do journey.   Learning and incorporating this is characteristic of and significant in my journey in Tae Kwon Do and my daily life.  I had set backs with physical injuries as well as times I felt like I wasn’t learning or moving forward.  I had to persevere and as I did, the light switch would turn on and once again the passion was ignited and I was back to my beginnings.  It felt new yet familiar and comfortable.   My Green belt represents fire.  Before receiving this belt I had begun to break boards.  I believe that was the beginning of my fire igniting.  It helped keep the passion ignited.   Again it was characteristic of my life.  I felt something powerful within, a warmth that felt like home.  It was just the beginning of that fire, a small flicker that was waiting for me.  As I progressed through the Green belt I have learned that fire can provide warmth and comfort and it can harm.  The same process was awakened within me emotionally and psychologically.  It takes special care to carry the fire.   One has to get close enough to draw upon its warmth without burning.  This has been a challenge in each aspect of my life.  In Tae Kwon Do, how do I utilize the smoothness of the warmth to transition each movement in a Poomse and maintain the quickness of the flicker of the fire?  I believe to do this I still need to incorporate the calmness and relaxation from my previous belt, the image of the lake.  As I practice my requirements again, I feel the light switch go on with some of the movements I have been struggling to complete.  And once again I am back at the beginning moving through how each belt level prior presents itself in this green belt in a new way.  I recognize the importance of the heel movement, the strength of the hip placement and am reminded of the consequence of focus and eye attention.  I still strive for incorporating the relaxation with each one.   As I was looking at the requirement for the Green with a Blue Stripe belt, I saw that it represents Thunder.  I tried to contemplate what that meant to me and yet I knew it is a process that unfolds as I move through the belt, not before.  Contemplating it before receiving the belt would be time spent unwisely especially before I experience it.  I realized there are elements in my Green belt that I would benefit from focusing on.  Earning a belt is a great responsibility, one that should not be taken lightly.  I realize I am still learning how fire or in this case speed and agility play a role in Tae Kwon Do for me.  I tend to focus on the technical aspects and forget the strength and power of speed and agility.  Through this realization I would like to allow the fire, speed/agility to become more a part of me.    Before my test for Green with a Blue Stripe, I contemplated testing but with no belt increase.  I thought I should be humble, stay at my current Green belt level and allow the fire to settle in and learn to allow and accept it, while I move mentally into the next phase of my Tae Kwon Do journey, or what I believe is my Pil Sung (Certain Victory/Indomitable Spirit).  While I was sitting and pondering the application for my Green with a Blue Stripe belt, I recalled both where I started and where I could go.  I realized for me, Tae Kwon Do is about a spiritual journey that connects my body and spirit in to one, integrating the two halves of my brain, thus raising me on a spiritual plane that can only be felt and not explained.  It repeats itself with each belt level I transcend, encompassing all prior belt meanings into the current belt in a whole new way.   The Green with a Blue Stripe belt represents Thunder.  When I think of Thunder, I ponder the meaning to me.  To me it has 2 voices, one being a slow rumble heard from a distance, letting you know it is there.  The other is loud and quick, an” in your face” type of event that shakes the very ground you stand on.  As I translate this into my Tae Kwon Do journey, I see it as knowing when and how to move and to use the Khiap in accordance with it.    Usually with my Kihaps that happen at the end of a Poomse, I tend to allow it to be loud and lasting for a couple seconds.  It commands attention just as a loud thunder does. I learned with one of my Poomse where I Kihap during the middle of it, that it is much more effective to allow it to be loud but quick.  This lets others know I am there and to keep watching as more is to come.   In Poomse, it would be a knowing when a movement is more sharp and powerful and in Sparring, knowing when to be more aggressive or calculated.  The aggressive part is one I have struggled with because I associate it with being mean.  As I have moved through this belt I have begun to look at it more as a way to stand up for myself, to protect myself and let my voice be heard in a new way.  In Tae Kwon Do I am learning how to use it to reach for my opponent when I spar and incorporate the quickness of the flicker of the fire.   The Blue belt represents Wind.  For me Wind incorporates the Fire and Thunder in terms of a movement and a sound.  The movement is that of one being very quiet and soothing like a gentle breeze that caresses your skin or can be powerful and destructive.  In Poomse, it is knowing when to utilize a more relaxed or powerful movement and always having the grace of Self Control, one of the five tenets of Tae Kwon Do.  The five tenets of Tae Kwon Do are universal and are about a way of life.   I have learned that sometimes I look through things and need to really look at them, for it is looking at them that in Tae Kwon Do that I can make more calculated moves and incorporate the breathing and relaxation into life.  I have learned that for me there is a fear in looking at things as it involves being much more present.  And when I do this when I Spar I tend to have a fear of hurting my opponent or getting hurt and I lose the Self Control I strive for.  I have looked at some of my stances and realize that with some of them I tend to lean back rather than forward which for me puts me at a disadvantage and affects my movements and self-confidence.  I think this is where the Self Control part of the tenants comes into play for me.  It is about knowing what my body can do and utilizing it to the best of its abilities.  It is also about being able to see what my opponent is doing and moving one’s body in a corresponding dance that utilizes each of the meanings of the previous belts.   With Self Control it is allowing the light to be turned on, knowing when to and how to use the calmness and relaxation, knowing when to flicker like a flame and when to strike, being soft or loud and in one’s face.  As I look at it, it all falls into place with perseverance, practice and being present.  I find myself wanting all of this to fall in place now or as I achieve each belt and yet I am learning that it truly is a process that comes when my mind and body are ready.  It is a journey that plays out not only in Tae Kwon Do but also in my everyday life and relationships.  I wish I could be more conscious about it as I move through each moment in my day and yet I know if I hold on to my Pilsung-Indomitable Spirit, I will be able to tune into it in a moment’s thought.   Right before my test for my Blue Belt, I was physically attacked at work.  I spent almost two years on a journey of recovery and healing from it.  I realize it affected me pretty significantly physically of which I continue to have challenges and may for the rest of my life. I also experienced challenges mentally as well.  For me this is huge when it comes to incorporating Perseverance, one of the five tenets of TKD.  I have experienced this other times throughout classes when I felt at a standstill but this particular time it was more life altering.  I seemed to have lost the passion I once held so dearly, questioning who I am and went down a path of judging myself and being critical of and questioning what I actually learned in life and Tae Kwon Do and can I really apply it.  You see, I thought if I knew Tae Kwon Do well enough, then I would never have got attacked or hurt.  I believe everything happens for a reason and I have to stop and ponder the deeper meaning of all of this.  It is an internal shift that begins on a spiritual level that is only something felt and has few words to explain.  It is one that will come when it is time as trying to pry it out will only prolong the discomfort.  It so resembles the movement and flow of water, meaning that it takes the path of least resistance and trying to change it only creates more problems up stream.  It is amazing how each belt somehow melds from the previous and into the next without any conscious understanding of how it works.   As I look at the meaning of the Blue with a Red Stripe belt, which is water, I pause to review how it applies to my life.  Water that does not move becomes stagnant and unhealthy and a breeding ground for problems.  Water that moves and flows increases oxygen and carves its own path.  As I continue my journey, I realize it not only resembles water that moves and flows but has its moments where I have felt stagnant.  The past year has been representative of all of the elements of water and my physical journey has led me to many different experiences with water.  I have sailed on incredibly rough waters and learned to kayak in some of the calmest, most peaceful water that allow me to reflect on who I am.  I have taken in the power of whitewater rafting and learned how fear and excitement can feel similar and to channel the excitement and use it to move forward in my journey of self- discovery.  It is quite powerful to look back and see how my spirit has been reflective in both my personal life and my journey in Tae Kwon Do.  As I review it in relationship to Tae Kwon Do, I see how the experiences of calm are as important in both Sparring and Poomse as are any fast powerful movements.  If one was to only have the fast powerful movements, then someone could expand so much energy that they would burn themselves out, giving the opponent all the more opportunity to win.   My journey continues with my Red Belt.  The meaning is mountain.  For me, being on a mountain is as spiritual as being in water.  As I test for this belt, I know it will bring me one step closer to uniting the physical and spiritual life.  Until next time – Pil Sung.