SPIRIT MIND BODY
As I wrote it though, I started to see that this applied to a much broader viewpoint and the more I thought about it, the more I saw it applied to martial arts as a whole and then I wrote some more and thought about it more and realized it also reflected my views on life as well. So this week and in the next three weeks, I am going to go into detail on the three aspects that form the fundamental theory of Haidong Gumdo and how they can apply to everyone. I think they go beyond just Haidong Gumdo.
Today’s society is characterized by technology, information and globalization. We can stream television on nearly any device. We are bombarded by information from websites, emails, Facebook etc. and this puts a lot of stress on our lives. What is the last thing you do at night? Is it to say goodnight to someone you love, or look at Facebook on your phone? What is the first thing you do in the morning? Have a good breakfast or check your emails? We are more connected than ever but we are also less connected in some aspects as well.
The modern age has brought us some good things. I can communicate with some friends I made in trips to Korea or family overseas really easily. I have access to training drills and martial arts experts with a click of a button.
These are good things but it also has brought on other more negative aspects. Our faster pace lifestyle means that we have a lot going on so when we need to eat, fast is our friend. This attitude has meant that we eat more fast food and this has not helped our waistlines and leads to other weight based illnesses, trust me I know. The ability to watch TV or play games on nearly any device has the potential to lead us into a very sedentary life. Sitting on the couch is great, but it shouldn't be so often we leave a dent in our favourite chair. So although there are some great positive outcomes for living in the current age, there are some potential negatives as well.
Martial Arts offers a solution to some of these stresses though. Learning Taekwondo or Gumdo (or any martial art for that matter) offers physical training, etiquette, respect for others, self-control, meditation and breathing practices that all help to improve physical and mental health. Haidong Gumdo breaks these down into three categories, Spirit, Mind and Body.
The next series of blogs will look into each one of these in more detail and show you how it applies to more than just Haidong Gumdo, it applies to all martial arts and more importantly, how it applies to all aspects of your life.
Mark Underwood
Mark is a 4th Dan Master in both Taekwondo and Haidong Gumdo (Korean swords). He has also trained in other styles of martial arts. He is currently the owner and head instructor for Zone Martial Arts in Sydney, Australia.
Today’s society is characterized by technology, information and globalization. We can stream television on nearly any device. We are bombarded by information from websites, emails, Facebook etc. and this puts a lot of stress on our lives. What is the last thing you do at night? Is it to say goodnight to someone you love, or look at Facebook on your phone? What is the first thing you do in the morning? Have a good breakfast or check your emails? We are more connected than ever but we are also less connected in some aspects as well.
The modern age has brought us some good things. I can communicate with some friends I made in trips to Korea or family overseas really easily. I have access to training drills and martial arts experts with a click of a button.
These are good things but it also has brought on other more negative aspects. Our faster pace lifestyle means that we have a lot going on so when we need to eat, fast is our friend. This attitude has meant that we eat more fast food and this has not helped our waistlines and leads to other weight based illnesses, trust me I know. The ability to watch TV or play games on nearly any device has the potential to lead us into a very sedentary life. Sitting on the couch is great, but it shouldn't be so often we leave a dent in our favourite chair. So although there are some great positive outcomes for living in the current age, there are some potential negatives as well.
Martial Arts offers a solution to some of these stresses though. Learning Taekwondo or Gumdo (or any martial art for that matter) offers physical training, etiquette, respect for others, self-control, meditation and breathing practices that all help to improve physical and mental health. Haidong Gumdo breaks these down into three categories, Spirit, Mind and Body.
The next series of blogs will look into each one of these in more detail and show you how it applies to more than just Haidong Gumdo, it applies to all martial arts and more importantly, how it applies to all aspects of your life.
Mark Underwood
Mark is a 4th Dan Master in both Taekwondo and Haidong Gumdo (Korean swords). He has also trained in other styles of martial arts. He is currently the owner and head instructor for Zone Martial Arts in Sydney, Australia.
