Why “8 Martial Arts Taught as One”? Why not focus on one style and get good at that?
There are benefits to both ways of training. In Oom Yung Doe we emphasize 8 martial arts to develop the entire body – externally and internally. Rather than solely working the strong areas of a person’s condition and ability students are required to challenge themselves in many ways. The unused parts of the body are the areas deteriorating the fastest and will eventually impact one’s overall state of well being. Developing your strong areas is where your skill and ability will be pronounced but training in the styles challenging for you, working the neglected parts of the body, is where you’ll see the most improvement in your overall condition. But you will be taught to excel in the areas you are most capable.
How much do I need to train?
2 - 3 times per week for 1 to 1.5 hours is enough time for steady, continuous development and improvement.
I am not interested in testing or achieving a certain level or belt.
Your main goal should be your improvement. As you improve you acquire a belt to represent your new level. Going through a test is a time to identify more clearly your strengths and weaknesses so you can develop even better. A student advances based on their own improvement, not how they compare to others. But having a goal of achieving a certain belt in a specific time frame is also good because the goal is not only the belt but, more importantly, a level of improvement and development. Another option is to train on a tai chi program if you are averse to testing.
The training seems expensive.
Most likely at some point in your life you are going to spend a lot of time and money on your mental and physical health. A fraction of that put into prevention can go a long way. Only you can determine the value of the training. But understand you are not paying for some movements, you are paying for a result. You sleep better, able to release negativity and toxins from many areas of the body, have more energy throughout the day, less stress during and after work, improved focus, feel more comfortable being able to defend yourself… Plus you have this knowledge to help you for the rest of your life.
Is there risk of injury?
Training in the school is very safe and there are protocols in place to help insure this. For example, when entering the practice area, students are taught to walk along the back wall to the changing areas and not cross in front of, or through, others while they are training. Students exercise control when practicing self defense with each other, full contact striking is done on a pad or bag, and you will learn how to fall properly before being thrown.
Do I need to be in shape to start?
The training will get you in shape. Your mental attitude is the only thing that matters when you start. Just be willing to try. A good instructor can teach anyone to develop.
Why do you teach weapons?
Weapon training enhances physical development but more importantly mental development. Increased concentration and focus is required when training with weapons and this develops one’s ability to concentrate and focus better along with increasing mental acuity and energy. Controlling your movement with a weapon utilizes more parts of your body and your brain.
Is this a Korean style?
Oom Yung Doe is from many areas of east Asia, primarily China. Grandmaster “Iron” Kim was the first Korean Oom Yung Doe master. The Korean flag in the school is a way of honoring the memory of him bringing this line of knowledge to the US.
It doesn’t look like you build strength.
Strength is an important part of development and skill and ability. Many of the positions incorporate your body weight to increase strength and can be quite challenging depending on how much strength you want, or need, to build.
I don’t want to bow to someone.
The bowing in the school is a traditional martial art form of greeting. It does not signify one person is higher or above another. Developing oneself is how a student shows respect. Bowing to the flags when entering the school or before a lesson begins is a moment to focus on oneself and what you are about to do, for students and instructors. None of us have enough time for ourselves and good mental focus allows us to benefit as much as we can in the time we have.
Your system includes training from Master level instructors. As a beginner isn’t it premature to think about learning from a Master?
It is not. A misconception is that higher level movement, or secret techniques, are very difficult. This is not true. In many cases they are the simplest. A movement is considered a higher level technique if it generates faster, deeper development. Often this is accomplished by learning things like balancing when to move fast and when to move slow, how to time the movement, what part of the body generates the movement, what part of the body to relax, or tense, to create stability, etc. This is where the Master and the Master Level Teaching Team excel. Because of their teaching experience, understanding of different body types, and their knowledge of the movements, a short session usually results in accelerated development and increased understanding the student will be applying to many things as they move forward.
I see a lot of martial arts online, why shouldn’t I just copy that?
There are a lot of good martial artists and techniques demonstrated online. What is usually not shown, apart from the skill, is how they achieved it. A good demonstration with a weapon was not gained by simply doing the sequence shown repeatedly. Foundational techniques are needed to develop strength and flexibility in the body to move in and out of the positions with balance, endurance training is needed to be able to move comfortably, amongst other things. And not everyone starts at the same point so an instructor is needed to identify which areas, and which order, the student should train in.
There are benefits to both ways of training. In Oom Yung Doe we emphasize 8 martial arts to develop the entire body – externally and internally. Rather than solely working the strong areas of a person’s condition and ability students are required to challenge themselves in many ways. The unused parts of the body are the areas deteriorating the fastest and will eventually impact one’s overall state of well being. Developing your strong areas is where your skill and ability will be pronounced but training in the styles challenging for you, working the neglected parts of the body, is where you’ll see the most improvement in your overall condition. But you will be taught to excel in the areas you are most capable.
How much do I need to train?
2 - 3 times per week for 1 to 1.5 hours is enough time for steady, continuous development and improvement.
I am not interested in testing or achieving a certain level or belt.
Your main goal should be your improvement. As you improve you acquire a belt to represent your new level. Going through a test is a time to identify more clearly your strengths and weaknesses so you can develop even better. A student advances based on their own improvement, not how they compare to others. But having a goal of achieving a certain belt in a specific time frame is also good because the goal is not only the belt but, more importantly, a level of improvement and development. Another option is to train on a tai chi program if you are averse to testing.
The training seems expensive.
Most likely at some point in your life you are going to spend a lot of time and money on your mental and physical health. A fraction of that put into prevention can go a long way. Only you can determine the value of the training. But understand you are not paying for some movements, you are paying for a result. You sleep better, able to release negativity and toxins from many areas of the body, have more energy throughout the day, less stress during and after work, improved focus, feel more comfortable being able to defend yourself… Plus you have this knowledge to help you for the rest of your life.
Is there risk of injury?
Training in the school is very safe and there are protocols in place to help insure this. For example, when entering the practice area, students are taught to walk along the back wall to the changing areas and not cross in front of, or through, others while they are training. Students exercise control when practicing self defense with each other, full contact striking is done on a pad or bag, and you will learn how to fall properly before being thrown.
Do I need to be in shape to start?
The training will get you in shape. Your mental attitude is the only thing that matters when you start. Just be willing to try. A good instructor can teach anyone to develop.
Why do you teach weapons?
Weapon training enhances physical development but more importantly mental development. Increased concentration and focus is required when training with weapons and this develops one’s ability to concentrate and focus better along with increasing mental acuity and energy. Controlling your movement with a weapon utilizes more parts of your body and your brain.
Is this a Korean style?
Oom Yung Doe is from many areas of east Asia, primarily China. Grandmaster “Iron” Kim was the first Korean Oom Yung Doe master. The Korean flag in the school is a way of honoring the memory of him bringing this line of knowledge to the US.
It doesn’t look like you build strength.
Strength is an important part of development and skill and ability. Many of the positions incorporate your body weight to increase strength and can be quite challenging depending on how much strength you want, or need, to build.
I don’t want to bow to someone.
The bowing in the school is a traditional martial art form of greeting. It does not signify one person is higher or above another. Developing oneself is how a student shows respect. Bowing to the flags when entering the school or before a lesson begins is a moment to focus on oneself and what you are about to do, for students and instructors. None of us have enough time for ourselves and good mental focus allows us to benefit as much as we can in the time we have.
Your system includes training from Master level instructors. As a beginner isn’t it premature to think about learning from a Master?
It is not. A misconception is that higher level movement, or secret techniques, are very difficult. This is not true. In many cases they are the simplest. A movement is considered a higher level technique if it generates faster, deeper development. Often this is accomplished by learning things like balancing when to move fast and when to move slow, how to time the movement, what part of the body generates the movement, what part of the body to relax, or tense, to create stability, etc. This is where the Master and the Master Level Teaching Team excel. Because of their teaching experience, understanding of different body types, and their knowledge of the movements, a short session usually results in accelerated development and increased understanding the student will be applying to many things as they move forward.
I see a lot of martial arts online, why shouldn’t I just copy that?
There are a lot of good martial artists and techniques demonstrated online. What is usually not shown, apart from the skill, is how they achieved it. A good demonstration with a weapon was not gained by simply doing the sequence shown repeatedly. Foundational techniques are needed to develop strength and flexibility in the body to move in and out of the positions with balance, endurance training is needed to be able to move comfortably, amongst other things. And not everyone starts at the same point so an instructor is needed to identify which areas, and which order, the student should train in.