Division
6. How to Weapon
Chapter
45
The
Harmony of Point, Straight Line and Circle
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“Why is pose important
in Taekwondo?”
“Because the power of Taekwondo arises from temperance
based upon proper pose.”
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Correct Taekwondo motion combines point, straight line and
circle in one to form multi-dimensional action. Thus, in the
ultimately complete motion, it is not that a point, a straight
line and a circle are mixed in a movement but that each of them
is the same in oneness. Generally speaking, all things right
are the same as all things beautiful. In this we see that the
beauty of Taekwondo is connected to its rightness.
It is often said that a circular motion is smooth so it should
always be central, but this is nothing more than a fragmentary
notion. The smoothness of a circle can be effectively cut by
the sharpness of a straight line, and nothing can be better
than a point in terms of unrestrictedness. You can reach the
right Taekwondo only when you are not attached to principles
but rather free from them. Thus, it is the Yae (Art) of following
Taekwondo to move in the harmony of the oneness of those all
encompassing three; then the right motion of Taekwondo in oneness
of point, straight line and circle will not be restricted to
a plane but be multi-dimensional, and therefore it is the most
changeful.
Since Taekwondo is the oneness harmonized of those three factors
and following the way of Samjae, another aspect of Samjae can
be manifested here by point, straight line and circle. The hardness
and softness mediate and dwell within them to appear in boundlessly
changeful modes. Point corresponds to Haneul (Heaven) because
it resembles the boundlessness of the Heaven; circle corresponds
to Tang (Earth) because it resembles the obedience and the comprehensiveness
of the Earth; and the straight line corresponds to Saram (Man)
because it resembles the angularity of the man’s will.
Observing them in a more detailed way, point, as it resembles
Heaven, is unrestricted with no shape so that it exists everywhere,
hence it also resembles Do. Accordingly, the way of Haneul,
which puts everything in its own place, seeks the position of
everything at every time with the precision of the point. On
the other hand, the straight line is firm, swift and sharp so
that its haste resembles the man’s will while the circle
is soft but firm, so that it does not resist anything. Therefore,
the way of Tang is to harmonize oneself with the world just
as the two halves of a circle are different yet harmonized into
the whole. The way of Saram is to maintain your intention in
harmony with the straightness of a beeline. When all of these
compose a perfect One then the power of your motion will become
not immense but rather the most ideal.
In all of these three the hardness and softness are connected
and harmonized as one. A straight line can become curved because
the curve is made by the straight line and the straight line
is within the curve. Every motion being the same, each can transform
into straight or curved under the control of your mind and according
to your need. At the same time, however, the straight line and
the curve differ from one another, each of which derives from
a part of a circle, so they are same when the Taekwondo leading
them controls both in one; while they differ when the opponent
of Taekwondo is subdued in different ways by each.
Speaking of the difference, an actual straight line has limited
length, finite on both ends, while a circle is also finite and
yet endless. The straight line that has its limit with clear
ends leads temperate and concise motions; the circle that is
finite but endless leads lifelike motions that flow continuously.
Thus, a straight movement, as it is swift and sharp, can attain
the opponent’s body in a movement despite the opponent’s
opposition. Light travels so fast because it follows the efficient
precision of a straight line. A punching motion in Taekwondo
may serve as an example. A loose motion that does not maintain
a straight line will be slow, and thus unable to pass the opponent’s
defenses.
On the other hand, a circle has in itself the principle of
correct motion in its nature of harmonizing the many into One.
A certain part stands opposite to another in a circle yet they
are finally united in an entity with no angles. Its motion does
not have the parts opposed each to the other yet promotes their
harmony. Here the falling technique in Taekwondo may be taken
as an example. Its basic form is a circular motion. In this,
the earth and your body, composing this part and that part of
a circle, do not harm one another if they maintain a circular
harmony. We can add another point to the falling technique.
Using your hand or foot you can mitigate the shock of hitting
the ground, based on the principle of replacing your life with
a part of your body. Therefore, when you have your opponent
opposed to the world you control them in straight movements,
while when you mix yourself in between them you make your motion
circular. All of the movements should be led by the unrestricted
point.
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