Martial arts Style Hwa Rang Do

Intro: Hwa Rang Do is a comprehensive, modern, eclectic martial arts
system encompassing unarmed combat, weaponry, internal training and healing
techniques.

Origin: Korea

History:
In March 1942, the founder of Hwa Rang Do, Dr. Joo Bang Lee and
his brother, Joo Sang Lee were introduced to the Buddhist monk Suahm Dosa
by their father, who was a personal friend of the monk, and they began
their formal training aged 5 & 6.
The brothers lived and trained as students under the monk on
the weekends and during school vacations and also trained in other
martial arts when they were unable to train under Suahm Dosa. Influences
includes Boxing, Yudo, Komdo, and Kongsoodo. In addition, the Lee
brothers studied Hapkido under GM Choi Yong Sool.

In April 1960 Dr. Joo Bang Lee claims to have created his martial art by
combining Suham Dosa's techniques with the other systems he had trained.
He choose the name Hwa Rang Kwan to describe his system and this also
is thought to be the first time that Hwa Rang was used in connection
with unarmed Korean martial arts.

Since there is no way of knowing if the techniques Suahm Dosa taught the
brothers actually was the martial art of the Silla Hwa Rang, or another
form of monk martial art, Dr. Joo Bang Lee says he wanted to "combine
the spirit and philosophy of the Hwa Rang with his martial arts knowledge".
In 1962, the Lee Brother's founded the Korean Martial Arts Association
(Han Kuk Mu Sul Hwe - shortened name Kuk Sul Hwe). Due to various
conflicts within the leadership of the Korean Martial Arts Association
it was disbanded in 1966 and its original members started their own
respective organizations.

Following this dissolution, Dr. Joo Bang Lee concentrated his efforts
solely on the development of his own martial arts system. He called it Hwa
Rang Do, "The Way of the Flowering Manhood".

In 1968, Head Grandmaster Joo Sang Lee taught Hapkido and Hwa Rang Do in
the USA. Dr. Joo Bang Lee became the system's "Supreme Grandmaster" upon
Suahm Dosa's death in 1969. He immigrated to the USA in 1972 and later
founded the World Hwa Rang Do Association. Today World Hwa Rang Do
Association is headquartered in Downey, California (USA). Joo Sang Lee is
no longer involved with JB Lee's Hwa Rang Do.

Kim, Myung Man of Australia also independently named his art Hwa Rang Do.
Kim Myung Man's teaching are based on his training in Chang Moo Kwan and
his training with the military. As with JB Lee's Hwa Rang Do, Kim's material
is a derivative of Hapkido, has a focus on full-power fighting techniques,
covert skills and Ki cultivation.

Description: JB Lee's Hwa Rang Do is a combination of UM (soft/circular
movement) and YANG (hard/linear movement), making it a very diversified
and comprehensive martial art. The Mu Sul (martial aspects) of Hwa Rang Do
can be further explained in four distinct - though interconnecting - paths
of study.

NAE GONG - deals with developing, controlling, and directing one's Ki,
or internal energy force, through breathing and meditation exercises in
conjunction with specific physical techniques. Due to the exercises'
internal nature, they demand patience and concentration.

WAE GONG - Wae gong includes more than 4000 offensive and defensive
combative applications. Combining elements predominantly tense and
linear in nature with those soft and circular, these techniques mesh to
form a natural fighting system. This phase includes full instruction in
all hand strikes and blocks (trapping and grabbing as well as deflection
applications, using the hands, wrist, forearm, elbows, arms and
shoulders), 365 individual kicks, throws and falls from any position and
onto any surfaces, human anatomical structure as it pertains to combat
applications (knowing and utilizing the body's weak points to
effectively control the opponent, regardless of their size), joint
manipulation and breaking, finger pressure-point application, prisoner
arrest, control and transport, grappling applications, forms, offensive
choking and flesh-tearing techniques, defense against multiple
opponents, breaking techniques, counter-attacks, and killing techniques.

MOO GI GONG - involves the offensive and defensive use of the over 108
traditional weapons found within 20 categories of weaponry. By learning
these various weapon systems, the practitioner can most effectively
utilize any available object as a weapon as the situation demands.

SHIN GONG - is the study, development, and control of the human mind in
order to attain one's full potential and mental capabilities. Techniques
are taught to achieve an increase in one's total awareness, focus, and
concentration levels.
Included are instruction in : controlling one's mind; development of the
"sixth sense"; memory recall; the study of human character and
personalities; practical psychology; visualization; the art of
concealment and stealth as utilized by special agents (Sulsa); as well
as advanced, secretive applications.

Hwa Rang Do teaches both the martial art (mu-sul) and healing art
(in-sul). If one is able to injure or worse, then he/she should know how
to heal as well, once again maintaining harmony through balance of
opposites. The In Sul aspects (the study of the Oriental Healing Arts)
of Hwa Rang Do are every bit as complex and demanding as the study of
Occidental Medicine. First aid applications, revival techniques are
taught in conjunction with the traditional full studies of acupuncture,
acupressure, herbal and natural medicines, and bone setting.
Training:

A typical training session includes
Meditation (beginning and end of class).
Total body stretching and warm-up exercises. Basic
punching and kicking practice.
Ki power exercises. "Basic-8" combination
drills (which vary by belt rank).
Two-man countering techniques (vary by belt rank).
Open session which may include: sparring, tumbling,
grappling, sweeps, or advanced techniques. Self-defense techniques. Cool
down exercises..

URLs: www.hwarangdo.com
www.hwarang.org/