Jee, Soo, Poong, Hwa, and Chun Progression to Spiritual Enlightenment

 Jee, Soo, Poong, Hwa, and Chun Progression to Spiritual Enlightenment

 Written by Andre DaSilva

It comes to a point in life that some of us may seek to achieve enlightenment through focus, concentration, meditation and perfection when practicing martial arts. When I was 8 years old, I started practicing martial arts and many years have passed since then. At first, practicing Brazilian Jujitsu with a great Brazilian master and champion. Once I accomplished black belt level, I transition to a new dojo to practice Capoeira and Karate, where there were many foreign masters. At that time, there were many people leaving Asia and migrating to Brazil.

In this new dojo, I had the opportunity to learn from Korean and Japanese masters a variety of styles such as; Tae Kwan Do, Aikido and Boxing, but never following the ranks, but only analyzing the forms and the dimensions of those martial arts in combat practices. When I graduated black belt level in Karate, I had the chance to meet a few great Chinese masters and was exposed to incredible things, which would be very hard to explain, that probably only heard in tails, which unfortunately have been lost as these great masters pass away and take with them what they have learned. This experience changed me, and thereafter I decided to focus only into internal martial arts, transitioning to Kung Fu (focusing on two styles, one being internal, Chinese sword and weapons) and Tai-Chi-Chuan (sole Internal).

 

Time went by and I became Tai-Chi-Chuan Master, and during that time a great Kung Fu Master friend of mind, knowing my love for swords told me that a small group Japanese executives practice Japanese sword up in a nearby mountain every weekend, but not open to the public. In those days, it was very hard to find unique martial art dojos, where today we have it everywhere. I pursued and was accepted; joining them and for the first time introduced to Kendo, where I also had an opportunity to occasionally practice basic forms of Iaido.

 

After few years practicing, I decided to only focus in Kendo (Japanese Sword) and Tai-Chi-Chuan as mainstream for my enlightenment path. Unfortunately my life style changed and I stopped practicing martial arts for a brief period time. But life is quite strange, where takes me into different paths, and after many years I came to find a great Korean master who gave me the opportunity to meet again what I once lost.

 

Practicing Siljun Dobup gives me great joy and gets me closer to the path I once had, being one with the sword and empty minded. Set Jee, Soo, Poong, Hwa, and Chun is a progression to improve oneself and advance in spirit.

 

Starting with set Jee as the foundation to build “Ki” and evolve further into a mental state of mind that is manifested through the forms. Set Jee is a very import set which execute skillful technique through ones cutting stroke of the sword. Building breath control, which is the basis of proper cutting, where in absence, becomes weak and unsteady, and the basic forms cutting strategy, which will lead to strengthen the body. Such physiological and physical education increase ones mental power to build the foundation of Siljun Dobup which gains full control over the inner spirit. It is very important to understand the physical reality when demonstrating mastery in certain aspects, and being confirmed in it, allowing practitioners to overcome inertia. During this period practitioners will be learning the initial forms of the art, where the sword cuts become precise, and efficient in motion. The patience and self-control will allow the practitioner to achieve much higher levels, progressing further into a proper state of mind as the fundamental basis of the Siljun Dobup.

 

The progression to set Soo brings an appreciation and satisfaction for the efforts the practitioner undergoes as mastery begins to manifest. The harmony of such activities and stillness, develop the mental power and spontaneous action which arises from mastering set Jee. The transition to set Soo transcends to a new element that creates the opposite effect of the prior set giving flexibility and rhythm. The execution of this technique carries out a greater energy which allows to flow through the body into the sword without any discriminating thought revealed as one. Such feeling of water running through a mountain stream, but powerful river that changes the landscape as it passes through. As water rises unexpectedly, it overflows all at once all around us, uncontrollable as set Soo represents.

 

Set Poong advances even further as the body motion and the sword harmonized in one motion. When making the sudden movement a balance must be achieve as we are calm and still, and “Ki” extends outward. There can be no space between the intent and the act on, so that the technique may be performed without hesitation and at the instant that they are needed. The motion should be like a wind, as it moves slowly at first and then accelerate within a huge momentum when built up. The final motion should have the feeling of an explosion, as if a storm bursts through. This technique is a reaction movement and relies on being faster than an opponent.

 

Set Hwa is an advance technique which requires a great level of “Ki”, which would have been collected as a practitioner progress through the set Jee, Soo and Poong. This technique intimidates an opponent, and builds up an enormous amount of power for the person performing it. It allows a stronger action as fire destroys everything on its path. There is no separation between the attitudes a practitioner should maintain during this set, it is quite strong. The inner aspects must remain unaffected and calm, but at the same time with enormous energy. This technique requires experience, and to be able to generate great “Ki” and coordination of mind and body.

 

Set Chum bring all together as in converges in harmony and spiritual enlightenment. It has further and deeper meanings and should be carefully understood. It encompasses the merge of all elements and brings into harmony. All differences converge here with the sword. The “Ki” requires a balance between the elements and control to achieve the spiritual awareness required to

 

 

transcend the all other things around us. The spiritual aspect does not provide enough visible results, but involves; with hard work, diligence, and persistence, a different result that make exercise worth the effort. But only few can provide the spiritual discipline and experiential realization.

 

In summary, Siljun Dobup takes considerable level of effort and dedication to achieve a state of mind that is not occupied by thought or emotion, and practicing continuously will allow us to achieve the physical and spiritual enlightenment we seek. And that is why I practice Siljun Dobup.

 

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