"THE POWER OF KI!"


(Black Belt Magazine - March, 1988 Issue)



In the martial arts, the most mysterious and controversial subject is whether the phenomenon known as ki power (internal energy) actually exists. Is the search for ki power a hopeless journey, much like Ponce de Leon's fruitless quest for the "Fountain of Youth," or the Cursaders' endless search fo the Holy Grail? Or, could it be that ki power has simply not yet been discovered by mortal men?
The search for ki power might as well begin with the art of hwarang-do. In the following interview with hwarang-do grandmaster Dr. Joo Bang Lee, one discovers the path attaining maximum human potential. Lee, one of the foremost authorities on the development of ki power, has dedicated his life to the propagation and advancement of the ancient Korean martial and healing art of hwarang-do.


Black Belt:
Is ki power fact or fiction?
Dr. Joo Bang Lee: Ki power is invisible and cannot be seen, and what we cannot see, we usually do not believe. However, some of the most important things in our lives are those which have no shape or form, but still exist as a major driving force. Ki exists in all living things as it sustains life and maintains movement of matter.

BB:
What exactly is ki, then?
Lee: At the beginning of the universe, there was nothingness, and in this nothingness, there was ki-pure energy. As ki began to move, it developed two polar dichotomies, um and yang. To every element, there is an equal opposing element: um ki-invisibility, black, female, darkness, moon; and yang ki-visibility, white, male, brightness, sun. As these opposing energies moved faster, it created noise, then color. Ultimately, at its fastest speed, it created matter. The matter was divided into five elements: wood, metal, fire, water, and earth. As ki moves and controls the elements in the universe, so does it also control those in the human body. The human body is a small microcosm of the universe and is governed by the same laws. Ki is the invisible force which gives us the power for mobility and intellectuality. It is the life-force which dwells in all human beings and all other living creatures on Earth.

BB:
Does ki power work through faith or belief?
Lee: Not so much in the sense of religon, but belief is crucial in developing ki power. The belief or confidence in one's physical ability is important in developing shin ki (mental power), which is necessary in order to achieve a balance.

BB: Are there different kinds of ki power?
Lee: Well, I guess you can call it different, but in essence it is really one which serves to develop different aspects of our human potentials. There are three points in the human body which generates ki power: sang dan jun - the point between the eyes called in dang where shin ki is developed; joong dan jun - the point where jung ki (physical ki power) is developed called dan joong; and ha dan jun, where yuk ki is cultivated and divided into three points: ki hae (ki ocean), kwan won (the best), and suk moon (stone gate).

BB: What is dan jun, and what is its importance?
Lee: Dan jun is often known as the "red field" which lies three inches below the naval. Its importance lies in the fact that matter (yu) was created for nothingness (moo). In order to understand the significance of this, we must go back to the conception of human life. The egg (negative force) and the sperm (positive force) are created by jung ki and unified into a single being which creates a new human being. It is a fact that the egg always lodges itself at the same point every time, where it remains until it is born as a human. This point is one of the points of dan jun. The first thing a fertilized egg develops is an umbilical cord which attaches to the mother. Through this umbilical cord, the fetus receives nutrients and energy from the mother for the next nine months. This is how the baby receives ki from the mother. After nine months in the mother's womb, the baby comes out to the external world and the first thing it does is take in air. This clears out the baby's lungs and starts ki circulaion. The most important thing in the universe is air, which develops ki internally in man. As we grow to be adults, we all forget the importance of our belly button. The dan jun was the point in which energy entered to give us life, and it maintains its importance as it continues to be the umbilical cord to the universe. In order to have a healthy and strong body, one must increase the level of ki through the utilization of the dan jun, which works as a manufacturer of ki power.

BB: What would be the ideal state for the development of ki power, or what goal should one try to realize?
Lee: The ultimate goal is to unify the three different dan jun as one, where all three areas are equal. If we were to say that we all possess 100-percent potential ki power, in our life span we only utilize 30-40 percent of it. However, some are born with more ki power than others; an intelligent man might be physically weak, just as a physically strong man might be mentally weak. Most people have an imbalance, and the goal for every person should be to try to create a balance between the three points of ki development: sang dan jun, joong dan jun, and ha dan jun. When one has attained this level, we call it sam we il chae.

BB: How long does it take for one to acheive this level of ki power?
Lee: It is different for every person, but it usually takes three months to three years.

BB: If that is so, there must be many people who have attained this advanced level of ki power.
Lee: No, there are not that many who are at this level. One must follow a rigorous plan of ki power development exercises. Attaining sam we il chae is only the beginning; it is necessary for enhancing the intensity of ki power.

BB: When this level is attained, what are some of the things one is capable of?
Lee: This level is a means to realizing the maximum physical and mental potentials of the individual. The things one can do are almost endless. Physically, one would be three-to-five times stronger than normal, have better stamina and, mentally, one's level of awareness and confidence will increase drastically.

BB: How does one know when one has acheived this level in training?
Lee: One should not expect to change physiologically, but one will change mentally as well as physically. One will feel better, stronger, and healthier.

BB: In what ways can one know that he or she has progressed in ki level?
Lee: That is what demonstrations are for. It is an external, visible way to test one's ki power.

BB: What kind of ki power "tests" can one perform?
Lee: After one has attained sam we il chae, one can test himself in the following four areas: kyung ki (lightness)- being able to jump higher, land softer, quickness and speed; jung ki (heaviness)- being heavy so that one cannot be picked up or thrown; chul ki (hardness)- being able to make any part of the body hard as steel; and ma ki (numbness)- being able to control pain so that one can perform under great strain and gain extraordinary powers.

BB: How does one go about increasing one's level of ki power?
Lee: There are four different ways to increase one's level of ki power: dan jun ho hup bop - breathing exercises; yak cha/yak ki - herbal medicine (hwarang-do believes that if one has the ability to kill or maim, one should also know how to save and cure); soo cha/soo ki - drinking water while one exercises breathing techniques; and chul cha/chul ki - taking proper amounts of minerals.

BB: What are some of the specific ki-developing techniques one can practice?
Lee: The most applicable and simple exercises are dan jun ho hup bop. These are divided into two categories: um-jung (passive ki power development exercises), and yang-dong (active ki power development exercises). There are five meditative positions in accordance with the five elements in the universe-wood, steel, fire, water, earth. All of these um-jung exercises must be done by concentrating on shin ki and breathing through the nose deep into the lower dan jun and not so much into the lungs. While one is breathing, the dan jun and the anus must be held tight. There are two ways to breathe: breathing in for five seconds, holding for five seconds, and breathing out for five seconds; and breathing in for five seconds and breathing out for five seconds. One can increase the time cycles all the way up to ten seconds or more. These different positions help to develop the correlating organs in the body. The difference between um ki power development and yang ki power development is that in the latter, one must tighten the entire body from the fingertips to the toes. There are many types of active ki power development: jung myun bal ki - it develops jung ki (whole body), which will enhance ta ryuk (hitting power); sa myun bal ki - it too develops jung ki, which promotes ta ryuk; sang boo bal ki - it develops joong ki (heaviness); ha boo bal ki - it develops kyung ki (lightness); pyung myun bal ki - this will help to develop ma ki (numbness) to endure and control pain; and gi boo bal ki - this will develop wrist strength and knife hands. There are also ki power exercises especially for kyuk pa (breaking) techniques. The things to remember when practicing breaking are: the easiest break is when one strikes the board or brick; and the most dangerous technique is pak sul (breaking with the head).

BB: When is it best to practice these ki power development exercises?
Lee: When the sun is red; either sunrise or sunset.

BB: What feats have you accomplished through your ki power?
Lee: I have done numerous things, but let me first explain the different kinds of ki power demonstrations: jung do - this is the "right way" or "straight way" which is the demonstration of ki after proper training and time for maturation; as sa sul, which are tricks for the eyes. These demonstrations might seem impressive, but people who do not train properly will end up suffering long-term injuries which will surface later in their lives. It is very important that one first receives proper training in any aspect of ki power development before attempting to perform any power demonstrations. I was the first one in the United States to cut five watermelons on five people while blindfolded. I remember a time when a Japanese instructor was trying to copy my demonstration and ended up cutting his student almost in half. Other examples of sa sul are gluing broken boards and bricks together and breaking them over again; breaking ice blocks which are stacked high with large spaces in between them, making it almost as easy as breaking one block of ice; and breaking bottle necks which have been slightly precut.

BB: Is this all there is to it? If one follows this path, will he or she attain the desired level of ki power?
Lee: By no means is the quest for knowledge and betterment a finite endeavor. The study of ki power is the most important aspect of martial arts training, and most instructors today overlook it significance. However, I try to teach my students the importance of ki power development for maintaining their health and realizing their maximum human potential. If one desires to truly grow in this aspect of the martial arts, then finding the right master is the "key."


WHRDA ArchivesWHRDA Homepage


Copyright ©1968-2001 World Hwa Rang Do Association