Traditional Baduk and Traditional Martial Arts
Traditional Baduk and Traditional Martial Arts came from the same main stream study of "Ki," and Traditional Eastern Medicine as well.
The Baduk system has influenced the Martial Arts system and structures. Pyung Hand Gong, which contains Yeum Yang study, has influenced the Baduk system. Pyung Hang Gong is the system of study pertaining to the Nature of Universe and Yeum Yang.
Originally, the Martial Arts had 36 chambers, or 36 rooms to learn the specific martial arts study. Each room had its own master to teach certain subjects. When the student studied all 35 chambers and was promoted to the 36th chamber, the 36th chamber master taught the student how to run, or how to master the skill known as Chook Ji Bub (method of running.)
The 36 chambers can be divided into two major systems; one call na ga gum bub (internal martial art) and wae ga gum bum (external martial art), also known as soft style and hard style. Each style has 18 chambers and when the student completed his or her education, he or she would combine both the internal and external system to become a Moo Sool (Wu shu) expert. The 18 chambers were also called sibpalgae (18 Pa Gwa.)
Pa Gwa and Hyung Eui Gwan are equivalent to Tai Chi (soft style.) Another external system taught in the chambers is equivalent to Shaolin (hard style.)
The system of 18 chambers was adopted to Baduk
System of 18 chambers: When a student entered, the first few years were spent doing basic physical work, such as sweeping the ground, cleaning the rooms, carrying the water, and collecting lumber. If the student persisted, he or she would be allowed to come inside and learn basic mental education, Ki Gong, Meditation, Yeum Yang study, Ki study, Tea study, vital spots, Rescue methods, and Natural healing art. After completing these subjects, the student began learning the fundamentals of martial arts and further martial arts skills.
All martial arts education was influenced by this Baduk education, especially mental education in the martial arts.
Baduk, or Go, is one of the oldest games in the world. According to ancient records, Baduk strategy began in China and has been around for at least several thousand years. From China it spread to Korea, and Japan. Currently, China, Japan, and Korea have the largest amount of Baduk activity. China refers to it as Wei'chi, Korea calls it Baduk, and the Japanese call it Go. Now it is in Europe and America, as well as many other countries in the world. Traditional Martial Arts, as the ancients practiced it, contained several qualities, which includes physical conditioning through exercise and the imitation of animal movements. Baduk was, and still is, an integral key to building discipline within the martial arts. Eastern Medicine treats and maintains mental condition with things such as meditation, breathing, philosophy, overall discipline, and Baduk (which is a technical aspect of discipline and mental conditioning). Baduk is a game that parents can trust their children to learn, because it's more than just a game. It's a tool for mental conditioning, and it provides many benefits for all children. A few of the benefits include focus, concentration, strategy, wisdom, philosophy, and patience.
