More About Tukong Moosul
Internal Training
Traditional Martial Arts Philosophy
Ip Sun Do (moving meditation)
Peace through Strength
Self-Confidence & Self-Respect
Meditation
Inner-Discipline
Physical Training
Traditional Martial Arts Discipline
Comprehensive Theory
Throwing techniques
Grappling techniques
Weapons training
Weapons Defense training
Exceptional Hand & Foot techniques
Survival training
"Reality oriented" Self-Defense
Tukong Moosul is a very broad based martial art combining hand and foot techniques with throwing and weapons techniques. Martial arts training teaches us to face our fears and limitations head-on, and thus helps us to achieve our full potential.
Through persistent effort the martial artist grows in three principle areas:
Wisdom in the Mind
(Experience & Knowledge)
Spirit in the Heart
(Philosophy & Attitude)
Strength in the Body
(Skill & Health)
Ip Sun: Tukong Moosul's Tai' Chi
Ip Sun, an internal martial art much like Tai' Chi, was developed by the Buddhist monks living at the Dae-Yeon Sa temple located in the Korean mountains. This martial art is a moving meditation that develops self-awareness, confidence, and inner-strength while emphasizing techniques that improve balance, coordination, concentration, and self-defense. Ip Sun fundamentals include breathe control, awareness, balance and fluidity of motion. Brought to the United States in 1981 by Grandmaster Wonik Yi, Ip Sun training was included as an integral part of the Tukong Moosul system. Ip Sun form training covers three basic elements: spiritual philosophy, physical application, and energy flow.
"Age is unimportant, the young man kicks fast; but the old man thinks faster."
The breadth, depth, and vitality of Tukong Moosul makes it hard to describe in concise terms. Grandmaster Yi always emphasized working in "different zones" (Weapons, kicking, punching, sweeps, and grappling). from this we have developed into our own unique specialization.
For example Master Hayes seems to love to work "up close and personal" (take downs and weapons defense tactics), while Sa Bom Nim Brown likes to use his long legs, then tie you up with his grappling techniques. I tend to like working at the transitions of the zones (Using a kick to enter to punching range, to enter to sweeping or throwing range, to get to the floor to grapple.)
What is great is that we all try to work with all of the zones and weapons, and we try to share our information. This helps to keep our art "Tukong Moosul" ~ Alive and Vital. At seminars we all share techniques and get a chance to "try it on the mat", that is where the actual effectiveness of any technique will show through. (If it won't work on my training brothers and sisters I sure would not want to try it in an alley in an actual fight...)
Grandmaster Yi also emphasizes working with different energies. That is why parts of Tukong Moosul are hard and linear, and other parts are soft and circular. There is a time and a place for each application or style. This is also why Ip Sun is offered as part of Tukong Moosul training, as well as the more physically demanding "challenging" classes that make us sweat and smile.
A Brief Tukong Moosul History
The original Shao-lin Su (Young Forest Temple ) was located in the Hunan Province in China.
The Grandmaster of Tukong Moosul, Wonik Yi, entered the Dae Yeon temple at age five training with and learning from thirty-six master instructors.
Part of his Martial Arts training was to develop his own style of training. While in the South Korean Special Forces, Grandmaster Yi later was asked to create a more effective martial art for the S. Korean Special Forces. Calling on the combative aspects of the style he developed in the Temple, he created "Tu-Kong Moo-Sul" (Tu- Special, Kong- Warrior, Moo-combat, Sul-technique)
In 1979 Grandmaster Yi won the traditional full contact World Martial Arts Championships, then sucessfuly defended his title in 1980. In 1981 he retired undefeated from offical compitition and upon completion of his Service in the Special Forces moved to Austin and began teaching Tukong Moosul in America.