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By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Yoga is all the rage in Korea. But why not try something original and
inherently Korean, like kooksundo? The traditional sport combines
meditation and pressure points to rejuvenate the mind and body. It is a
mental and physical disciplinary training that anyone can do daily.
It is based on six systematic and scientific disciplines, which
essentially include stretching out every muscle in the body for balance
and flexibility and meditative hypo gastric breathing (deep breathing
using the lower abdomen) to absorb ``ki,’’ or vital energy that is
believed to exist in the universe and in all living things.
Sound a bit like yoga? But calling kooksundo ``Korean yoga’’ would be a
big mistake, according to kooksundo master Kim Woo-shin. The
68-year-old former civil servant has been practicing the art for 17
years.
``Kooksundo is a traditional form of training that is profoundly Korean,’’ he said.
``To balance out any unevenness in the body, often caused by poor
posture, you stretch every muscle in the body _ forward and backward,
up and down, lying on your back and then on your stomach, standing up
then hand-standing,’’ said the master. This enhances flexibility and
blood circulation.
The Oriental practice of inserting needles into the skin at
certain points of the body, is also integrated into the practice. But
instead of needles, you use fingers to put pressure on specific points
or ``holes’’ following the pathways in the body along which vital
energy or ``ki’’ flows.
Deep breathing is another essential part of kooksundo. Master Kim
explains that the hypogastric center (about three centimeters below
your navel) is a ``ki’’ power plant. Opera singers, for example, pump
sound from their lower abdomen.
Kim added that people usually take three seconds to inhale and exhale.
All living things have limited breathing capacity: dogs breathe in and
out about 70 times per minute and live 15 years on average, while
turtles live up to 250 years because they breathe a lot slower, two to
three times per minute.
Inhaling provokes the nerves while exhaling releases tension. Kim
suggested that those who suffer low blood pressure or fatigue should
concentrate on breathing in, while those with high blood pressure or
under stress would do best to focus on breathing out.
Kim wears his black belt with great pride. Kooksundo, like taekwondo,
awards white, yellow, red and black belts to practitioners. To attain
the black belt, the highest honor, one must pass a physical and written
examination given out by the national Kooksundo Association.
Developed in ancient times, kooksundo was practiced during the
Geoguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-668 A.D.) under the great general
Yongaeseomun. ``Sundo’’ means finding the path of righteousness, by
living in harmony with nature. Warriors of the Silla Kingdom (57
B.C.-668 A.D.) also undertook kooksundo as part of their training,
thereby adding the word ``kook,’’ meaning country, to ``sundo.’’
Then, renowned Joseon scholar Lee Ttoegye rediscovered the tradition
while searching for a remedy for his ill health. Today, the Kooksundo
Association boasts delivering to modern Koreans the very philosophy and
moves practiced centuries ago, but enhanced by scientific explanations
of health benefits.
``People called me a walking general hospital,’’ said Park Chong-du,
49, a civil servant with a red belt. ``I couldn’t walk 10 meters
without having to rest; I had severe disc problems from neck to back,
as well as articular and neuralgic problems.’’
Park has been dedicated to the ``remedy’’ for two years now, and
claimed to be``99 percent cured,’’ except for a little trouble with
lumbago. Chung Ok-ja, 67, has also been actively practicing kooksundo,
despite her knee operation.
But kooksundo is not just for the elderly or the sick. Chung’s
nine-year-old granddaughter Ju-eun also started learning the art and
thinks it’s fun, and a woman in her early 30s said she lost almost 10
kilograms since practicing it.
Kang Haeng-won, 42, a corporate worker, enjoys the exercise more than
hitting the gym. ``Also, the meditation helps me control stress and
even tone down anger at work,’’ he said.
Kang added that, ever since taking up kooksundo two and a half years
ago, he became an early riser and cut off going out to drink late at
night.
Presidential candidate Park Geun-hye and former superstar scientist
Hwang Woo-suk are among famous people known to swear by the exercise.
What is most striking about all these individuals is that they look far
younger than their actual age. Kooksundo seems to be the secret behind
a healthy glow and youthful vigor.
There are over 400 kooksundo training centers across Korea, and also
abroad in China, the United States and Thailand. You can locate one
near you and learn more about the art at the Kooksundo Association Web
site (www.kooksundo.com).
hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr
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