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WonHwaDo

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Also known as
  
Enwado, WHD, 원화도

Creator
  
Bong-Ki Han

Country of origin
  
South Korea

Official website
  
WonHwaDo

Focus
  
Throwing, striking, locking submissions

Hardness
  
Full contact, semi contact, light contact

Won Hwa Do(원화도) is a traditional Korean martial art, founded in 1972 by Bong-Ki Han. The name in Korean (Hangul) means "The Way of Circular Harmony" (Won = Circle, Hwa = Harmony, Do = Way). The basis of the art lies in circular movement by effectively utilizing full 360° rotations of the human body motion. This helps in conserving energy and reducing the risk of injury on the practitioner's joints often caused by use of linear force and impact. Won Hwa Do is often compared to hapkido and Taekkyeon which are also national martial arts of Korea. Although similar in several aspects, Won Hwa Do's Ha-Dan/Sang-Dan Hoe-Jeon-Gong-Bang (하단/상단 회전공방) techniques are a unique trademark which is not shared by the other Korean martial arts. Ha-Dan Hoe-Jeon- Gong-Bang has the practitioner rotating arms in a forward motion and Sang-Dan has them rotating it in a backward motion. These two form the bases of strikes, throws, blocks, counters, submissions and kicks in its diverse self-defense system and are the most fundamental and basic practice of Won Hwa Do. The uniform pattern is also unique in that it contains diamond shaped patterns with green and maroon lines painted or sewn across it. Its belt system does not follow the traditional Japanese black belt curriculum and its forms (kata) are quite short in comparison to karate, taekwondo and hapkido. Won Hwa Do is a very unorthodox martial art as demonstrated by its breaking away from these norms but takes pride in having its own unique standard.

Contents

Founding

Founded in 1972 by Bong-Ki Han Won Hwa Do's origins lie in traditional Korean prayer and dance. The prayer like movements are knowned as Bison(비손) which has the practitioner moving his hands in a circular path against one another as if turning a wheel. This idea represents the rotating of Yin Yang within a person's mind and body thereby bringing peace and harmony to him/her. Won Hwa Do at one point had a team that performed Won Hwa Do dance alongside the Famous Little Angels Children's Folk Ballet of South Korea.

Han was a monk in a temple for a short while. It is assumed that his lifestyle from these times were a deep influence on how he chose to create Won Hwa Do's techniques. Ik-Hun Cho assisted Bong-Ki Han in the early days using experiences from his days as a master of other Korean martial arts. Many old photographs show the two of them travelling around Korea spreading WonHwaDo.

Central Training Center (Chilwon Dojang)

Bong-Ki Han and his main disciples established and built the Central Training center (Chilwon dojang) in 1994. There he held many workshops, seminars and even 100 day training camps. 100 day training camps were a common tradition for those training to attain the rank of Maroon Belt (Instructor) and beyond. In 1998 The World Won Hwa Do Festival was held in which people from all over the Asia and Europe participated. A follow up festival was held in the following year of 1999. It was from this Festival that Han sent European masters to back pioneer WonHwaDo in their homeland countries. Chilwon in Masan, GyeongSangDo Province was a forested area of the countryside of South Korea that Won Hwa Do used for all of its major events and training workshops. However, in 2004 the Chilwon dojang would close its doors and the WWF(World Won Hwa Do Federation) would move its headquarters to Seoul.

The World Won Hwa Do Federation

In 2003 The World Won Hwa Do Federation(세계원화도연맹) was officially recognized and supported by the Korean Government as a national Martial Art. Won Hwa Do during this time became well established in European countries such as Germany, Slovakia, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Won Hwa Do also began to grow steadily in Japan as well during this period. In the year 2004, Jeon Ju(전주) Won Hwa Do training center was established by Ryu Jae Nam(류재남). After Bong-Ki Han's died in 2010 he left leadership of the World Won Hwa Do Federation to his son and other leaders. Shortly following his passing the Seoul Headquarters closed down and the training center in Jeon Ju became the WWF Headquarters. Since Bong-Ki Han]s passing Ik-Hun Cho is the only person to attain the rank of Great Grand Master(Gold stripe). He helped develop, pioneer and create the many techniques of Won Hwa Do's diverse GongBang(공방) system.

International development

Japan's Won Hwa Do headquarters are in Okayama prefecture but dojangs also exist in several locations across the country such as Nagoya and Osaka. Across Europe, several countries remain active albeit in a much smaller capacity than the early years of 2000. Austria, Germany, Slovakia, England, Lithuania are among the few countries that still teach and practice Won Hwa Do. In order to help accelerate the growth of Wonhwado internationally, Bong-Ki Han sent his disciples and students abroad to learn English whilst pioneering the art in those countries. Germany, Slovakia and England are a direct by-product of this time. Germany currently has 3 different dojangs with the headquarters being in Leipzig.

Philosophy

Circular motion to harmonise with the Universe, Heaven, People, Nature. The concept is based around the idea that all straight lines are destined to begin and end whilst circular force and motion naturally flows without ceasing.

Techniques and curriculum

Won Hwa Do is considered to be a diverse and versatile martial art. For example, it employs grappling techniques for throwing and locking submissions but also has striking with punches and kicks. However all of these diverse techniques still revolve around the fundamental principles of circular motion. Won Hwa Do has a term for its techniques known as 'Gongbang'(공방). The Hangul (Korean characters) for Gong(공) means offense whilst the Hangul for Bang(방) means defense. Won Hwa Do teaches to practice offense and defense simultaneously in one movement through the use of circular motion. Although seemingly peaceful, meditative and harmless in appearance the force from the circular Hadan (forward circular) strike carries a formidable impact on the target. The force comes from the theory of infusing pushing and pulling into one circular strike as if striking with a ball and chain flail weapon swinging at the end of a handle. Cho Ik Hun teaches that force and technique in the Hadan strike comes not from observation and talent but pure and patient practice of the basic Hadan circular movement for many years. He also emphasizes the importance of breathing and core hip strength in mastering the technique.

Forms (Kata) (기본형)

Won Hwa Do has 40 Basic Forms, The first set are separated into 4 directions forward, left, back and right. The second set of 20 forms consist of diagonal directions of movement.

Jeong-Myeon-Gong-Bang(정면공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Pyeong-Woe-Gong-Bang(평외공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Hu-Myeon-Gong-Bang(후면공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Pyeong-Nae-Gong-Bang(평내공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Cheuk-Woe-Gong-Bang(측외공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Cheuk-Nae-Gong-Bang(측내공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Cheuk-waeGong-Bang (주외공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Ju-Nae-GongBang (주내공방) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Each form also has various striking, kicking, throwing, submission and locking techniques using the footwork, direction and movements based on the form.

Belt structure

Won Hwa Do has a different belt system to other martial arts like judo, karate, taekwondo and hapkido. For example, usually in traditional martial arts like Karate the black belt is the symbol of an instructor or high level practitioner. However, in Won Hwa Do a person of high rank and skill wears a Maroon colored belt. The reason behind Won Hwa Do's choice of colors is that Karate's black system was rooted in Japan's martial arts history whereas Won Hwa Do chooses to base its system on Korea's Joseon Dynasty era. For example, common folk wore plain white Han boks (Korean traditional clothing) whilst captains and commanders of the military wore blue and red. Generals and Politicians would often wear purple or maroon colored Han boks with blue, green and golden patterns.

Although depending on the country system varies, the system displayed above is the general standard.

Han and Cho prefer being called by the title of simply 'Grand Master' or Teacher (seonsaengnim, 선생님) as they deem 'Great Grand Master' too long-winded.

After the death of Bong-Ki Han, Ik-Hun Cho is the only one to hold the rank of Maroon (purple) gold Grandmaster belt.

References

WonHwaDo Wikipedia