The existence of martial arts exceeds the existence of science, which reflects its importance as a developing role in man's evolution. In the past, this ancient art dawned its transformative powers behind the closed doors of sacred shrines and temples. Its ritualistic practice was experienced only by a select and elite group of practitioners. Although the meaning of the term martial arts signifies war, combat or self-defense, its origin took on a much different meaning, purpose and definitely a different developmental direction. Originally this magnificent art took birth when man discovered the results of his meditation while in motion. When the body is under the direct influence of an exalted state of mind, or higher consciousness, the spirit reveals its presence through the movement of the body. Body movement became the language of the spirit, thus making the art of body movement a spiritual expression. Spirituality gave principles to body movement causing movement to be governed by specific law and order. Only in violation of spiritual principles did the powers of body movements find expression in war, combat and self-defense. Absent of spirituality, movements of war, combat and self-defense creates self destruction governed by the law of karma. Based upon this understanding, an overwhelming desire to experience and benefit from the spirituality of body movement resulted in creating an entirely new and unique martial arts system; a system so versatile that it would definitely promote the development and transformation of body, mind and spirit. We call this marvelous martial arts system the Nungkyyii System. Nungkyyii is: The science of self-evolution and the art of self-discipline; the philosophical art and practice of obtaining the meaning of life through the expressions of love, faith, intelligence and discipline; total submission and obedience of the law of being; living in the truth and becoming one with The Infinite Mind of Intelligence. This system unfolds its dynamic expression into six styles, covering a variety of the best of methods, techniques and disciplines of other martial arts styles. These styles are: Nung-Do (the art and practice of superior, strategic and sophisticated combat), Nung-Chi (the art and practice of developing muscle strength and flexibility, and the expression of spiritual energy (chi, ki or prana), Nung-Fu (the art and practice of circular movement) Nung-Qua (the art and practice of scientific boxing) Nung-Jitsu (the art and practice of destruction) and Nung-Budo-Ky (is the art and practice of becoming a perfect human being and the science of achieving soul consciousness, Satori and Nirvana by way of meditation, Divine love and a rightful life of truth through the experience of Zen).
The system of Nungkyyii regards movement as the essence of martial arts, and has incorporated Spiritual Movement as the foundation of its martial arts system.
Movement is the center of all creativity. It is the engine of cause and effect. It operates the most important law in the universe – the law of relativity. In martial arts, movement is the power of transformation. Movement forces a greater relationship between mass (body) and energy (spirit). This relationship has no choice but to take on direction. Direction creates a path. When a path of direction is repeated progressively, the path turns into a course. A course that is traveled continuously by consciousness eventually creates a way. Martial arts is a particular way in which movement transforms the body, mind and spirit into higher levels of being, expression and consciousness. This transformation demands a greater relationship between body, mind and spirit through movement.
In martial arts one cannot read a book or watch television while learning and executing the movements of its katas, forms or techniques. The learning and execution of martial arts movements demands greater levels of thought, focus and concentration. Concentration is a power of the mind that is capable of focusing the mind in one direction and upon one particular subject. Concentration creates a channel for energy to merge, fortify and express its force. In martial arts there are multitudes of forms of movement, ranging from simple to extraordinary in difficulty of expression or execution. Difficulty of expression forces the development of a greater relationship between body, mind and spirit through coordination. Coordination forces the mind to raise the body's level of expression of movement to satisfy the demand of the level of form, technique or exercise that is being practiced. When concentration and coordination become cooperative powers of the mind, movement takes the body to increasing levels of physical development, dexterity and performance, expanding the brain's function and demanding higher levels of energy. Greater development of levels of physical, mental and energetic expressions is a direct reflection of the transformative powers of martial arts. The beauty in this ancient art is that its transforming powers succeed on any age level as long as the body, mind and spirit are in good health and are capable of relating in harmony.
As an exercise, martial arts is probably the best transformative and developmental practice that coordinates and progresses the body, mind and spirit. Due to this coordination of body, mind and spirit, the practitioners of martial arts enjoy a longer time span of practice than most other physical sports or muscular activities. Physical exercises in the martial arts system of Nungkyyii are divided into four categories of development (1) Muscle Skeleton, (2) Abdominal (3) Lungs (4) Heart. According to the philosophy of Nungkyyii the muscle skeleton should be developed to a level of strength and stability capable of relieving the stress of the bone skeleton by the age of fifty-five. The continuous increase of the strength and flexibility of the muscle skeleton should continue to create equilibrium with the increase of fragility of the bone skeleton.
(1) Muscle Skeleton – In martial arts training the development of the muscular skeleton is primarily concerned with the increase of flexibility and strength. Stretching is the second most important exercise in the Nungkyyii System of martial arts, following the exercise of breathing. Stretching elongates muscles and increases their elasticity, thereby extending the range of movement and expression of muscles. The greater the elasticity of muscles the greater the muscles' level of contortion, which reduces muscle injuries significantly. In order to increase the form, speed, power, control and execution of the particular technique being practiced, muscle flexibility involves a very sensitive and special relationship with muscle strength. Too much stretching destroys muscle strength, and too much strengthening of the muscles destroys flexibility. Therefore, an equilibrium of stretching and strengthening of the muscles are imperative. Building muscle strength is a developmental process of muscle fiber and cellular growth, a process that must be cultivated by proper dietary practice, physical rest and recuperation.
The physical transformative powers of martial arts are evident when the demand of greater levels of execution of techniques is demonstrated. Muscle strength takes on a more unique approach in its development in martial arts than in regular body building. In order to execute arm and leg techniques with the level of power, speed, form and precision demanded by the technique, the muscles nearest the bones and tendons are highly developed through isometric exercises. This very slow movement of the muscles, expressed through muscle toning, as the muscles are forced to imitate the geometrical form of the technique, is called isometric. Isometric exercising forces each link in the chain of muscle cells involved in the execution of a technique to develop independent strength. This independent development of strength of each muscle link gives the muscle group involved in the execution of a technique, maximum muscle expression (power, speed, form and control).
Muscle strength is cultivated by an exceptional amount of repetitional movements of the forms and techniques rather than the use of exceptional amounts of weights. This method of exceptional repetition of forms and techniques force a greater harmonious working or functioning relationship between internal and external muscles.
(2) Abdominal Muscles – Abdominal muscles are probably the most responsible muscles of the human body. They assist every major movement or bodily function. In regards to exercise, particularly that of martial arts exercises, the strength and conditions of the abdominal muscles determine the level in which the body participates in exercises and executes martial arts techniques proficiently. Because of this particular abdominal strength and condition demanded by martial arts training, digestion and physical exercise should never be simultaneous functions of the abdomen.
The Abdomen is divided into four muscle segments. (1) Upper Rectus Abdominis, (2) Lower Rectus Abdominis, (3) Right Obliques, (4) Left Obliques. In order to develop each muscle group properly for martial arts exercises and for the execution of advance techniques, the muscle groups are exercised in four ways. (1) Short Muscle Movements, (2) Elongated Muscle Movements, (3) Medium Muscle Movements, (4) Contorted Muscle Movements. According to the abdominal workout of Nungkyyii, there are sixteen major stomach exercises. (1) Upper Rectus Abdominis, (a) Short (crunched sit-ups), (b) Long (back bends), (c) Medium (sit-ups), (d) Contorted (twisting sit-ups), (2) Lower Rectus Abdominis, (a) Short (crunch leg-lifts), (b) Long (leg lifts over head), (c) Medium (regular leg lifts), (d) Contorted (twisting leg-lifts), (3) Right Obliques, (a) Short (side bends), (b) Long (long side bends), (c) Medium (regular side bends), (d) Contorted (right and left twists), (4) Left Obliques (same as right obliques).
(3) Lungs – Breathing is the most important exercise in the entire system of Nungkyyii. Our capability to breath is taken for granted. Breathing is the only bodily function that we can't do without past five minutes. In the practice of martial arts, breathing exercises initiates every workout. There are 9 basic breathing exercises and 9 breathing katas in the Nungkyyii System. Additional lung development is included in our program's mandatory daily lap swim and sprint and jog running exercises.
(4) Heart – cardiovascular exercises are concentrated upon in a daily workout program called Karate-Robikz. A routine of strenuous body movements are choreographed to the rhythm of music in martial arts techniques and forms to aid the development of the heart. This particular routine of Karate-Robikz compliments the exercise of the heart that the practice of martial arts as a whole contributes to heart development.
As a highly strategic and sophisticated martial arts system, Nungkyyii focuses on the continuous and progressive development of the mind, body and spirit of its practitioners.
As far as the body is concerned, Nungkyyii has a mandatory physical training program that persistently and consistently progresses the development of the student's muscle strength and flexibility. The techniques of Nungkyyii are specifically structured in its instructional curriculum according to the difficulty of the execution of the technique. The more difficult the expression of the technique, the more the demand of a greater level of muscle strength and flexibility the technique calls for. In order to accomplish such a dynamic development of muscle strength and flexibility, stretching and muscle tension of isometric exercises are mandatory training procedures in every class taught by an instructor of the system of Nungkyyii. In order to prevent injuries to the knees, legs and feet, and also cultivate dynamic kicking technique, all kicks are practiced using four exercise drills. (1) Isometrics – The technique is executed in a very slow motion and held in mid air for a certain amount of seconds in order to force muscle tension in the muscles of the body that make up the form of the technique. This exercise strengthens the specific muscles that make up the expression of the technique. (2) Toning – The technique is executed at a slightly faster motion than that of the movement of isometrics. Toning tones the muscles during each movement of the kick. It also develops harmony of the muscles that make up the movement of the technique, a development that is imperative to the speed of the kick. (3) Thrust – The Technique is executed with full speed and power, and brought to an instant stop in mid air for three seconds. This exercise forces the muscles and tendons around the knee to develop the strength to handle the torque of the kick. It also forces the student to develop sufficient control of the kick. Sufficient control of techniques minimizes the risk of injuries during sparring. (4) Contact – It is very important to develop the ability to kick the surface of a target with power without causing an injury to the feet. Proper foot position is crucial in making powerful contact on the target without foot injury. This exercise makes bag work a mandatory exercise in every class of martial arts training.
Mind development is very important in a practitioner becoming a greater martial artist. Concentration, creativity, imagination and coordination are mental abilities that are cultivated in the martial arts system of Nungkyyii. Yoga is taught as a science of mind over matter. Katas are taught as exercises of mind/body coordination drills and expressions of imagination. Billiards is taught as an exercise of concentration, creativity and imagination. Table tennis is taught as an exercise of concentration, coordination and reflex. Archery is also taught as an exercise of concentration and mental discipline.
Spirituality is the foundation of the martial arts system of Nungkyyii. Cultivation of the spirit is its main objective. There is an old wise saying – "To teach a student martial arts without teaching him or her discipline and a philosophy of life and its principles of conduct, is comparative to giving a student a loaded gun wearing a blind fold." The philosophy of Nungkyyii teaches that thought and behavior are the forces of individual human development. Therefore, a lifestyle of moral, righteous, constructive and intelligent conduct is imperative to the further development of the human spirit. The philosophy is a concept of self-discipline that has been cultivated through the experience of Zen and ritualized by the disciplinary art and practice of Nung-Budo-Ky. Spirituality is inseparable to martial arts practice in the system of Nungkyyii.
