03/03/2014

Hyung

Pyung Ahn series contains five forms.  This series is derived from a series developed by Anko Itosu, a master of Okinawan Karate.  The phrase "pyung ahn" is most often translated as "well-balanced" and "peaceful".  Another translation based on the original Chinese characters is “Safe from Harm”.  These forms are taught to Intermediate students. 

Shipsu is expected to be demonstrated by students who are testing as a Brown Belt or above.  Shipsu is all about focused in-power.  Shipsu can also been seen in literature written as Ship Soo or Sip Soo.  Its meaning is "Ten Hands” (i.e., the weapon with the power of ten hands) and is similar to the karate form Jitte, although there are differences.  Its origin is most likely from the Tomari-te school in Okinawa.  This form supposedly represents the bear.

No Pe Hyung is expected to be demonstrated by students who are testing as an Interim Black Belt or above Belt.  No Pe Hyung is a demonstration of power on wood.  This form appears to be derived from the Rohai forms practiced in some styles of karate. The name Rohai translates approximately to "vision of a Crane" or "vision of a heron". The kata originated from the Tomari-te school of Okinawan martial arts. It was called Matsumora Rohai, after Kosaku Matsumora, who was presumably its inventor.  Anko Itosu later took this kata and developed three kata from it: Rohai shodan, Rohai nidan, and Rohai sandan.  No Pe Hyung taught in Han Moo Kwan most closely resembles Matsumora Rohai.

The Mepojan series are taught to advanced students (Black Belt and above).  In Tang Soo Do, three similar forms to the Mepojan series are called the Naihanji Hyung.  The meaning is knight on a horse.  In Okinawan Karate, these three forms are called Naihanchi and in Japanese are called the Tekki kata, which mean “horse riding saddle”.  Mepojan forms are performed horizontally (side to side) keeping the body level with the goal to minimize torso motion.  It has been postulated that the three Mepojan forms were once one long form and broken into three distinct forms due to its length. 

Mepojan One is expected to be demonstrated by students who are testing as a First Degree Black Belt with a rank of 5.0 or above.  Mepojan Two is expected to be demonstrated by students who are testing as a Second Degree Black Belt or above.  Mepojan Three is expected to be demonstrated by students who are testing as a Second Degree Black Belt or above. 

Currently, no additional information regarding these three forms is available unless requested and provided by a certified Chief Instructor of the Han Moo Kwan Association.

Note:  Videos of the lower-level forms (above) are to be considered the standard for the art form.  They have been carefully reviewed by the instructional staff, and certified for use as training material.  The following three videos are simply an example of how the forms are typically performed, but have not been certified.

References used to develop the material on the Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do forms provided on this website include:

1. Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do Hyung Video Archive
2. Korean Karate Free Fighting Techniques, Sihak Henry Cho, 1968
3. Tae Kwon Do Classic Forms, Ted Hillson, 2003
4. Tang Soo Do – The Ultimate Guide to the Korean Martial Art by Kamg Uk Lee
5. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do by Soshin Nagamine