Youn Wha Ryu martial arts

Youn Wha Ryu is a form of martial art that combines Jiu Jitsu, Kong Soo Do, Taijiquan, Shaolin Kung Fu, Karate, Hwarang-do, Kendo, Hapkido, and Taekwondo. Youn Wha Ryu is a fairly new Korean martial art which is considered an advanced system of fighting techniques from almost every available style of Martial Art. Although its base martial art system is Taekwondo, its founder, Grandmaster Han, added all the systems he has trained in and created a hybrid Martial Art that develops the entire body evenly and smoothly. Youn Wha Ryu practitioners are said to be able to deal with any fighting style they may encounter. Its training focuses on the development of timing, speed, balance, control, both mental and physical strength, and confidence.
History
Grand Master Han started the Youn Wha Ryu association shortly after immigrating from Korea in 1976. After starting schools in the Dallas area, the association expanded to Missouri under Master Sherry Jordan and her son, Master Ceth Jordan. Currently the Youn Wha Ryu association has schools in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Nevada, Wyoming, and Oregon. Under Grand Master Han's leadership, the masters of this association continue to spread this martial art across the country and are making steps to spreading the association into different countries.
Training
The training in this association begins with Tae Kwon Do. Grand Master Han considers this the foundation training in Youn Wha Ryu. As you progress in the system, influences of different martial arts comes into the training. Throw away techniques and joint manipulation get introduced after the first year of training (about blue belt level). After that, the students can learn the Youn Wha self defense techniques. Youn Wha self defense has techniques from aikido, hapkido, judo, jui-jitsu and others. The more advanced the student becomes, the more the styles of martial arts flow together to make the student an effective fighter against any opponent. For the average student who trains 2-3 times a week, it takes about 3 years to earn the rank of black belt. The classes are generally an hour long with a minute break half way through the class. The first 10-15 minutes are used for warm-up exercises and punching technique. After that the class will vary, depending on who is taking the class. The class normally covers multiple things such as kicks, basic blocking technique, forms (katas), one-step fighting techniques, partner hand drills, etc. The Youn Wha Ryu association encourages the black belts of the system to also get certified as an instructor. The instructor certification course involves a 24 hour in-class process of learning how to teach, what to teach, and how to perform the techniques with more power, speed, clarity and enthusiasm. After that, in order to become certified, each instructor must go through a minimum of 120 hours of teaching under the supervision of a high level certified instructor.
Techniques
The techniques of this style of martial arts are mainly based in Tae Kwon Do for the beginner level student. The primary focus is on kicking and punching technique, along with the practice of Palgue forms. Palgue forms are practiced in this system because they are more complex than Tae Geuk forms. Also, the Palgue forms more closely match the techniques that are promoted in this system. As stated previously, when the student moves up in rank the techniques covered are more than just basic tae kwon do. The intermediate students learn throw away motions, sweeping techniques, basic falling drills, and basic joint manipulation. Advanced students build off of this knowledge into much more advanced techniques.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu