Benefits
The benefits of vigorous exercise in general are now so well documented and so widely accepted that
one can spend too much time dwelling on the most obvious benefits e.g. improved cardio-vascular
conditioning, improved bone density, increased flexibility, enhanced immune system, increased muscle
mass, decreased levels of body fat, stress reduction, the list goes on.
There is no doubt that Sooyang Do will provide the practitioner with all of the health benefits listed
above as of course will many other sports including other martial arts and there is an ever increasing
variety of activities for individuals to choose from.
Never before has there been so much information available to help us to lead longer, healthier, and
more enjoyable and rewarding lives. Despite this, as a society, we are witnessing ever increasing obesity
levels and lifestyle related illnesses in people of all ages. It is for this reason that we believe we have a
responsibility to be as accessible as possible to all.
Within the Sooyang Do organisation we enroll people of all ages and fitness levels, some of whom have
not done any exercise for many years and others who may be extremely fit and looking to “cross-train”
either for the fun of it or to improve their performance in their chosen discipline. We also enroll many
converts from other martial arts systems.
For those seeking to “cross-train” there is no doubt that Sooyang Do can and does improve
performance. The specific techniques employed in Sooyang Do help to maintain and develop the range
of motion in the sport-specific skeletal areas in a manner which minimises stress to the joint(s) thereby
ameliorating the inevitable consequences of extremely repetitive movements such as in cycling and
running. For those of us who are already committed to training constantly, no matter the discipline,
there are therefore enormous benefits from training in Sooyang Do not only in terms of performance
but also in “athletic longevity”.
For those who consider themselves unfit or who lead generally sedentary lifestyles the benefits
are even greater. Of course you will experience the fundamental benefits which you would gain
from participating in any regular physical activity as listed above but in a manner which will not put
unnecessary stress on joints such as knees, ankles and hips which can often lead to injury in the
early stages of a return to training or in someone who has never trained before. Such injury can be
catastrophic leading to the individual giving up and returning to a damaging and stressful sedentary
lifestyle.
As well as this of course there is the benefit of acquiring a realistic and practical self defense capability
within a non-competitive stress free environment where everyone from the extremely fit and/or
experienced student to the complete novice are engaged in intense physical training and encouraging
others to do the best that they can.
We cannot stress enough that we are not linked to Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, or MMA. That
is not to say that we have anything other than total respect for all of these and indeed all martial arts
systems and responsible martial arts instructors. We do however have a different philosophy which is
not based on individual competition but rather on collective encouragement and improvement within
an extremely supportive environment ultimately aimed at enhancing the lives of all of our students.
It is a matter of regret that a lot of the debate within the martial arts fraternity currently centres on
which system is the “hardest” or the “most realistic” claims which of course can never be proven, rather
than concentrating on how martial arts instructors can make a positive contribution to society. For this
reason we seek at all times to reinforce our tenets of “courtesy”, “integrity”, “humility”, and “respect”.
CHILDREN
It is an indisputable fact that children can and do benefit greatly both mentally and physically from
training in martial arts which are taught by conscientious and responsible instructors. Within the
Sooyang Do organisation we pride ourselves on maintaining strict discipline and nurturing technical
excellence by setting easily understood parameters and by positive reinforcement rather than indulging
in harsh and potentially damaging negative criticism. We also seek to ensure that the more gifted
young students are encouraged to use their good fortune to help and inspire those who may have more
difficulty rather than fostering an “elitist” attitude.
One of the specific benefits of this philosophy is that Sooyang Do is of particular benefit to children
who may have been diagnosed as having “special needs” or those who may for whatever reason have
had difficulty fitting into a competitive sports environment. We take great pride in our work with such
young people and from seeing the progress they make.
Ultimately we seek to play a part in the development of all our young students, working with parents,
and where possible teaching staff, so that they become respectful well adjusted and successful citizens
of the future.
Finally, whilst Sooyang Do continues to be enormously successful in terms of numbers of participants
we continue to strive to improve and to provide the best service possible to our students. Despite such
success we do not compare ourselves, favorably or otherwise with other martial arts, and have total and
complete respect for all other martial arts systems and some of the wonderful athletes and instructors
who participate in them. Sooyang Do is open to all and we hope to continue helping people to achieve
their goals.