The Relationship between Martial Arts Training and Meditation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the relationship between body and mind through the process of meditation, which is receiving increasing attention in modern times. This study will contribute to the educational utilization of martial arts in meditation by comparing and analyzing the relationship between body and mind, identifying the body and mind as inseparable, and the training of the body as a technical means to improve the mind and personality. This will contribute to the educational utilization of martial arts in meditation.

Method: As one of the data collection methods to study social and cultural phenomena, the method of collecting necessary information through existing literature data was selected. This was approached as a qualitative research method that collects data and interprets the meaning of the phenomenon through the intuitive insight of the researcher.

Results: There are two types of meditation: static meditation and dynamic meditation. Static meditation is a seated, stationary practice that involves sitting in a certain posture and focusing your consciousness on a single thought, clearing your mind of distractions, and calming your mind. Dynamic meditation is a form of meditation that involves repetition of certain movements, such as walking or practicing martial arts, in which you imagine an area as a sanctuary and walk a certain distance every day without stopping. As you continue to perform physical exercises, the mind becomes increasingly unresponsive to external stimuli and focuses only on mental images. Repetitive physical exercises like this have the effect of meditation. In this way, practicing Taekwondo or the Chinese martial art of kung fu can have a meditative effect. The Taekwondo curriculum are consisted of 1)The trainees must perform repetitive movements through 360 hours of training 2)1 Dan/Poom holders require 240 hours of training, 2 Dan/Poom holders require 480 hours, 3Dan/Poom holders require 720 hours, 4 Dan/Poom holders require 960 hours, 5 Dan holders require 1200 hours, 6 Dan holders require 1440 hours, 7 Dan holders require 1680 hours, and 8 Dan holders require 2060 hours of training in nine years. These required hours are divided into units for repetitive training such as Poomsae, competition, defeat, character, self-defense, taekwondo physical fitness, taekwondo gymnastics, taekwondo demonstration, and core exercises.

Conclusion: The study found that repetitive physical exercises make the mind increasingly unresponsive to external stimuli and focus on mental images. This has the effect of meditation, so martial arts training and meditation are closely related.