GiCheon - Ancient Korean Spiritual Discipline for Lifelong Mental & Physical Health

If you are seeking a unique ki/gi training method or are new to the concepts of internal energy,

GiCheon will open your eyes to the possibilities within you

DahnBaeGong

What is DahnBaeGong?

GiCheon students begin practice with the mindset through GiCheon courtesy discipline called “DahnBaeGong (Dahn: abdomen, Bae: bow, Gong: discipline).” DahnBaeGong is a way of bow between a teacher and a student or among students before GiCheon class begins. And it’s a way of movements setting one’s mind and meditating oneself as the seeker of the Way (Ultimate Truth).

DahnBaeGong includes high level of martial art movements based on the profound principle of the universe. So if one does it full heartedly with devotion, one can become excellent in GiCheon.

How to do

One stands as upright as possible without tensing the shoulders and does WonBahnJang to the right.
The heels are slowly lifted to a 45 degree angle or higher. And bend down one’s knees until they are touched to the heels. The knees touch the ground simultaneously without making any sound. The waist should not need to bend as one kneels slowly to the ground.
The wrists circle down and around until the right wrist is above the left with the palms and wrists in YeokGeun open upward.
The palms are flattened outward in either direction shaping a triangle by both middle fingertips and center of the head.
As one bows, the palms and forehead touch the ground simultaneously, while keeps breathing out. One's nose should be aligned to the center of both knees and the waist should not need to bend as one bows slowly to the ground.
One keeps breathing in down to the lower abdomen while moving up.
One lifts both knees simultaneously.
One holds one's breath and slowly stands upright by abdominal power and then stretching the muscles of back knees proceeding then to repeat in Odd numbers (for instance, 3, 5, 7, 9............... ).
After the last DahnBaeGong, one does BahnBae (informal way of bow in GiCheon).
In light of courtesy, one does DahnBaeGong three times to a Grandmaster.

The Benefits

DahnBaeGong helps improving flexibility of joints (shoulder, waist, knees, ankles, toes) so that makes the Gi easily flow throughout the entire body. Arthritis, back pain, scoliosis, or other joint problems can be healed by the regular practice. DahnBaeGong also strengthens an internal and external force, expands one's lower abdomen and cultivates one’s mentality as well as spirituality.

The prime reason for the necessity of extensive DahnBaeGong initially and throughout the study of GiCheon is that this movement establishes and maintains the martial art as a mental and spiritual discipline. Of course, there are also innumerable physical benefits of this movement. Nearly every joint of the body – from toes, ankles, knees and waist to shoulders, elbows, wrists, and neck – are exercised in the process of DahnBaeGong.

These physical benefits also contribute to its status as a prerequisite for further study of GiCheon, with DahnBaeGong conditioning, the joints become flexible and elastic, and equilibrium and concentration are honed.

Instilling a tranquil temperament

Cultivating a focused mentality

Reducing stress and pacifying internal dialogue

Bringing about effortless ,autonomic abdominal breathing

Improving the internal force of the lower abdomen as well as flexibility in the joints

Establishing the nervous, respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems by slowing the metabolism, etc

The Philosophical Meanings

DahnBaeGong has the following philosophical implications by the order of how to do it:

1. Infinity is endlessness, limitlessness, boundlessness.

2. The great absolute in oriental philosophy (the cosmic entity: TaeGeuk) arises from the infinity of the universe.

3. Yang (positive energy) and Eum (negative energy) are generated in the movement of the cosmic entity.

4. All things come into existence through the circulation of Eum and Yang.

5. When the human mind opens to take in the Heavens and the Earth...

6. ... three principal components of the cosmos (Heavens, Earth, and human) are united within the microcosm that is a human being.