Yedo Ishipsa Se (List, illustrations, hangul)

Open Wing Posture

In my last post on Yedo Ishipsa Se (Yedo 24 postures) I shared the historical background, the sources we know of, the introduction into Korean Military Manuals and an overview of the system itself. What I failed to include was a list over the postures. I want to make clear that in the system I practice we regard each "Se" which is often translated as posture as a mini form consisting of 3-8 moves. For instance in the first posture: Keo Jeong Se (Kettle lifting posture) we don't just asume a pose, we move into a starting pose, do a diagonal cut from that pose, into a horizontal cut before ending with a centerline downward cut. 3 techniques for that first "posture". This applies to each and every "posture" in the  Ishipsa ban Muye Kyeongdang (which is where I get all my weapon training and muyedobotongji stuff from. As always: I remind everyone I am a yellow belt :-P You should probably keep that in  mind :-)

Before we begin the list I would like to do a brief summary:

• System first written and documented as Cosun Sebup (Korean Sword System) in Mubiji (Wu Bei Zhi)
• Mubiji (Wu Bei Zhi) was published in 1621, author Mo Won-ui (Mao Yan-yi)
• Mo Won-ui claimed system was very very old at the time of writing in 1621
• Introduced in Korean Military Manuals in 1759 (Muye Shinbo/ Martial Arts New Illustrations)
• Authors of Muyedobotongji (published in 1799) writes that origin of system can not be verified beyond Mo Won-ui's book, nor can they say for certain it is of Korean origin, despite its name. 

So below is the list: I will publish the illustration* for the "posture" which is how we start from when we practise, the postures name in Korean and in Hangul, the translation of the posture (most are from Sang H. Kim's translation, some are from my teacher and some are Jack Chen's translations. In the future I want to do a post on each and every one to go more indepth, and with video to show it. I will also do my best to show possible applications to them in the follow up posts. 

*Note that due to a publishing mistake or something the Sang H. Kim translation of Muyedobotongji has Yedo 9 and 10 illustrations that are not Yedo at all but Ssang Su Do (long sword). I point this out here in case someone is reading that book following along on my writings and then discover something very much out of place. It is not me, its a mistake in the book itself. It goes to show that while it is a wonderful resource, you should not get the "instruction" from that book.

1: Keo Jeong Se Kettle Lifting Posture (거정세)

Yedo 1

2: Jeom Geom Se Pointed (sword) Thrusting Posture (점검세)

Yedo 2

3: Jwa Ik Se Left Wing Posture (좌익세)

Yedo 3

4: Pyo Du Se Leopard's Head Strike Posture (표두세)

Yedo 4

5: Danbok Se Flat Belly Posture (단복세)

Yedo 5

6: Kwa U Se Cross Right Posture/ Right Striding Posture 과우세

Yedo 6

7: Yo Ryak Se Control Cut Posture (요략세)

Yedo 7

8: Eo Geo Se Wagon Driving Posture (어거세)

Yedo 8

9: Jeon Gi Se Flag Opening Posture (전기세)

Yedo 9
 (note this illustration is from the source material Mubiji, not the Muyedobotongji. The reason for this is that there is an error in the Sang H. Kim publication, so in that publication it shows an illustration from Ssang Su Do (Long sword) which is from an entirely different chapter and has nothing to do with Yedo 24 Se. This does give us a good glimpse into the original illustrations, and you should note that the sword in use here is the "Hwan Do" or Jian, a straight two edged sword. 

10: Kan Su Se Defensive Awareness Posture (간수세)

Yedo 10
 (note this illustration is from the source material Mubiji, not the Muyedobotongji. The reason for this is that there is an error in the Sang H. Kim publication, so in that publication it shows an illustration from Ssang Su Do (Long sword) which is from an entirely different chapter and has nothing to do with Yedo 24 Se. This does give us a good glimpse into the original illustrations, and you should note that the sword in use here is the "Hwan Do" or Jian, a straight two edged sword. 

11: Eun Mang Se Silver Snake Crawling Posture (은망세)

Yedo 11

12: Chan Gyeok Se Rubbing and Striking Posture (찬격세)

Yedo 12

13: Yo Gyeok Se Striking the Waist Posture (요격세)

Yedo 13

14: Jeon Shi Se Open Wing Posture (전시세)

Yedo 14

15: U Ik Se Right Wing Posture (우익세)

Yedo 15

16: Ke Gyeok Se Lift and Strike Posture (게격세)

Yedo 16

17: Jwa Hyeob Se Left Jam and Thrust Posture (좌협세)

Yedo 17

18: Kwa Jwa Se Cross Left Posture/ Left Striding Posture (과좌세)

Yedo 18

19: Heun Gyeok Se Jab and Strike Posture (흔격세)

Yedo 19

20: Yeong Nin Se Reverse Scale Thrusting Posture (역린세)

Yedo 20

21: Yeom Shi Se Fold the Wings and Strike Posture (염시세)

Yedo 21

22: U Hyeob Se Right Jam and Thrust Posture (우협세)

Yedo 22

23:Bong Du Se Pheonix Washing Her Head Posture (봉두세)

Yedo 23

24: Hoing Chung Se Horizontal Thrusting and Striking Posture (횡충세)

Yedo 24

In addition to these 24 postures, the Muyedobotongji introduces a few new ones which is unique to Korean Millitary Manuals and is not something from Mubiji (Wu Bei Zhi) so that the Yedo Chung Bo (complete illustrations) which was in this case based on contemporary practises (as practised in 1790) instead of the older system that was these 24 postures could be made sense out of. Below are name, illustration and explanation for each of them, taken from Sang H. Kim's translation:

25: The Taeah Dotase is the Posture of Left Hand Sword and Vertical Right Hand. This posture is used to get into the center of the fighting zone. 

Yedo 25

26: The Yosun Chamsae is the Right Sword Throwing Posture. This posture is used to put the left hand on the waist and throw the sword with the right hand in the air approximately one foot above the head, making the sword circle and fall. Then gently move one step forward and grab the sword. Repeat this technique 3 times.

Yedo 26

27: The Yangkak Jochunse is the Kneeling Sword Circling Posture. This method is used to retreat from the center of the combat zone.

Yedo 27

28: The Kumkang Bowoonse is the High Sword Swinging Posture. This posture is used to turn around three times to look around to the left and right. 

Yedo 28

If I ever learn it I will readress these ones when we get there :-) So far I am comfortable with the first 15 or so postures in the older system (Yedo24se) and will stick with them until I learn more :-) Should keep us going for a long time though :-P