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Kupso Chirigui is an
ancient art, with written records of more than a thousand old. It is based on
an earlier body of knowledge, from which acupuncture and
other related medical arts were also originated.
Kupso (급소 in
Hangul, and 點穴 in Hanja; Japanese people use the Kanji 急所 點脈) Chirigui means vital point (place, spot) striking in the Korean language. The terms Hyul (혈 in Hangul, 穴 in Hanja), meaning hole, and Maek (멕 in Hangul, 脈 in Haja), usually translated as vital sign (not exactly right) are also used in a more limited fashion, among Hapkido people. Some Hapkido Schools named this discipline as Hyul Do Bup (혈도법 in Hangul) and other as Su Chim Do Bub (수침도법 in Hangul).
Kupso Chirigui is still a discipline rarely seen in usual training,
as it is usually reserved for trusted disciples of traditional martial arts schools.
Much is being speculated about it, but far less is understood.
A shroud of misleading “esoteric” mystery
is still covering the secrecy of its existence, hiding the real
potential of this Art, and opening the door to charlatans and
fantasy speculation.
Traditionally, Kupso are specific spots in the
human body where Ki can be manipulated (by strikes or pressure) to
produce varied levels of damage, depending on the spot or combination
of spots being attacked. Today, it is agreed among experts with practical knowledge, that damage is mostly produced by anatomical and physiological damage, associated to Ki point drainage or stimulation.
Kupso Chirigui is a highly efficient way to give pain, cripple
or kill an enemy, and has being an ancillary discipline of the most advanced Traditional
Martial Arts, developed along centuries to improve the effectiveness
of blows and grappling techniques.
In Kupso Chirigui, the combination of Ki
points (Hyul, or 穴 in Hanja ), located along Ki paths in fragile specific human anatomical areas (Anatomical Targets only taught in Seminars and regular classes), are the basis to identify vital points useful in the Martial Arts. In practical
terms, most of the times, Kupso may be translated as Ki points or groups
of Ki points, located in anatomically fragile regions.
As the healing and martial approaches
to understand human body functioning are complementary,
until recently, it was usual that high level Martial Artists were well
versed in chiropractics (“bone fixing”), acupuncture,
herbal
medicine (Hanbang
or 본초학),
as well as kupso chirigui and weapons. In the past, this kind of education
was the most advanced and sophisticated available to ensure
success in warfare activities and daily life.
In this section we introduce Traditional Kupso Chirigui applied to Taekwon-Do and Hapkiyusul techniques, analyzed under the light of modern science. Scientific and traditional interpretations are presented, giving emphasis to fighting applicability and real physical effects.
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