Chung Seh (true and proper posture) Kwan Jhang Nim Charles Ferraro Reprinted from "Mi Guk Kwan News" Volume #7 / Issue #6 Fall / Winter 2002

In this issue I would like to discuss the concept of chung seh (true and proper posture). In addition to the obvious application to stances in basic technique and hyung (form) practice, there is the added benefit of improving your psychological well-being and thereby enhancing your warrior spirit. 

When performing basic technique and hyung, proper chung seh is essential. Conscientious instructors, spend a great deal of time adjusting shoulders, stances and back alignment. They often remind their students to bend their knees. How often have you admired a competitor's perfect stances while observing hyung competition? Your eyes are immediately drawn to his or her low stances and straight back.

How important is proper chung seh in meditation? Almost every meditation discipline that requires practitioners to sit emphasizes the importance of keeping the body erect and straight. 

Let's see what the "Song of the Sip Sahm Seh" has to say about chung seh. This writing can be found in both the Tang Soo Do Mi Guk Kwan Dan and Gup Manuals. The source material for this work comes form the "Tai Chi Classics", which are considered authoritative instruction for proper demonstration of the martial arts.

"When the base of the spine is erect, energy rises to the top of the head. Hold the head as if suspended on a string."

While the eyes may very well be the windows of the soul, proper chung seh is most assuredly the reflection of one's spirit. It tells a story, more eloquently than words ever could, of one's strength, one's resolve and one's confidence. Chung seh is an essential element in the way warriors carry themselves.

Have you ever seen anyone suffering from chronic depression? What is the first thing you noticed? More than likely, it's poor posture. He or she hangs their head and slouches. Their eyes are downcast and their shoulders are slumped. When seated, they slide their rounded back down the chair. Would you be apt to follow this type of leader? Of course not!

Chung seh is the currency of leadership. It is an unspoken language, a tool of command. When a group of people are talking, all fall silent and turn their attention when the man or woman who stands the straightest speaks. He or she is the straightest, so they must be the authority. And believe it or not, regardless of who in the group is greatest in stature, all usually assume the man or woman who stands most erect to be the tallest.

I am sure you have experienced thinking a person was taller than they actually were. You may have thought that person was over six feet tall only to find out that they were only 5'10". I am sure that their erect posture was the major contributor to this misconception.

Proper chung seh isn't just a social issue. It is a tactical and technical one as well. Keeping your head up centers your field of vision and keeping your back straight enables you to pivot quickly and deliver more force with less muscular effort. Proper chung seh is a key element of the concept of moving from center that is so pervasive in the martial arts community. 

A vertically erect body naturally centers its weight over the tangien (abdomen, one point or area two inches below the navel). Only with proper posture can your command your physical center and the concentric circles that emanate from it.

It is not difficult to learn proper chung seh. If you are not limited to any physical handicaps and with a minimum amount of conditioning, it actually takes less energy to stand or sit straight then it would to slouch. If you think about this from a logical point of view, a straight body is balanced over the abdomen, the center of gravity. It takes less energy to hold it there than it does to lean forward in a slumped position.

Unfortunately, years of improper posture has led to rounded shoulders and curved spines that slump forward. To compensate for this imbalanced position, their bodies also bow at the lower back, jutting their pelvises forward, recentering their abdomen beneath their upper torsos. As they continue to hold their position day after day, the muscles supporting their necks, back and shoulders weaken. Eventually, the spine begins to collapse.

As in many other things, prevention is more effective than cure. Even people with the most eroded spines can improve their chung seh. The key is constant attention. You have to make good chung seh a habit. To practice good posture, you simply straighten your body and put these key points in place:

• Stand up straight.
• Pull your slumping shoulders back.
• Get your head squarely over your shoulders by consciously rotating your hip slightly and pointing your tailbone back a bit.

After years of sitting with your back bowed standing straight won't feel natural. You will actually have to arch your lower spine into a position that feels exaggerated. One technique that helps to achieve good posture is as follows: Just pretend you're stretching your body upward to make it as tall as possible. Also imagine a string is attached to the crown of your head and as you walk through your day it constantly pulls you upward.

Practice these principles as often s possible. Do it while standing, walking or sitting in a chair or sitting in meditation. All through the day think chung seh. Check yourself constantly. Make it an obsession. When practicing your Tang Soo Do make it your number one priority to be ever mindful of your chung seh. Your hyungs and techniques will improve quickly and qualitatively by concentrating on this one simple concept.