A lifelong path of study
Our Studies
Martial practice, inner cultivation, and a broader understanding of life.
Chun Seung Won preserves the disciplines passed through the Song family. Rooted in the study of nature, these practices connect physical development with character, reflection, and the responsibility of caring for life.
“Lose Health, Lose Everything.”
Grandmaster Song
01 / Martial traditions
Three branches, one family heritage
The school preserves these branches as part of the Song family tradition.
Song family Shaolin branch
The school’s lineage identifies Xu Xuan Ping with Chang Quan, or “Long Fist.” The family account describes his teachings as passed to and preserved within the Song family, carrying forward traditions rooted in Shaolin.
Song family Tai Chi branch
Song Yuanqiao, known in Korean as Song Won Gyo, holds a central place in the family’s Tai Chi tradition. The school’s account connects him with Zhang Sanfeng and the Southern Family Heaven Earth Style, preserved within the Song family.
Song family Soo Bak Ki branch
The school traces this Korean branch to the Soo Bak Ki traditions associated with the Hwarang of Silla. Its study encompasses kicking, striking, breaking, throwing, locks, holds, and weapons, maintained as part of the Song family system.
02 / Breathing, mind & movement
Cultivating the foundations
Breathing, attention, and the ability to move form connected areas of practice.
Breathing exercise
Ki Gong in Korean and Chi Kung in Chinese are described in the school’s teachings as “Energy Development.” Breathing study brings attention to the relationship between breath, physical practice, and mental development.
Meditation
Mental exercise and development are integral to the tradition. Practices include Moo Shim, or “Empty Mind,” and Hwa Dool, or “Chasing the Word,” as tools for studying and cultivating the mind.
Mobility and flexibility
The body’s ability to move is a foundation of practice. Traditional studies include Shaolin Yi Jin Jing, the “Muscle Tendon Change Classic,” and Heo Jun’s Doinchejo, described by the school as “Right Way Body Exercise.”
03 / Broader studies
Learning beyond physical practice
Medicine, strategy, philosophy, and tea broaden the practitioner’s understanding of life.
Traditional eastern medicine
This study includes the principles behind acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, nutrition, and practices for mind and body. The tradition recognizes Heo Jun and his work Dongui Bogam as an important source. The focus here is understanding the principles and their place within the family’s teachings.
Traditional Baduk
Baduk is known as Go in English and Weiqi in Chinese. Within the tradition, the study of this game accompanies martial arts as a discipline of mental development and a way to deepen understanding through practice.
Philosophy study
Song Si-yeol (1607–1689), also known as U-am, is associated with Songnihak—the study of nature and principle. Philosophical study encourages a deeper perspective on life and our relationship with the world.
The Way of Tea
Dah Doh brings together tea ceremony and the traditional study of teas. The ceremony expresses an attitude toward learning: to receive new knowledge, first “empty your cup.” Tea becomes an opportunity to practice openness and attention.
Taking things forward
Open yourself to learning
Study begins with the willingness to meet challenges and new ideas. The disciplines offer ways to develop ourselves and carry that learning into our relationships and everyday choices.
Balance
Life includes highs and lows. Develop the ability to recognize imbalance and work toward a balanced state again.
Improved perspective
Each person has a distinct experience of life. Appreciating other viewpoints can deepen our own understanding.
Meeting fear and uncertainty
Study invites us to examine the unfamiliar, seek meaning, and develop the courage to take part in life.
Self-improvement
Learn and develop tools that help you become a better person. That effort begins within and extends to your surroundings.
Stronger connection
A greater understanding of yourself can strengthen your connections with family, friends, and other people.
Beyond self-imposed limits
Recognize what you have, remain open to possibility, and meet the effort required for growth.
Continuing the tradition
Understanding comes through practice
These studies belong to a continuing way of life. Explore the principles behind them in The Way, or read further in the teachings preserved by the school.
For questions about the tradition or opportunities for further study, please contact us. Opportunities are considered individually.