GiCheon

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GiCheon is assumed to have been passed down secretly by nameless sages who lived amidst the mountains in Korea. However, since none have left behind their names or any other written material which is commonly founded aspects in any Korean traditional cultural heritages, the origin and history of GiCheon remain something of a mystery.

GiCheon only became known to Korean society-at-large in the late 1960s or the early 1970s, when GiCheon practitioner Park Dae-Yang who had been taught by WonHye SangIhn left behind his reclusive life in mountains with the mission of teaching all humans how to achieve happiness in their aspiration for “cosmic reality,” ”self-awareness,” or “enlightenment.”

There is a historical Chinese writing called "SaGi (史記)" written by "SaMaCheon or Ssuma Ch'ien (司馬遷- Chinese historian. about BC 145 ~ about BC 85) saying that “HwangJe or Hwang Ti (黃帝- the forefather of China)” learned “SeonDoh (ancient Korean mind body discipline)” from “JaBu SeonIhn (紫府仙人)” in SamCheongGung (三淸宮) of DaePungSan (大風山) mountain (presently, BaekDuSan mountain in North Korea), and taught it to Chinese.

From this fact, it is guessed that “SeonIhns (ancient Korean mind body discipline practitioners or sages)” in DaePungSan mountain, where the headquarter of GiCheon had existed, would have connections with GiCheon.

After all, it is guessed that nameless sages or national or religious leaders would have been practiced GiCheon as a way of discipline in the mountain which people can’t do easily.

Because GiCheon has been preserved in its original form, without pandering to fads within the way of practice, today’s GiCheon trainees can learn the same techniques and forms as did the GiCheon masters thousands of years ago.

What makes GiCheon unique, however, is the principle of YeokGeun (Yeok: to change, Geun: muscle), or locking of the joints which can’t be found anywhere like Korean or Chinese martial arts, yoga, etc.