Balance

Balance :{ Cho Hwa } is the ability to execute an identified technique or action while maintaining ones’ physical relationship with the environment. In the Korean culture there is no great distinction made between one's Physical balance, or Emotional balance or Psychological balance. Balance is balance. 

    When a person chooses to practice Hapkido, it is as important to maintain a Physical balance as a sound platform from which to execute techniques. Physical balance is reflected in an even stance, usually about a shoulder's width as measured between the insides ("arches") of the feet. Knees are bent ever so slightly. Without years of experience, constant shifting from foot to foot and stance to stance more often has the result of compromising one's balance than in providing some tactical advantage. Just breath, and think of the way a new-born baby walks as its just learning its steps. 

The same goes for Psychological or Intellectual balance. Conflicts are fought and won (..and lost) in the mind. History is replete with many stories of cases where engagements were won, not by striking at a person's body but the way they think. Today militaries have whole departments concerned with "psychological warfare" whose purpose is to gage and influence the state of the enemies thinking. Balance requires that one not spend great amounts of time thinking too much or to little about what one is doing. 

The counter-attribute is “unbalance” and likewise includes  unbalancing one’s partner physically, mentally or both. It is very common to hear instructors talk about the importance of "taking" an attacker's balance in the physical sense. The is also the matter of taking a person's mental balance ("psych him out") or emotional balance (rattle him or "shake him up") as well. Something as primary as selecting the ground or area for a confrontation --- the well-known "home-court advantage"--- can have marked influence on an outcome.