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“Taekwondo is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills. It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has become a global sport that has gained an international reputation, and stands among the official games in the Olympics.” For more on the history and philosophy of TKD, go to the World Taekwondo Federation site.

TaeKwonDo is most noteworthy as a fast-paced martial art of precise kicking and hand-techniques. It is an art form, a fighting system, and a sport. It is perfect combination of physical fitness and self-defense.

There is something for people of all ages in TaeKwonDo. However, TaeKwonDo should not be thought of without considering its tenets.

EXPLANATION OF TENETS

A tenet is something accepted as an important truth. In other words, a tenet is a principle or rule.

Needless to say, the success or failure of Taekwondo training depends largely on how one observes and implements the tenets of Taekwondo.

The Tenets should serve as a guide for all serious students of the art. The FIVE TENETS OF TAEKWONDO are:

COURTESY (Ye Ui)

It can be said that courtesy is an unwritten regulation prescribed by ancient teachers of philosophy as a means to enlighten human beings while maintaining a harmonious society. It can be further be as an ultimate criterion required of a mortal.

Tae Kwon Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct the training in an orderly manner as well.

To promote the spirit of mutual concessions

To be ashamed of one's vices, contempting those of others

To be polite to one another

To encourage the sense of justice and humanity

To distinguish instructor from student, senior from junior, and elder from younger

To behave oneself according to etiquette

To respect others' possessions

To handle matters with fairness and sincerity

To refrain from giving or accepting a gift when in doubt

INTEGRITY (Yom Chi)

In Tae Kwon Do, the word integrity assumes a looser definition than the one usually presented in Webster's dictionary. One must be able to define right and wrong and have a conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt. Listed are some examples where integrity is lacking:

The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper techniques to his students because of a lack of knowledge or apathy.

The student who misrepresents himself by "fixing" breaking materials before demonstrations.

The instructor who camouflages bad technique with luxurious training halls and false flattery to his students.

The student who requests ranks from an instructor, or attempts to purchase it.

The student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling of power.

The instructor who teaches and promotes his art for materialistic gains.

The students whose actions do not live up to his words.

The student who feels ashamed to seek opinions from his juniors.

PERSEVERANCE (In Nae)

There is an old Oriental saying, "Patience leads to virtue or merit, One can make a peaceful home by being patient for 100 times." Certainly happiness and prosperity are most likely brought to the patient person. To achieve something, whether it is a higher degree or the perfection or a technique, one must set his goal, then constantly persevere.

Robert Bruce learned his lesson of perseverance from the persistent efforts of a lowly spider. It was this perseverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century. One of the most important secrets in becoming a leader of Taekwondo is to overcome every difficulty by perseverance. Confucius said, "one who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance."

SELF CONTROL (Guk Gi)

This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the dojang, whether conducting oneself in free sparring or in one's personal affairs. A loss of self-control in free sparring can prove disastrous to both student and opponent. An inability to live and work within one's capability or sphere is also a lack of self-control.

According to Lao-Tzu "the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else."

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (Baekjool Boolgool)

"Here lie 300, who did their duty," a simple epitaph for one of the greatest acts of courage known to mankind. Although facing the superior forces of Xerxes, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. It is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.

A serious student of Tae Kwon Do will at all times be modest and honest. If confronted with injustice, he will deal with the belligerent without any fear or hesitation at all, with indomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however many the number may be.

Confucius declared," It is an act of cowardice to fail to speak out against injustice." As history has proven, those who have pursued their dreams earnestly and strenuously with indomitable spirit have never failed to achieve their goals.