Tenants of Tae Kwon Do

[MeLisa Turcott Strongheart]

COURTESY

Taekwondo students should practice courtesy at all times in order to promote the spirit of mutual understanding, promote politeness to one another, avoid feeling superior, and encourage a sense of justice.

Courtesy may take many forms:

Politeness: when we say please, thank you, open or hold doors for others, allow another person to do something first, or ask instead of command.  

Distinction of Roles: the ways we speak or act with respect towards our seniors, elders, or teachers and with care and concern for our juniors.

Consideration of Others: when we are aware of how others think and feel and treat others with compassion.

Compliments / Honoring Others: when we recognize good in others or acknowledge their actions or thoughts.

Indulgence:  when we ignore a slight or meanness, or when someone makes a mistake and we do not make an issue of it, when we allow an unimportant mistake or error to go unnoticed.

Deference: when we allow another person to do a thing first because it will be helpful, kind or respectful to that person.

Generosity: to give someone something or make something available to someone out of kindness.

Courtesy promotes mutual understanding, harmony, peacefulness, humbleness, cooperation, respect, and a sense of justice.

 

SELF CONTROL

loss of self-control in class can result in injury to yourself and others.  Your ability to get along and adapt to your environment and to recognize your capabilities is also a measure of self-control.


Self-Control may take many forms:

Restraint: the way we control our actions when we are upset or angry.

Discipline: the ability to stay consistently focused on your goals, and on the actions required to achieve those goals.

Self-Mastery:  to have control over and awareness of your actions and words – not to be motivated soley by impulses and urges.

Discretion: to not violate confidences, or speak or act in ways that will unnecessarily hurt others.

Will Power: to have the energy, desire and attitude to continue a course of action even in the presence of obstacles and hardships. To be aware of the people and situations in which we speak or act and how it will effect those people.

Dignity: to keep a calm exterior in the face of adversity.

An inability to live within your capabilities demonstrates a lack of self-control. For example, if during sparring one does not have the control to kick to the face without contact but does so anyway, this reflects a lack of self-control which could have dangerous consequences.  Self-Control means never having to say you're sorry.

One must exert self-control both inside and outside the dojang. Self-control must be practiced to avoid injury to self and others, as a means of achieving personal goals and growth, and to improve your interactions with others.

 

INTEGRITY

In Taekwondo one must be able to determine right from wrong and to have a conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt.  The student must be constant in their thoughts and actions.  The student must always seek to integrate their thoughts, feelings, and values within themselves and with the world in which they live through consistent actions.

Integrity may take many forms:

Honesty: to be truthful with yourself and others – honesty is the best way to achieve your goals.

Consistancy:  your actions should match your words – it is important to fulfill your promises and obligations, and stay true to your word.

Loyalty:  to be faithful to the people and practices that are important in your life.  Loyalty is a way of acknowledging the positive role that people – such as family and friends – and practices – such as the art of Taekwondo – have had in your life.

Adherence to a standard of values:  to be mindful of what is right and what is wrong.  You should strive to keep your conduct in accordance with your knowledge of right and wrong.

Learning from your mistakes: using your mistakes as a tool to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.

If you demonstrate integrity in your daily interactions with others, people will learn to regard you as a dependable, responsible, and honest person.  A person of integrity is valued as a friend, student, teacher, employee, or employer.  Integrity will help you in all areas of your life.

 

PERSERVANCE

Perseverance is the quality of being insistent.  Success comes to those who don't give up.

Perseverance may take many forms:

Patience: the ability to calmly proceed when things become slow or difficult.  You must know that on the road to reach your goals there will be difficult times, which are best met with a positive attitude and a sense of purpose.

Focus on goals:  keeping in mind what it is that you are trying to achieve.  Reaching your goals requires hard work – it is easier to work hard when you remember what you are working for!

Overcoming obstacles:  finding ways to keep working towards your goal when difficult situations arise.  We often experience unexpected difficulties that seem to block the road towards our goals.    Don’t be turned back when a boulder blocks your path  -- climb over it!  This is the essence of perseverance.

Following your convictions:  being true to what you think is right and important.  Belief in the worthiness of your goal will help you achieve it.

It takes a lot of work to achieve something truly great.  A large amount of personal satisfaction can be gained from the growth, mastery, and self-knowledge that come from practice and commitment to a goal.  The key to reaching your goal is to never give up.

Perseverance is something you can practice every day in many small ways.  For example, if you encounter a difficult problem in a homework assignment, you can resolve to stick with it and work on it until you solve it, instead of giving up quickly in frustration.  What you will gain is better understanding, which comes from solving something yourself, and the self-confidence to know you can do something difficult.

 

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

people should be modest as well as honest.  When confronted with injustice, deal with the situation without fear of outcome or reprisal.  Do not allow yourself to be intimidated or dominated by any circumstances.

Indomitable spirit means standing up for what is just, regardless of who tells you that you’re wrong.  It means having the courage to be yourself at all times, and to do what you think is right regardless of the pressures people put on you.  Finally, it means having a strong spirit that is not crushed or swayed by adversity or obstacles.