Needless
to say, the success or failure of Taekwon-Do training depends
largely on how one observes and implements the tenets of Taekwon-Do
which should serve as a guide for all serious students of the
art.
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.
Taekwon-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.
1) To promote the spirit of mutual concessions
2) To be ashamed of one's vices, contempting those of others
3) To be polite to one another
4) To encourage the sense of justice and humanity
5) To distinguish instructor from student, senior from junior,
and elder from younger
6) To behave oneself according to etiquette
7) To respect others' possessions
8) To handle matters with fairness and sincerity
9) To refrain from giving or accepting a gift when in doubt
INTEGRITY (Yom Chi)
In Taekwon-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:
1) The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting
improper techniques to his students because of a lack of knowledge
or apathy.
2) The student who misrepresents himself by "fixing"
breaking materials before demonstrations.
3) The instructor who camouflages bad technique with luxurious
training halls and false flattery to his students.
4) The student who requests ranks from an instructor, or attempts
to purchase it.
5) The student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling
of power.
6) The instructor who teaches and promotes his art for materialistic
gains.
7) The students whose actions do not live up to his words.
8) 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 Taekwon-Do 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 Thermoplylae 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 Taekwon-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.
