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In Korean, tae means "foot", kwon means "fist", and do means "the way". When translated literally to English, Taekwon-do means "The way of the foot and fist". However, that definition suggests only the physical aspects, and does not sufficiently encompass all that is truly the art of Taekwon-Do. There are many facets to Taekwon-Do, and while physical conditioning and self defense skills are certainly advantages, there are other far-reaching benefits, including mental and physical fitness, personal discipline and self confidence. It all has to do with the development of the Taekwon-do spirit, which carries over into all aspects of a person's life. "Do" in Korean implies a philosophical way of approaching life - a means by which understanding is achieved. Taekwon-Do seeks to improve a person mentally, physically, and spiritually: The physical techniques strengthen the body and improve coordination and timing; the development of concentration strengthens the mind and improves mental attitudes. The combination of the mental and physical conditioning produces an all-around more positive outlook, better discipline and a renewed sense of confidence. "The philosophy of Taekwon-Do is based on the ethical, moral, and spiritual standards by which men can live together in harmony." General Choi Hong Hi, Founder of Taekwon-Do TENETS
OF TAEKWON-DO The philosophy of Taekwon-do is based upon constant striving for excellence. The goal is to become an honorable person with perfect character and physical condition. To realize the ultimate benefits of Taekwon-do, one must practice it daily and commit to it for a lifetime. Though none of these goals is absolutely attainable, the key is in one's endeavors. In Taekwon-do, we honor five fundamental tenets of living. These should serve as a guide to all serious students of the art, both inside and outside of class: Courtesy. Students must show respect to their instructors, to higher ranking students and to all others. Students must be polite and encourage a sense of justice. Students must constantly look within themselves and not be quick to judge others. Integrity. One must be able to define right and wrong and have the conscience, if wrong, to feel remorse. Within the do-jang, one must honestly attempt to do whatever the instructor asks. If you are asked to do 20 push-ups, do not do only 10 because the instructor is not watching you. Outside the do-jang, students must not misrepresent themselves or rationalize their behavior. Perseverance. Nothing of any true good comes easy. Perseverance and patience are required to excel at anything. Perseverance means sticking to it. If you fail the first time, or even the hundredth time, try again, confident that you will succeed as long as your purpose is worthy. Self Control. This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the do-jang, either conducting oneself in free sparring or in onešs personal affairs. Good self-control in free sparring enables you to execute stunning techniques without injuring your partners. Good self-control in daily life allows you to work comfortably and confidently with others. Indomitable Spirit. Never be afraid to be yourself and trust your judgment. Indomitable spirit is what enables you to keep your ideals and your identity in the face of overwhelming pressures. It is the strength to reject the things that "everyone else is doing" if you believe them to be wrong. The martial arts skills learned in Taekwon-do are to be used to prevent conflict and violence. Never should a Taekwon-do student initiate physical conflict, and the techniques of Taekwon-do should be used only as a last resort in self defense or in the defense of another person. Essentially, Taekwon-do students are expected to be model citizens and work for the betterment of their community. These tenets are the most important aspects of Taekwon-do. Because they cannot be formally practiced in a classroom session in the manner of patterns or technique, it is up to the student to practice this way of approaching daily life on their own. FUNDAMENTALS OF SELF-DEFENSE: BEYOND PHYSICAL SKILLS Taekwon-Do strives to teach the student that fighting, even if for self defense, is not the goal. Learning to avoid situations where there is a need to defend oneself - learning to have enough confidence in who you are to walk away from confrontation rather than escalating it - is the essence of Taekwon-Do. In order to do this, broaden your perspective of self defense to that of maximum personal well-being. This involves more than knowing how to fight or defend oneself against an attack. It starts with a strong, positive physical, mental and spiritual grounding. It includes such things as a good diet, exercise, poise and high self esteem. It means keeping yourself physically and mentally fit. If you carry yourself in a confident manner, it is far less likely you will ever be attacked. High self-esteem also will allow your good sense to prevail and keep you away from dangerous situations. Daily practice of Taekwon-Do will not only give you the necessary self-defense skills, but also build self-confidence to maximize your personal well-being. Preferred ways to maintain maximum personal well-being: 1. Stay away from potentially dangerous places or situations. 2. If you wander into such a situation, do not panic, but leave promptly. 3. If confronted, don't encourage an escalation of the conflict. Keep your cool. 4. If an attack is imminent, get away fast, if that is possible. 5. If you cannot get away, shout. Draw attention to your predicament and attempt to scare away your assailant. 6. If it becomes apparent that you absolutely cannot elude the attacker in any other way, you have no other choice than to defend yourself. Maintaining your personal well being, both physically and mentally, requires continuous commitment. To have effective power, speed and technique, one must practice regularly and diligently. Likewise you must constantly strive to be a better person on a mental/spiritual level. Classes
build strength, stamina and flexibility, which can be maintained over
a long lifetime if the student practices on a regular basis each week.
Classes also seek to instill a positive, pro-active mental outlook - one
where students are encouraged to reach for their full potential - not
to realize their limitations. There is no quick-fix solution to obtaining
a state of maximum personal well being. A constant maintenance, or total
way-of-life approach is preferred. Taekwon-Do: it is a way of life.
HISTORY THE TRADITIONAL
TAEKWON DO COLLEGE General Choi Hong Hi, the founding father of Taekwon-Do, was born in what is now North Korea on November 9th, 1918. During his youth, he was sent to study calligraphy under one of the most famous teachers in Korea. In addition to his skills as a calligrapher, his teacher was also a master of Taekkyon, the ancient Korean art of foot fighting. The teacher, concerned over the frail condition of his new student, began teaching him the rigorous exercises of Taekkyon to help build up his body. General Choi was sent to Japan to further his studies, and while there he earned a black belt in karate. Because the Japanese occupied Korea from 1909-1945, he was forced to join the Japanese army as a student volunteer. Toward the latter part of World War II, General Choi was able to return to his native Korea, where he subsequently received a 7-year prison sentence when his plans to overthrow the Japanese government were discovered. He was imprisoned until the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea in 1945. Upon the liberation of Korea, in January of 1946 General Choi was placed in a privileged position as a founding member of the newly formed South Korean Armed Forces. He began to teach karate to his soldiers as a means of physical and mental training. He soon saw the need to develop Korea's own national martial art. It was with this ambition in mind that General Choi began to develop new techniques, combined with those learned from his studies of karate and Taekkyon. By the end of 1954 he had nearly completed the foundation of a new martial art for Korea, and on April 11, 1955, it was given the name "Taekwon-Do". Source of reference: Taekwon-Do by General Choi Hong Hi.
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