 |
Taekwondo, although meaning "the art of kicking and punching," encompasses more than just self-defense or even mental and physical coordination. Taekwondo's purpose is to develop a specific spirit that can be applied to all aspects of life. The spirit is believed to be achieved through the harmonization of oneself with nature. This concept can be traced back to Buddhism, which introduced the concept of "Mastery of Self." China brought Buddhism to Korea during the Koguryo dynasty (347 A.D), greatly contributing to the later growth of its martial arts. Taekwondo philosophy focuses on the Zen-Buddhist philosophy of living in harmony with the universe.
Harmony comes about when opposing forces are distributed equally. For instance, when an opponent initiates aggression/ attack, and the defender yields (steps aside), the energy of the attack becomes harmless. Because the defender's response was the exact opposite of the attack, the attack was not able to gain strength, and therefore diffused. It is only when one force dominates the other that this balance is upset. Ultimately, the goal is to bring students to a level of consciousness at which their actions are harmonized with all forces in life.
With this ability to think over and analyze one's acts, a person will in turn become involved in his self-development and mature in all aspects: physically, spiritually, and mentally. Practicing the techniques therefore, becomes a method of self-perfection.
These are the main tenets of Taekwondo:
- Courtesy (Ye Lin): to be polite and encourage a sense of justice
- Integrity (Yom Chi): to be truthful to oneself and others
- Perseverance (In Nae): the patience to never give up
- Self-Control (Guk Gi): control of one's actions, desires, and emotions
- Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgool): to maintain modesty and honesty at all times and to deal with confrontations without any fear or hesitation
Like challenges? Take the Taekwondo Quiz.
