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| Tae Kwon-Do Philosophy | ||||||||||||||||
| Although the literal translation on Tae Kwon-Do is "the art of kicking and punching", (Tae means "to kick", Kwon means "to punch" and Do means "art") this is no more than a superficial translation. Do in Korean implies the philosophical approach to a way of life, a pathway to achieve enlightenment. The students of Tae Kwon-Do, through rigorous physical training, intend to improve themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. | ||||||||||||||||
| Spiritually, the Korean culture and martial arts were strongly influenced by Buddhism and enriched by the Hwarang-do, a military, education, and social organisation for noble youth that was instituted by King Jim Heung of the Silla dynasty. The unification of the three kingdoms was made possible by the spiritual influence of The Hwarangdo. It's codes of honour consisted basically of loyalty to the nation, respect and obedience to one's parents, courage and bravery on the battlefield, and avoidance of unnecessary violence and killings.This is the philosophical backbone of the Korean martial arts. Simply speaking, the philosophy of Tae Kwon-Do is to achieve an understanding of love and benevolence, magnanimity, sympathy, and character. The modern day Grand Masters of Tae Kwon-Do philosophy claim that Tae Kwon-Do promotes the formation of good moral character, non-violent attitudes and behaviour, and leads to the enlightenment or some sort of mystic consciousness or divine union. | ||||||||||||||||
| The true Tae Kwon-Do practitioner extends this art to all aspects of life, in order to achieve harmony with nature and thus a stable and peaceful existence. Tae Kwon Do is not only an excellent method of self defence, but a way of life. These qualities can be traced back to the influence on Buddhism, and its aim of the "Mastery of Self". Through the philosophy of Tae Kwon-Do, a student can rid him or herself of the ego, and live in harmony with the universe. | ||||||||||||||||
| At the centre of this philosophy, is the concept of interaction between opposing forces in nature (Yin vs. Yang). Equilibrium is only achieved when contrary forces are distributed in equal amounts, resulting in balance and harmony. When only one force dominates, however, the result is unbalance, which could mean discord or failure. | ||||||||||||||||
| In today's society there are relatively fewer chances to encounter a life threatening situation than when Tae Kwon-Do was first developed. To spend several years of ones life would seem a high price to pay for the chance to defend yourself in the not-so-likely event of a fatal attack. Therefore, it is the more spiritual part of Tae Kwon-Do what should motivate somebody to become one of its practitioners. For some people, the causes could be simply fitness or the desire to train and excel in a sport. Tae Kwon-Do will very well fit the necessities of these people, however, a true practitioner of the art should never forget the importance of the philosophical and spiritual parts of Tae Kwon Do as well the physical ones. Whoever makes this mistake will not experience all the benefits that the art can provide to its true practitioners. | ||||||||||||||||
| Tae Kwon-Do also teaches the importance of responsibility and honesty as the means to achieve harmony with society. The true Tae Kwon-Do student is the one that knows how to behave in any place and at any time. It is very important to stress the need that our world has of trustworthy and sincere people. This are the kind of people that Tae Kwon-Do is most probably associated to. This should be the insignia for which anybody could recognise the Tae Kwon-Do practitioner. | ||||||||||||||||
| Respect, humility and high sense of morality are also important teachings that all of those who practice Tae Kwon-Do should learn. Respect could never be over stressed, because it is respect what maintains healthy the master-student relationship. If the student does not respect his master, he will never become worthy of the masters trust, and therefore his presence in the Dojang will not be welcomed. Respect is an important subject in Tae Kwon-Do. Respect is expected from all students toward their parents, their nation, their master and fellow students, and in general toward all human beings. | ||||||||||||||||
| Humility is a quality that all serious Tae Kwon-Do students should posses. Although it is true that practising the art of Tae Kwon-Do boosts your self confidence, this should not convey the false sense of superiority. On the contrary, the good student should be humble and considerate. In the same way, the highest regard for morality and ethics should be observed by all Tae Kwon-Do practitioners. | ||||||||||||||||