COURTESY
is giving a bow,
to Black Belts and teachers who show you how.
It's doing your chores before you are asked,
and being helpful in every class.
It's simple words like thank you and please,
and never -- no never to hurt or to tease.
INTEGRITY
is the simple rule
of being honest at home and at school.
It's never cheating when taking a test,
or thinking you're better than all the rest.
To lie or to steal just wouldn't be right,
so try to be honest with all of your might.
PERSEVERANCE
is telling your heart
you're going to finish the things that you start.
It's refusing to quit when the going gets tough,
or starting to cry when sparring gets rough.
It's not giving up on the board you must break,
no matter how many tries it may take.
SELF-CONTROL
states a simple fact,
you should always think before you act.
It's standing in class, not a muscle you twitch,
even if only to scratch and itch.
It's counting to ten when things make you mad,
then walking away because fighting is bad.
INDOMITABLE
SPIRIT is not showing fear,
or running away when trouble is near.
It's knowing in life there's some risks you must take,
and along the way some mistakes you may make.
It's standing up proudly and thinking with glee,
I'm OK! I can do it! I believe in me!
- tkd
student
