Taekwondo
is one of the most systematic and scientific Korean traditional
martial arts, that teaches more than physical fighting skills.
It is a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit
and life through training our body and mind. Today, it has
become a global sport that has gained an international reputation,
and stands among the official games in the Olympics.
Let's
take a closer look at the meaning of the word "Tae"
"Kwon" "Do." It is composed of three parts
as shown in the English spelling, though it is one word in
Korean. "Tae" means "foot," "leg,"
or "to step on"; "Kwon" means "fist,"
or "fight"; and "Do" means the "way"
or "discipline." If we put these three parts together,
we can see two important concepts behind "Tae Kwon Do".
First, Taekwondo is the right way of using Tae and Kwon 'fists
and feet,' or all the parts of the body that are represented
by fists and feet. Second, it is a way to control or calm
down fights and keep the peace. This concept comes from the
meaning of Tae Kwon 'to put fists under control' [or 'to step
on fists']. Thus Taekwondo means "the right way of using
all parts of the body to stop fights and help to build a better
and more peaceful world."
Taekwondo has been developing with the
5000-year long history of Korea, being called by several different
names in the course. In Korea, Taekwondo began as a defense
martial art called "Subak" or "Taekkyon,"
and developed as a way of training body and mind in the ancient
kingdom of Koguryo, under the name of "Sunbae."
In the Shilla period, it had become the backbone of Hwarangdo
that aimed at producing leaders of the country.
Taekwondo today is similar to the martial
arts in other Oriental countries and shares some features
with them, because in the course of its evolution it has gained
many different styles that existed in the martial arts of
the countries surrounding Korea, like Japan and China.
But Taekwondo is very different from many such oriental martial
arts. First, physically it is very dynamic with active movements
that include a mirage of foot skills. Second, the principle
physical movements are in simpatico with that of the mind
and life as a whole. Third, it possesses dynamic poses from
another perspective.
Taekwondo
can be characterized by unity: the unity of body, mind, and
life, and the unity of the pose ["poomsae"] and
confrontation, and cracking down. When you do Taekwondo, you
should make your mind peaceful and synchronize your mind with
your movements, and extend this harmony to your life and society.
This is how in Taekwondo the principle of physical movements,
the principle of mind training, and the principle of life
become one and the same. On the other hand, the right poomsae
lead to the right confrontation, which will eventually produce
great destructive power.
How come we reach such a unity in Taekwondo? Taekwondo is
a way of life, much like having a job, raising a family, fighting
for a cause, or any one of numerous raison d'etre. What makes
Taekwondo different from these is that it is an activity for
survival in extremely antagonistic situations. One must always
overcome the enemy that is trying to cause harm. But simply
winning a fight is not enough to guarantee one's safety, because
the enemy may recuperate and attack again. Moreover, there
may be many other enemies than the one that was just defeated.
One cannot ever feel safe unless one gains permanent peace.
To attain this permanent or lasting peace, one needs unity.
This is what Taekwondo aim for. Otherwise Taekwondo would
be no different from any other street-fighting skills.
Taekwondo pursues harmonious growth
and improvements of life through its unique activities. This
is why one could say Taekwondo is a way of life. To ultimately
enable ourselves to lead more valuable lives, we would do
well by finding the guiding principles deeply hidden in Taekwondo.
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thank you ---------------