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The tenets of TAEKWON-DO

Courtesy(ye ui)

It can be said that courtesy is an unwritten rule prescribed by ancient teachers of philosophy as a means to enlighten human beings while maintaining a harmonous society. It can further be seen as an ultimate goal for all mortals.

Taekwon-do students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct the training in an orderly manner.

1. To promote the spirit of mutual concessions.

2. To be ashamed of one's vices, contempting those of others.

3. To be polite to one another.

4. To encourage the sense of justice and humanity.

5. To distinguish instructor from student, senior from junior, and elder from younger.

6. To behave according to etiquette.

7. To respect others' possesions.

8. To handle matters with fairness and sincerity.

9. To refrain from giving or accepting any gift when in doubt.

Integrity (yum chi)

In Taekwon-do, the word integrity assumes a looser definition that the one usually presented in Webster's dictionary. One must be able to define right and wrong and have the conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt. Listed are some examples, where integrity is lacking :

1.- The instructor who mirepresents himself and his art by presenting improper techniques to his students because of a lack of knowledge or apathy.

2. The student who misrepresents himself by "rigging" breaking materials before demonstration.

3. The instructor who camouflages bad techniques with luxurious training halls and false flattery to his students.

4. The student who requests rank from an instructor, or attempts to purchase it.

5. The student who gains rank to boost his ego or the feeling of power.

6. The instructor who teaches and promotes for the feeling of power.

7. The student whose actions do not live up to his words.

8. The student who feels shamed to seek opinions from his juniors.

PERSEVERANCE (in nae)

There are old Oriental saying : "Patience leads to virtue or merit. One can make a peaceful home by being patient for 100 times." Certainly, happiness and prosperity are most likely brought to the patient person. To achieve something, whether it is a higher degree or the perfection of a technique, one must set a goal, then constantly persevere. Robert Bruce learned his lesson of perseverance from the persistant efforts of a lowly spider. It was this perseverance and tenacity that finnaly enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century. One of the most important secrets in becoming a leader in Taekwon-do is to overcome every difficulty by perseverance.

Confucius said :" One who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance."

Self control (guk gi)

This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the dojang, whether conducting oneself in free sparring or in one's personal affairs. A loss of self-control in free sparring can prove disasterous to both student and opponent. An inability to live and work within one's capability or sphere is also a lack of self-control.

According to Lao-Tzi " the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else."

Indomitable spirit (baekjul boolgool)

"Here lie 300, who did their duty, " a simple epitaph for one of the greatest acts of courage known to mankind.

Although facing the superior forces of Xerxes, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. It is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.

A serious student of Taekwon-do will at all times be modest and honest. If confronted with injustice, he will deal with the belligerent without any fear or hesitation at all, with indomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however the opposent may be.

GEN. CHOI HONG HI. 1999, "The Tenets ofTaekwon-Do" in Taekwon-Do, Canada. Internation Taekwon-Do Federation, p. 12-14.

For all informations, please write at the following address :

tkd.lajeunesse@qc.aira.com