The five tenets of Taekwondo are at the foundation of its training and the student’s relationship with himself and others around him. They serve as a guide for all students and can continue to influence his life long after he may have discontinued his traditional Taekwondo training. It is a code of conduct not only for training in the school but for life outside the dojang as well.
5 Tenets of Taekwondo
Courtesy (Ye Ui)
The student should practice courtesy as a means to build character and to conduct training in an orderly manner.
A. Honor, respect, loyalty
1. Loyalty to your country
2. Fidelity to your parents
3. Marital fidelity
4. Brotherhood
5. Friendship
6. Respect for your elders
7. Respect for your teachers
8. Respect for others possessions
9. Avoid killing living things
Integrity (Yom Chi)
One must be able to know the difference between right and wrong and listen to his conscience. One must live by a moral code.
A. Honor, respect, and loyalty within oneself.
1. To know the truth
2. To demonstrate humbleness
3. To show true honesty from ones heart
4. To maintain a clean and clear conscience
5. To know right from wrong
6. To practice humanity with ultimate morality
7. To live by a code of moral ethics
Perseverance (In Nae)
To achieve anything in life, whether it is a successful business or the perfection of a technique, one must set his goal, then constantly persevere.
A. Patience, determination, persistence
1. Always finish what you have started
2. Responsibility and freedom will make a man
3. One must understand his limits and learn to conquer those limitations within
Self Control (Guk Gi)
This tenet is important both in and outside the dojang, whether practicing free sparring or in one’s personal life. The loss of control while sparring could be disastrous to either the student or the opponent.
A. Patience, dignity, discipline, balance, will
1. To develop the ability to overcome anger
2. To be able to control one’s conscience
3. To be able to understand oneself
Indomitable Spirit (Baekjool Boolgool)
Indomitable spirit is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds. A serious student will also be modest and honest.
A. Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, and self-control
1. To maintain a strong inner strength which is the key to bravery and valor
2. To never let the spirit and soul die after defeat, even after death
By following these five tenets any student will find himself successful in Taekwondo and life.
Anthony Matthews is a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. http://www.reciprocatingsawguide.com
Article Source
Recent Comments