Training Body and Mind

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae (태, 跆) means “to strike or break with foot”; kwon (권, 拳) means “to strike or break with fist”; and do (도, 道) means “way”, “method”, or “path”. Thus, taekwondo may be loosely translated as “the way of the hand and the foot.” [1] The name taekwondo is also written as taekwon-do, tae kwon-do, or tae kwon do by various organizations.

It combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and in some cases meditation and philosophy. In 1989, Taekwondo was the world’s most popular martial art in terms of number of practitioners.[2] Gyeorugi (pronounced [ɡjʌɾuɡi]), a type of sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000.

There are two main branches of taekwondo development, which are not necessarily mutually exclusive:

“Traditional taekwondo” typically refers to the martial art as it was established in the 1950s and 1960s in the South Korean military, and in various civilian organizations, including schools and universities. In particular, the names and symbolism of the traditional patterns often refer to elements of Korean history, culture and religious philosophy. Today, the Kukkiwon, or World Taekwondo Headquarters is the traditional center for Taekwondo in Korea.

“Sport taekwondo” has developed in the decades since the 1950s and may have a somewhat different focus, especially in terms of its emphasis on speed and competition (as in Olympic sparring). Sport taekwondo is in turn subdivided into two main styles; one derives from Kukkiwon, the source of the sparring system sihap gyeorugi which is now an event at the summer Olympic Games and which is governed by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). The other comes from the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).

A Tenet is an opinion, principle or doctrine that a person holds or maintains as true. The 5 Tenets of Taekwondo: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit should serve as a guide for all serious students of the art.

 Courtesy (Ye Ui)

Taekwondo students should be polite to one another and respect others. Students should address instructors as Sir/Ma'am and to bow to the instructors before and after classes. Turning up early or on time for classes is also an aspect of courtesy.

Integrity (Yom Chi)

One who has integrity is able to define what is right or wrong and has the conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt. Students should strive to be honest and to live by moral principles.

Perseverance (In Nae)

Perseverance means having patience and the will to not give up. One of the most important secrets of becoming a leader in Taekwondo is to overcome every difficulty with perseverance. Confucius said "One who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance."

Self-Control (Guk Gi)

Self-control is defined as restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions or desires. Without self-control, a Taekwondo student is just like any fighter in the street. Taekwondo is an art of self defense and must always be used as a last resort, and then only as a restraint to contain the opponent. Taekwondo has the reputation of being the most powerful martial art ever devised. The amount of power a student can develop, even after a short period of training, can be devastating. For this reason, self-control is essential both inside and outside of class.

Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgool)

A spirit incapable of being subdued. A true student of the Art of Taekwondo will never give up, not even when faced with insurmountable odds.