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COURTESY
Tae Kwon Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of etiquette:
To promote the spirit of mutual concessions.
To be ashamed of one's own vices or contemplating that of other's.
To be polite to one another.
To encourage the sense of justice.
To distinguish the instructor from student and senior from junior.
INTEGRITY
In Tae Kwon Do, the word integrity assumes a looser definition than 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:
The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper techniques to his
students because of a lack of knowledge or apathy.
The student who misrepresents himself by "fixing" breaking materials before demonstrations.
The instructor who camouflages bad techniques with luxurious training halls and false flattery
to his students.
The student who request rank from an instructor, or attempts to purchase it.
The student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling of power.
The instructor that teaches and promotes his art for materialistic gains.
PERSEVERANCE
There is an old Oriental saying, "Patience leads to virtue or merit" and "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 his goal then constantly persevere. Robert Bruce
learned his lesson of perseverance from persistent efforts of a lowly spider. It was this
perseverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century.
One of the most important secrets in becoming a leader of Tae Kwon Do is to overcome every
difficulty by perseverance.
SELF CONTROL
This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the jo jang, whether conducting oneself
in free sparring or in one's personal affairs. A loss of self control in free sparring can
prove disastrous to both student and opponent. An inability to live and work within one's
capability or sphere is also a lack of self control.
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
"Here like 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 Xerses, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae
showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. It is shown when a courageous person and
his/her principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.
A serious student of Tae Kwon 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 many the number may be. |
