The 5 Tenets of Tae Kwon Do.
(Taekwon-Do Jungshin) The Tenets of Tae kwon do are a set of targets
that we aim to instill in all the students, a code that we aim to live by.
These aims are practiced during the training sessions and all students are
expected to understand, be able to explain and display these aims before,
during and after training. Courtesy (Ye Ui) Integrity
(Yom Chi) Perseverance (In Nae) Self-Control (Guk Gi) Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgool)
EXPLANATION
OF TENETS
Needless
to say, the success or failure of Taekwon-Do training
depends largely on how one observes and implements the tenets of Tae kwon-Do
which should serve as a guide for all serious students of the art.
COURTESY (Ye
Ui)
It
can be said that courtesy is an unwritten regulation prescribed by ancient
teachers of philosophy as a means to enlighten human beings while maintaining
a harmonious society. Tae kwon-Do students should attempt to practice the
following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to
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 oneself
according to etiquette 7) To respect others' possessions 8) To handle matters
with fairness and sincerity 9) To refrain from giving or accepting a gift
when in doubt
INTEGRITY
(Yom Chi)
In
Tae kwon-Do, the word integrity assumes a looser definition. One must be able
to define right and wrong and have a conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt.
Listed are some examples where integrity is lacking:
1)
The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper
techniques to his students 2) The student who misrepresents himself by "fixing"
breaking materials before demonstrations. 3) The instructor who camouflages bad technique with luxurious
training halls and false flattery 4) The student
who requests ranks from an instructor, or attempts to purchase it. 5) The
student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling of power. 6) The instructor
who teaches and promotes his art for materialistic gains.7) The students whose actions do not live up to his words. 8)
The student who feels ashamed to seek opinions from his juniors.
PERSEVERANCE (In Nae)
There is an 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 or a technique, one must set his goal, then constantly persevere. Robert Bruce learned his lesson of perseverance from
the persistent efforts of a lowly spider. It was this perseverance and tenacity
that finally enabled him to free
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
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. According to Lao-Tzu
"the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than
someone else.
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (Baekjool Boolgool)
