Tenants of Taekwondo
There are five Tenets in Global TaeKwon-Do. Courtesy, Integrity, Perserverance, Self-control, and Indomitable Spirit.
Courtesy (Be Kind to one another) Ye Ui
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 as well.
1. To promote the spirit of mutual concessions.
2. To be ashamed of one's vices, contemplating 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 elsder 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 any gift when in doubt.
Integrity (Be Honest) Yom Ch
In TaeKwon-Do, the word integrity assumes a looser definition than the one usually presented in Webster's dictionary. One must be able to define right from wrong and have the conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt.
Perseverance (Never quit) 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 of a technique, one must set his goal, and then constantly persvere. Robert Bruce learned his leson of perseverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland i the fourteenth century. One of th e most important secrets in becoming a leader of 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 (Don't get mad) Guk Gi
This tent is extremely important inside and outside the gym, whether conductiong 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 (Be brave) Backjul 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 fear or hesitation, with indomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however many the numbers may be.
