The Tenets of TaeKwonDo
are Part of the
Mental WorkOut.

The Tenets of TaeKwonDo are the Foundation for this sport which are meant to be all encompassing in the Oriental sense, mind, body, and spirit.

The Tenets of TaeKwonDo represent aspects that touch on all these areas of one's life. The point of these and the
Tae Kwon Do Oath is to instill in the student amiable character traits that carryover into life outside the Dojang, or Training Facility. This makes for a well-rounded person and martial artist.

So, What are these basic principles as laid out by General Choi (pronounced Ch-ay, rhymes with hay)? They are as follows:

• Courtesy-- Everyone knows the basic meaning of this. "Yes, Ma'am", "No, Ma'am", "Yes, Sir", "No,Sir", "Thank you", and "Please". Opening doors for ladies, showing respect for others, as well as observing rules of "good manners". In a TaeKwonDo Class, all students address those of higher rank, especially their instructor, as "Sir" or "Ma'am" as a sign of respect. This element of respect and honor is paramount in the Oriental mindset.
• Integrity-- Knowing the difference between Right and Wrong and choosing to DO what is right over what is wrong even if that choice is very painful. For example, if you stole something or accidentally wrecked the car and not told your parents, having integrity means that you "fess up" to what you have done.
• Perseverance-- When one has a goal, you try, try, and try again until that goal is met. You may want all A's in school, get your Black Belt, get a Ph.D., or be able to do the splits. Whatever it is, you do what is necessary and You never give up.
• Self Control-- This means not only control of your mind and body but also control over your thoughts, words, and deeds. A bully may tease you or someone cuts in front of you in traffic for the fifth time, use self control to maintain your calm.
• Indomitable Spirit-- This means to have the courage to do things that may seem unattainable and to defend what you believe in even against immeasurable odds. Examples of this may be climbing Everest or K2 or overcoming a physical handicap. I believe this Tenet came directly from General Choi's experience in a Japanese prison camp where he actually had his guards practicing the fledgling Taekwondo techniques with him.

Some variations of these original tenets are taught. One common one is to add "Victory" as the ending principle.

The core meaning of the Tenets of TaeKwonDo remain the same whether expressed as General Choi did originally or put into more modern terms.

By Incorporating these principles into one's life it is believed that not only the individual becomes a better member of society, but also, society and the world becomes a better and more peaceful place to live.

Just as a helpful sidenote, one thing that has given me peace of mind with my TaeKwonDo School's training supplies and uniforms is a new company known as
Legacy Martial Arts Supply.
These guys produce Superior Quality Leather Gear AND Great Uniforms! Another great thing is that anyone can get their wholesale prices, not just Instructors and School Owners. And, these wholesale prices are lower than any that I have been quoted in about 15 years. The only downside is, it takes several days longer to get your items since they have to import everything but the quality is well worth it!

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