Taekwondo Values
Taekwondo Philosophy
Taekwondo values mental and ethical discipline, etiquette, justice, respect, and self-confidence. The philosophy of Taekwondo is deeply rooted in the Korean traditional philosophy of ‘seon’ (impeccable virtuousness). Seon is characterized by one’s devotion toward one’s country and society. It values commitment and willing service for the good of others. This philosophy also coexists with Buddhism and Confucianism, which highlights respect toward one’s surroundings and society.
Precursor martial arts of Taekwondo during the three-kingdom era (around 18 BC ~ 936 AD) were developed as methods of protection. Defending the country with martial arts was highly accentuated as martial arts were treated as a way to survive enemy invasion without weapons. Thus, martial arts were dominantly practiced by armies.
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Hwarangdo (corps of youth warriors) of the Silla Kingdom is one example of the armies that highly esteemed the idea of seon. Hwarangdo, the disciplines, and duties followed by hwarang are regarded as one of the important factors that enabled the Silla Kingdom to unite all kingdoms and end the three kingdom era. The hwarangdo spirit valued loyalty, filial piety, and reliability. They incorporated religious worship into their philosophy to strengthen patriotism and followed disciplines including modesty, frugality, and restraint. Hwarangdo spirit also honored ethics and not committing any faults.
Modern Taekwondo philosophy adopts the theory of spiritual energy. There are many philosophical theories suggested by various philosophers, but all highlight righteousness and self-restraint as the core of the Taekwondo spirit.
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Taekwondo Values
When one begins one’s training in Taekwondo, one will learn tenets one should adhere to. These tenets may vary from Taekwondo master to master. One of them is 5 tenets of Taekwondo usually taught by ITF Taekwondo and other federations:
1. Courtesy 예의
Showing etiquette and manners to other people.
2. Integrity 염치
Knowing humility and right and wrong.
3. Perseverance 인내
Willingness to continue and struggle against hardship to reach the goal.
4. Self-control 극기
Maintaining control over thoughts and actions and keeping them pure and sincere.
5. Indomitable Spirit 백절불굴
Standing up for one’s belief and not abating conviction.
These values serve as a goal and guideline for one to adhere to when freshly starting to learn Taekwondo.
Kukkiwon, the official national center of Taekwondo, introduces the intrinsic values of Taekwondo thus:
1. Physical
Skills, flexibility, speed, and other physical benefits gained from repeated practice of techniques.
2. Mental
Sense of accomplishment, courage, patience, and other mental capacities the trainee can gain during Taekwondo training.
3. Moral
Courtesy, justice, civic virtues, and other moral values the trainee can gain during Taekwondo training.
Taekwondo is a unique martial art that not only delivers trainees opportunities to improve their physical and technical skills but also their moral virtues. It truly is a martial art that trains both body and mind.