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Courtesy -- Courtesy means that one show respect and be
polite and kind. A martial artist treats others as he or she would want to
be treated.
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 vice
condemning that of others. To be polite to one another. To encourage the
sense of justice. To distinguish the instructor from student and senior from
junior.
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Integrity -- Integrity means to be honest with yourself and
others and know what is right and wrong. To try to always do what is right,
but if a mistake is made, admit it and make amends.
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 requests 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.
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Perseverance -- To have perseverance means to have a goal
and to overcome obstacles along the way. Perseverance means not giving up.
The spirit is to repeatedly try until success or the goal is reached.
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, 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 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.
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Self Control -- Self-Control means being responsible and
exercising prudence -- not to become excited or loose temper. It means act
as if the Grand Master were watching you.
This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the Do 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.
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Indomitable Spirit -- The martial arts fighting spirit is a way of
facing life; not afraid to exercise what is right. It means to resist
temptations and be strong minded. It means to defend the rights of yourself
and others.
“Here lie 300 who did their duty.” This is 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 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, and with indomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however
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Modesty -- Tae Kwon-Do students are expected to be humble
about their accomplishments. Those who flaunt their achievements may have
physical power, but their achievements are hollow, for they lack the spirit
of Tae Kwon-Do. The Yin cannot exist without the Yang, so Tae Kwon-Do cannot
exist without the Spirit.
This means being free of vanity and conceit. A student should not boast
about merits or achievements.
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