Although the
literal translation of Taekwondo is the art of kicking and
punching, it is only a superficial translation. "Do"
in Korean implies a philosophical approach to life, a pathway
to achieve enlightenment. Taekwondo is not only a method of
self-defense, it is also a way of life. Students of Taekwondo,
through rigorous physical training, try to improve themselves
physically, mentally, and spiritually. True Taekwondo practitioners
extend the art to all aspects of their lives to achieve harmony
with nature and a stable and peaceful existence.
Taekwondo is
not just training in kicking, punching, and self-defense.
It has roots in the many tenets held by religious masters
and martial artists throughout history. Buddhism, introduced
to the Koguryo kingdom from China in 347 AD, contributed greatly
to the growth of the Korean martial arts through its aim of
the "Mastery of Self." Taekwondo provides a way
to rid oneself of the ego, or what Zen-Buddhists call the
"discriminating mind."
At the core of
this philosophy is the concept of duality in nature. Duality
refers to the interaction of opposing forces, the yin-yang.
Harmony is achieved when opposing forces are distributed equally,
resulting in balance. If one force dominates, the result is
discord. For example, to defend against an aggressive hard
attack, one should use a yielding soft defense to bring the
situation into harmony. Taekwondo students learn to coordinate
their actions and reactions with the forces of nature so they
can overcome anything they encounter in life. By centering
oneself and balancing the dual forces, students can begin
to achieve the true goal of the aspiration to and application
of perfection.
Taekwondo is
defined and the way of kicking and punching. Students begin
Taekwondo training for various reasons, such as fitness, weight
loss, discipline, and self-defense. Many stop their training
when they think they have achieved their reason for initially
beginning the training and others stop before ever reaching
this point. If students continue training until the reach
the "do" phase of Taekwondo training, then their
initial reason for beginning the training is irrelevant. At
this point, they continue training because the basic principles
of Taekwondo have become an integral part of their lives.
Through kicking and punching, they have achieved the way.
In today's society,
there are relatively fewer chances to encounter a life-threatening
situation. To spend several years of your life practicing
Taekwondo would seem a high price to pay for the chance to
defend yourself in the not-so-likely event of a deadly attack.
Therefore, the spiritual part of Taekwondo is what should
motivate everyone to practice Taekwondo.
