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| Let Us Hold Fast the Do of Tae Kwon Do |
“Taekwondo means the art of kicking and punching”. Or so I have heard from every American Instructor I have ever encountered.
In it’s most simplistic, literal translation from Hangul to English this may be correct. Indeed, the physical execution of Taekwondo consists
almost entirely of performing the acts of kicking and punching in a myriad of patterns and combinations. But is kicking and punching really all
there is to Taekwondo?
If Taekwondo is just kicking and punching then what makes it different from any other “system” of fighting skills?
The “meaning” of Taekwondo would be better understood if we translate it properly as “the WAY of kicking and punching”. This gives us a
little better understanding of the meaning of Taekwondo because a “way” is a path or road that has a destination or goal toward which it leads.
Just as a road is useless if it does not lead to one’s destination “kicking and punching” are useless if not directed toward a meaningful
destination or purpose. Taekwondo is a Way TO somewhere or something. Taekwondo is a pathway to a specific destination, as indeed are all
of the Korean Martial Arts.
Kicking and punching is not the end means of Taekwondo but rather a means to the end.
Sadly, many westerners never attain anything like this understanding. Many Taekwondo practitioners become highly skilled at kicking and
punching, even becoming certified as “Masters”, without ever actually progressing from being merely an “expert” in what they perceive as
just a particular “system” of fighting skills. They are perhaps highly skilled “expert fighters” but they are not true Martial Artists for they have
never attained a genuine understanding of the meaning of their Art. They have not realized the DO of Taekwondo.
Chrxstian Opposition To Teaching Of The Do
Before discussing further the philosophical concepts of the DO of Taekwondo I would address one of the “reasons” put forth by many
westerners as grounds for rejecting the “oriental thought” behind the Korean Martial Arts. Mainly the criticism comes from “fundamentalist”
chrxstian cults and goes something like this,
“The various forms of the martial arts are just a few of the many “arts” that originated in the East by the will of the g-ds behind them.
When these arts are practiced, although we don’t necessarily become Buddhist or Hindu, we invite the evil spirits behind the arts into our
lives whether we know it or not.” Emphasis mine.
Basically the assertion is that practicing Taekwondo is “engaging in an evil anti-chrxstian religion” and if you do it “evil spirits” will take over
your soul.
My reply to these quaint assertions is this.
1. Western religion, Judaism and chrxstianity, both teach that there is one Creator, one Universe and one humanity, all somehow
spiritually linked. This is also the teaching of the “philosophy” of DO, “Heaven, earth and man” all spiritually linked. The terms might be
different but the concepts and the Korean understanding of their meanings are the same. (By the way, to assert that there are “the g-ds behind
them” is itself a denial of the uniqueness of the Creator and an abdication of man’s responsibility for his own actions.)
2. Western religion explains the “proper relationship” of humanity toward the Creator and the Universe in terms of moral,
ethical behavior, service to G-d and service to society. Just so, DO deals with becoming the ideal self in relation to the entire dimension of
living, including our relationships with nature, others, and society as a whole. The path of DO is grounded in the ethical; the mode of life
one aspires to, while reconciling one’s relationships with “Heaven” and the Universe. How is this different from western “religious”
philosophy? The answer is that it is not. With the exception of the most bigoted chrxstian cults, There is no conflict between western religion
and the DO of Takwondo.
The “path” of DO and the “path” of western religion are in harmonious agreement.
"Sport" Taekwondo and The Teaching Of The Do
With the growth of competitive sparring, or Sport Taekwondo, many schools in America and elsewhere have become mere “fighting gyms”
run by “coaches” who place all the emphasis on winning vs.losing and on pure physical development of the limited techniques suited to
winning in the competitive ring. They have reduced Taekwondo from a Martial Art to a trivial sport — devoid of spiritual, moral or ethical
value. Their “stripped down” version of Taekwondo retains the appearance of vitality even though the heart has been ripped out and cast aside.
“Athletes” from these schools, obsessed with winning, bend the rules, exploit weakness without regard for mercy, show no respect, and
train for the mere goal of gaining a gold medal. Courtesy, Integrity and the Moral Code are aliens concepts to them. These unfortunates
never grasp that there is more to the traditional Korean Martial Arts than just the physical aspects of becoming expert in executing certain
techniques or the selfish egotistical pursuit of medals for self-aggrandizement. They have not realized the DO of Taekwondo.
The Delusion of Sport Taekwondo As a "Fighting Art"
The perception of Sport Taekwondo as “fighting” is itself pitifully delusive. The restrictions and limitations placed on “competition” sparring
reduce Taekwondo matches to what is essentially nothing more than a high impact game of tag with no relation whatsoever to real world
combat. They are utterly lacking in Real World fighting skills. That these individuals actually consider themselves “fighters” is most
pathetic, indeed.
The DO Is In Everything We Do
If one would but give heed, there are hints of the DO in most of what we do. Think about it. To do Tae Kwon DO we wear a DO Bok.
The place where we do Tae Kwon DO (or Hap Ki DO, or Ji DO Kwan, etc.) is called a DO-Jang. DO can be found in everything we do.
My first Korean Instructor was JiDoKwan Master Husky Han. JiDoKwan is one of the original kwans, or schools, that combined to form
the Korean national Art today known as Taekwondo. Unlike the other Kwans, rank promotion in JiDoKwan was by combat and was attained
only by defeating three holders of the contested rank. Master Han was a former ROK Marine who had joined the US Army Special Forces
back in 1966. We spent several months together manning a radio relay site, called “Hickory”, located atop a distant mountain in northwest I
Corp in South Vietnam. This was in 1971 when Taekwondo had not yet become so sports oriented. Often there was nothing to do at Hickory
for hours on end. We spent much of the time discussing and practicing Martial Arts.
As a soldier, I approached training with the attitude of “show me what is the quickest most lethal technique I can use”. The first thing that
Master Han showed me was that my attitude was wrong, that Taekwondo, indeed all Korean Martial Art is first and foremost a
“spiritual” activity with fundamental meaning and consequences for the individual and for the world he lives in.
“The attitude of the student determines the nature of his character development.”
Master Han taught me that a proper attitude was essential to achieving anything worthwhile and to reaching a proper understanding of the
real, enduring value of Martial Arts training. He showed me how shallow and inadequate my approach was.
I was introduced for the first time to the concept, “for the sake of heaven”, the idea that being an effective and skilled fighter is not the
aim of our training but rather that we train to be skilled and effective fighters in order to fight for what is right. In Master Han’s
accounting of the history of the Han people and his explanation of the ethical and moral development of the Hwarang warrior philosophy I
found a worthy and honorable code of conduct, an approach to living that is in perfect harmony with the tenets of my Jewish faith. It has
guided me throughout my military career and even to this day. From hearing Master Han I came to understand that to comprehend DO is to
understand the higher purpose of human existence, the moral obligation of the Martial Artist to strive for unity and harmony with himself, with
his fellow and with heaven, and that he is to use his fighting skills for noble purposes. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Who in America, anymore, teaches that in Hangul, Dojang traditionally means “the place of awakening”?
Master Han explained that the training hall, the Dojang, is “a place of awakening”. Awakening because it is a place to gain awareness of or
“awaken to” ones inner Ki, the energy of the universe, and by practicing the collecting and dispersing of Ki through techniques, to develop
that Ki and use it to create harmony and order. The ultimate goal being to arrive at “the awakened self”, and finally attain a condition of unity
and harmony within one’s self and with the universe. This is the DO of Takwondo.
Who in America, anymore, teaches the “meaning” of the DoBok itself?
The first time I formally donned a Dobok, at a Dojang in the ROK compound at DaNang, it was explained to me that the spirit of the Han
people and their centuries-old traditions, the principles of Sam Jae and of Eum/Yang, are symbolized in the Dobok.
The principles of SamJae (the Three Elements) are symbolized by the geometric shapes of the square (Ji, the Earth), the circle (Cheon,
Heaven) and the triangle (In, Man). The three symbols represent the foundation of the universe (Samilshingo). The Dobok are constructed
based on the three symbols, and the symbols transform into the unity of the three called "han". The Dobok trousers symbolize Ji, the Earth,
the upper garment Cheon, Heaven and the belt stands for In, man himself, which stems from the spirit of Samjae. The endless circular form
of the belt symbolizes the circuit of human life among Heaven and Earth. The white color in the uniform symbolizes the background of the
universe.
In Korean thought white is the essence of the universe. The universe is the oneness that is pronounced in Hangul as Han. Han stems from
the color of white. The spirit of Samjae, which explains the principle of the heaven, the earth, and the man, applies to every aspect of the life
of the Han people and is also the spirit of the Korean national Martial Arts. Taekwondo as a traditional Martial Art is not merely fighting skills
but a proper product of national heritage comprising a philosophical spiritual world of Martial Arts. Master Han taught that each time the
Dobok is donned it should remind one that the primary focus of Tae Kwon Do is to train the mind and develop the spirit toward forging unity
and harmony within one’s self and between one’s self and the universe. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Who in America, anymore, teaches Poomse as meditation?
In 1977-78 I had the opportunity to train under JiDoKwan and HapKiDo GrandMaster Ju Sang Lee. GrandMaster Ju Sang had a Dojang in
Huntington Park, California where he taught HapKiDo and “Korean Karate” as Taekwondo was known in America at that time. It was under
GrandMaster Ju Sang’s guidance that I first learned meditation, which I have found to be an essential prerequisite to development as a Martial
Artist. At the time, I still considered myself a Warrior and all training in whatever form was but a means to make me a more effective and
lethal combat soldier. I think I was not yet a Martial Artist.
GrandMaster Ju Sang taught his students that each human being has supra-normal physical and mental powers, and that the true practice of
the way of KiDo is the fastest way to develop such powers. He showed us that one could achieve a special state of mind which will liberate
super energy without experiencing the “madness” of rage or the “terror” of fear which seems necessary for ordinary people to attain such
powers. This made sense to me because I had experienced instances of just such a thing during combat in Vietnam. It requires long training in
achieving a certain kind of balance between the liberation of energy and the maintenance of a calm, lucid mind. I witnessed such phenomenal
feats of Ki power by GrandMaster Ju Sang but I personally never learned to duplicate such a thing outside of the intensity of combat.
GrandMaster Ju Sang taught that Hyung (forms, in WTF Poomsae) are a form of meditation. He stressed that Poomse were about
achieving Ki development and mental focus. In his Dojang, Poomse training was hard, exhausting work. Poomse were done 20 to 30 times in
a row with a one-minute rest in between, using total physical and mental energy while “putting more truth, more speed and more force into
them” each time. He stressed the real importance of “solitary training” where one is completely alone face-to-face with oneself, training solely
for one’s own benefit, to preserve one’s own life and develop ones finest human qualities.
GrandMaster Ju Sang emphasized that achieving a Black Belt is only the beginning of self-mastery, and great experts often come back to the
simplest of beginning moves, which they now perform in a new way. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Tae Kwon Do Is The Art Of Living
When a Taekwondo Instructor tells a beginning student, “Taekwondo is the art of kicking and punching”, this is demeaning to
the Martial Art. It is also a grave dis-service to the prospective student. Instruction in the DO of Taekwondo cannot be an after-thought or
an optional adjunct to the teaching of kicking and punching technique. It must be the primary emphasis of instruction from the beginning to
the end, forever.
For the student to appreciate the true depth and value Taekwondo, it must be perpetually emphasized, from the beginning, that the kicking
and punching are only means to the end, that the personal and spiritual growth of the student is the constant final aim of all training in the
Dojang. From the beginning the student must be shown and helped to appreciate that the path to DO demands philosophical self-reflecting, an
understanding of “Who am I?", and “What is my moral relation to nature and society?” Taekwondo students must be encouraged to
understand themselves as an individual, as well as a part of a larger whole. They must be constantly reminded that Taekwondo is a bridging
principle between the individual and the larger social context. Instruction in technique should never progress absent proper attitudes of
courtesy and respect. Instructors who do not hold fast the DO should not call themselves Master. They have not realized the DO of
Taekwondo.
Taekwondo focuses on unifying mind, body, and spirit. The drive for improvement comes from neither mind nor body but from the
spirit. Spirit encompasses the desire to better oneself and the resolve to tackle difficult challenges. While the spirit drives mind and body, the
body's fitness also influences mental and spiritual health. Taekwondo is a means to facilitate the melding of mind, body, and spirit into a single
harmonious unit of self. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
The destination of our “way of kicking and punching”, our Taekwondo, is to become someone who can live the creative,
imaginative life; having the strength to master, overcome, and surpass all disturbance; while being a concerned person who cares
about social justice, right, and wrong, and the welfare of others. By articulating the meaning and value of nature, others, and society,
each individual is able to create his/her own way of life. This ethic must become routine, eventually subconscious as the Martial Artist
progresses to his/her full potential. That potential is realized when the Martial Artist fully knows him/herself and in turn transcends that self for
the good of society. This is the art of living. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Let us hold fast the DO of Taekwondo.
In it’s most simplistic, literal translation from Hangul to English this may be correct. Indeed, the physical execution of Taekwondo consists
almost entirely of performing the acts of kicking and punching in a myriad of patterns and combinations. But is kicking and punching really all
there is to Taekwondo?
If Taekwondo is just kicking and punching then what makes it different from any other “system” of fighting skills?
The “meaning” of Taekwondo would be better understood if we translate it properly as “the WAY of kicking and punching”. This gives us a
little better understanding of the meaning of Taekwondo because a “way” is a path or road that has a destination or goal toward which it leads.
Just as a road is useless if it does not lead to one’s destination “kicking and punching” are useless if not directed toward a meaningful
destination or purpose. Taekwondo is a Way TO somewhere or something. Taekwondo is a pathway to a specific destination, as indeed are all
of the Korean Martial Arts.
Kicking and punching is not the end means of Taekwondo but rather a means to the end.
Sadly, many westerners never attain anything like this understanding. Many Taekwondo practitioners become highly skilled at kicking and
punching, even becoming certified as “Masters”, without ever actually progressing from being merely an “expert” in what they perceive as
just a particular “system” of fighting skills. They are perhaps highly skilled “expert fighters” but they are not true Martial Artists for they have
never attained a genuine understanding of the meaning of their Art. They have not realized the DO of Taekwondo.
Chrxstian Opposition To Teaching Of The Do
Before discussing further the philosophical concepts of the DO of Taekwondo I would address one of the “reasons” put forth by many
westerners as grounds for rejecting the “oriental thought” behind the Korean Martial Arts. Mainly the criticism comes from “fundamentalist”
chrxstian cults and goes something like this,
“The various forms of the martial arts are just a few of the many “arts” that originated in the East by the will of the g-ds behind them.
When these arts are practiced, although we don’t necessarily become Buddhist or Hindu, we invite the evil spirits behind the arts into our
lives whether we know it or not.” Emphasis mine.
Basically the assertion is that practicing Taekwondo is “engaging in an evil anti-chrxstian religion” and if you do it “evil spirits” will take over
your soul.
My reply to these quaint assertions is this.
1. Western religion, Judaism and chrxstianity, both teach that there is one Creator, one Universe and one humanity, all somehow
spiritually linked. This is also the teaching of the “philosophy” of DO, “Heaven, earth and man” all spiritually linked. The terms might be
different but the concepts and the Korean understanding of their meanings are the same. (By the way, to assert that there are “the g-ds behind
them” is itself a denial of the uniqueness of the Creator and an abdication of man’s responsibility for his own actions.)
2. Western religion explains the “proper relationship” of humanity toward the Creator and the Universe in terms of moral,
ethical behavior, service to G-d and service to society. Just so, DO deals with becoming the ideal self in relation to the entire dimension of
living, including our relationships with nature, others, and society as a whole. The path of DO is grounded in the ethical; the mode of life
one aspires to, while reconciling one’s relationships with “Heaven” and the Universe. How is this different from western “religious”
philosophy? The answer is that it is not. With the exception of the most bigoted chrxstian cults, There is no conflict between western religion
and the DO of Takwondo.
The “path” of DO and the “path” of western religion are in harmonious agreement.
"Sport" Taekwondo and The Teaching Of The Do
With the growth of competitive sparring, or Sport Taekwondo, many schools in America and elsewhere have become mere “fighting gyms”
run by “coaches” who place all the emphasis on winning vs.losing and on pure physical development of the limited techniques suited to
winning in the competitive ring. They have reduced Taekwondo from a Martial Art to a trivial sport — devoid of spiritual, moral or ethical
value. Their “stripped down” version of Taekwondo retains the appearance of vitality even though the heart has been ripped out and cast aside.
“Athletes” from these schools, obsessed with winning, bend the rules, exploit weakness without regard for mercy, show no respect, and
train for the mere goal of gaining a gold medal. Courtesy, Integrity and the Moral Code are aliens concepts to them. These unfortunates
never grasp that there is more to the traditional Korean Martial Arts than just the physical aspects of becoming expert in executing certain
techniques or the selfish egotistical pursuit of medals for self-aggrandizement. They have not realized the DO of Taekwondo.
The Delusion of Sport Taekwondo As a "Fighting Art"
The perception of Sport Taekwondo as “fighting” is itself pitifully delusive. The restrictions and limitations placed on “competition” sparring
reduce Taekwondo matches to what is essentially nothing more than a high impact game of tag with no relation whatsoever to real world
combat. They are utterly lacking in Real World fighting skills. That these individuals actually consider themselves “fighters” is most
pathetic, indeed.
The DO Is In Everything We Do
If one would but give heed, there are hints of the DO in most of what we do. Think about it. To do Tae Kwon DO we wear a DO Bok.
The place where we do Tae Kwon DO (or Hap Ki DO, or Ji DO Kwan, etc.) is called a DO-Jang. DO can be found in everything we do.
My first Korean Instructor was JiDoKwan Master Husky Han. JiDoKwan is one of the original kwans, or schools, that combined to form
the Korean national Art today known as Taekwondo. Unlike the other Kwans, rank promotion in JiDoKwan was by combat and was attained
only by defeating three holders of the contested rank. Master Han was a former ROK Marine who had joined the US Army Special Forces
back in 1966. We spent several months together manning a radio relay site, called “Hickory”, located atop a distant mountain in northwest I
Corp in South Vietnam. This was in 1971 when Taekwondo had not yet become so sports oriented. Often there was nothing to do at Hickory
for hours on end. We spent much of the time discussing and practicing Martial Arts.
As a soldier, I approached training with the attitude of “show me what is the quickest most lethal technique I can use”. The first thing that
Master Han showed me was that my attitude was wrong, that Taekwondo, indeed all Korean Martial Art is first and foremost a
“spiritual” activity with fundamental meaning and consequences for the individual and for the world he lives in.
“The attitude of the student determines the nature of his character development.”
Master Han taught me that a proper attitude was essential to achieving anything worthwhile and to reaching a proper understanding of the
real, enduring value of Martial Arts training. He showed me how shallow and inadequate my approach was.
I was introduced for the first time to the concept, “for the sake of heaven”, the idea that being an effective and skilled fighter is not the
aim of our training but rather that we train to be skilled and effective fighters in order to fight for what is right. In Master Han’s
accounting of the history of the Han people and his explanation of the ethical and moral development of the Hwarang warrior philosophy I
found a worthy and honorable code of conduct, an approach to living that is in perfect harmony with the tenets of my Jewish faith. It has
guided me throughout my military career and even to this day. From hearing Master Han I came to understand that to comprehend DO is to
understand the higher purpose of human existence, the moral obligation of the Martial Artist to strive for unity and harmony with himself, with
his fellow and with heaven, and that he is to use his fighting skills for noble purposes. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Who in America, anymore, teaches that in Hangul, Dojang traditionally means “the place of awakening”?
Master Han explained that the training hall, the Dojang, is “a place of awakening”. Awakening because it is a place to gain awareness of or
“awaken to” ones inner Ki, the energy of the universe, and by practicing the collecting and dispersing of Ki through techniques, to develop
that Ki and use it to create harmony and order. The ultimate goal being to arrive at “the awakened self”, and finally attain a condition of unity
and harmony within one’s self and with the universe. This is the DO of Takwondo.
Who in America, anymore, teaches the “meaning” of the DoBok itself?
The first time I formally donned a Dobok, at a Dojang in the ROK compound at DaNang, it was explained to me that the spirit of the Han
people and their centuries-old traditions, the principles of Sam Jae and of Eum/Yang, are symbolized in the Dobok.
The principles of SamJae (the Three Elements) are symbolized by the geometric shapes of the square (Ji, the Earth), the circle (Cheon,
Heaven) and the triangle (In, Man). The three symbols represent the foundation of the universe (Samilshingo). The Dobok are constructed
based on the three symbols, and the symbols transform into the unity of the three called "han". The Dobok trousers symbolize Ji, the Earth,
the upper garment Cheon, Heaven and the belt stands for In, man himself, which stems from the spirit of Samjae. The endless circular form
of the belt symbolizes the circuit of human life among Heaven and Earth. The white color in the uniform symbolizes the background of the
universe.
In Korean thought white is the essence of the universe. The universe is the oneness that is pronounced in Hangul as Han. Han stems from
the color of white. The spirit of Samjae, which explains the principle of the heaven, the earth, and the man, applies to every aspect of the life
of the Han people and is also the spirit of the Korean national Martial Arts. Taekwondo as a traditional Martial Art is not merely fighting skills
but a proper product of national heritage comprising a philosophical spiritual world of Martial Arts. Master Han taught that each time the
Dobok is donned it should remind one that the primary focus of Tae Kwon Do is to train the mind and develop the spirit toward forging unity
and harmony within one’s self and between one’s self and the universe. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Who in America, anymore, teaches Poomse as meditation?
In 1977-78 I had the opportunity to train under JiDoKwan and HapKiDo GrandMaster Ju Sang Lee. GrandMaster Ju Sang had a Dojang in
Huntington Park, California where he taught HapKiDo and “Korean Karate” as Taekwondo was known in America at that time. It was under
GrandMaster Ju Sang’s guidance that I first learned meditation, which I have found to be an essential prerequisite to development as a Martial
Artist. At the time, I still considered myself a Warrior and all training in whatever form was but a means to make me a more effective and
lethal combat soldier. I think I was not yet a Martial Artist.
GrandMaster Ju Sang taught his students that each human being has supra-normal physical and mental powers, and that the true practice of
the way of KiDo is the fastest way to develop such powers. He showed us that one could achieve a special state of mind which will liberate
super energy without experiencing the “madness” of rage or the “terror” of fear which seems necessary for ordinary people to attain such
powers. This made sense to me because I had experienced instances of just such a thing during combat in Vietnam. It requires long training in
achieving a certain kind of balance between the liberation of energy and the maintenance of a calm, lucid mind. I witnessed such phenomenal
feats of Ki power by GrandMaster Ju Sang but I personally never learned to duplicate such a thing outside of the intensity of combat.
GrandMaster Ju Sang taught that Hyung (forms, in WTF Poomsae) are a form of meditation. He stressed that Poomse were about
achieving Ki development and mental focus. In his Dojang, Poomse training was hard, exhausting work. Poomse were done 20 to 30 times in
a row with a one-minute rest in between, using total physical and mental energy while “putting more truth, more speed and more force into
them” each time. He stressed the real importance of “solitary training” where one is completely alone face-to-face with oneself, training solely
for one’s own benefit, to preserve one’s own life and develop ones finest human qualities.
GrandMaster Ju Sang emphasized that achieving a Black Belt is only the beginning of self-mastery, and great experts often come back to the
simplest of beginning moves, which they now perform in a new way. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Tae Kwon Do Is The Art Of Living
When a Taekwondo Instructor tells a beginning student, “Taekwondo is the art of kicking and punching”, this is demeaning to
the Martial Art. It is also a grave dis-service to the prospective student. Instruction in the DO of Taekwondo cannot be an after-thought or
an optional adjunct to the teaching of kicking and punching technique. It must be the primary emphasis of instruction from the beginning to
the end, forever.
For the student to appreciate the true depth and value Taekwondo, it must be perpetually emphasized, from the beginning, that the kicking
and punching are only means to the end, that the personal and spiritual growth of the student is the constant final aim of all training in the
Dojang. From the beginning the student must be shown and helped to appreciate that the path to DO demands philosophical self-reflecting, an
understanding of “Who am I?", and “What is my moral relation to nature and society?” Taekwondo students must be encouraged to
understand themselves as an individual, as well as a part of a larger whole. They must be constantly reminded that Taekwondo is a bridging
principle between the individual and the larger social context. Instruction in technique should never progress absent proper attitudes of
courtesy and respect. Instructors who do not hold fast the DO should not call themselves Master. They have not realized the DO of
Taekwondo.
Taekwondo focuses on unifying mind, body, and spirit. The drive for improvement comes from neither mind nor body but from the
spirit. Spirit encompasses the desire to better oneself and the resolve to tackle difficult challenges. While the spirit drives mind and body, the
body's fitness also influences mental and spiritual health. Taekwondo is a means to facilitate the melding of mind, body, and spirit into a single
harmonious unit of self. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
The destination of our “way of kicking and punching”, our Taekwondo, is to become someone who can live the creative,
imaginative life; having the strength to master, overcome, and surpass all disturbance; while being a concerned person who cares
about social justice, right, and wrong, and the welfare of others. By articulating the meaning and value of nature, others, and society,
each individual is able to create his/her own way of life. This ethic must become routine, eventually subconscious as the Martial Artist
progresses to his/her full potential. That potential is realized when the Martial Artist fully knows him/herself and in turn transcends that self for
the good of society. This is the art of living. This is the DO of Taekwondo.
Let us hold fast the DO of Taekwondo.
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