We always recite the tenets of Taekwondo at the start of every class to help instill them into our students. They are:
- Courtesy
- Integrity
- Perseverance
- Self-control
- Indomitable Spirit
- Victory
This is basically a list of traits or characteristics we as martial artists live by. Courtesy is treating others with respect; just be nice to others. When you do what is right and your word is your bond, you have integrity. Life is full of challenges; perseverance can help you get over them; you only fail when you quit. If you don’t let anger or other temptations get to you, you have self-control. Indomitable spirit is setting high goals and going for them; people need a purpose in life. With victory, one can radiate positive energy through their winning attitude; there is a silver lining to every dark cloud.
Why is this code important?
When you learn attack and defensive techniques that can potentially hurt people, that is “power”. With “power” comes responsibility; you as a martial artist have the responsibility of using this power for good.
The original movie “Karate Kid”, clearly illustrates what would happen when this power isn’t guided or tempered with a martial arts code like our tenets of Taekwondo; people who simply learn martial arts techniques become bullies.
Do not take the tenets of Taekwondo lightly; we recite it for a reason. We want to instill them in all our students. The next time you recite the tenets of Taekwondo, think about what they represent.