Saturday, December 15, 2007

Grandmaster Park's Thoughts on Taekwon-Do


Most people have a misconception of a martial art and can't see beyond the visible physical aspect, but the benefits of training in the Art of TaeKwon-Do are much more than the eye can see.

TaeKwon-Do training awakens within us a new perspective to life itself, connecting our emotional state, physical well-being and spiritual awareness. It is a concept of learning for the mind, body and soul and could be comparable to achieving a university degree in psychology, physical education and humanitarianism as well as self-defence proficiency.

Many of the values we learn as part of the TaeKwon-Do philosophy will help us in every day life. As we learn self-discipline and self-control, we become more tolerant of others, and this is necessary with today's fast changing attitudes of societies world-wide in which ideologies are being blended to create a new world philosophy. Awareness on all levels, developed through concentration and technique proficiency, will assist us in avoiding negative situations, as we become more alert and cautious. Through the positive energy we generate, others feel our self-confidence, as our actions demonstrate confidence in our ability to defend ourselves. Knowing that we have the knowledge and skill to defend ourselves in any situation, builds self-esteem and gives us an exhilarating feeling of self-worth.
The serious practitioner discovers the true spirit of TaeKwon-Do through respect and integrity, which are probably the two most important principles of TaeKwon-Do training. Without it, there could be no chain of command or distinct levels. To promote mutual respect, practitioners must be courteous to one another and encourage fair play at all times to ensure justice and peace. The integrity of a practitioner will undoubtedly say a lot by his/her representation in relation to rank and attitude. Through respect and integrity, we will build trusting relationships, which will develop into strong friendships.

TaeKwon-Do will act as a common denominator, intermingling all races through a sameness of mind, to provide a way for us to put aside all differences, enabling us to create and manifest a peaceful world. TaeKwon-Do will be our teacher in human kindness.

If TaeKwon-Do can provide each of us with all these benefits, why would we want to learn anything else?

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