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Tae Kwon Do Tenets
Jung Shin 중ㅅ힌

Courtesy (Ye-Ui 예 의)

"It can be said that courtesy is an unwritten regulation prescribed by ancient teacher of philosophy as a means to enlighten human beings while maintaining a harmonious society.  It can further be as an ultimate criterion required of a mortal.Taekwon-Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct training in an orderly manner as well."
Nine Reasons to Practice Courtesy
  1. To promote the spirit of mutual concessions.
  2. To be ashamed of one's vices, contempting those of others.
  3. To be polite to one another.
  4. To encourage the sense of justice and humanity.
  5. To distinguish instructor from student, senior from junior, and elder from younger.
  6. To behave oneself according to etiquette.
  7. To respect other's possessions.
  8. To handle matters with fairness and sincerity.
  9. To refrain from giving or accepting any gift when in doubt.
- General Choi Hong Hi, IX Dan Grand Master, Father of Taekwon-Do

Integrity (Yom Chi욤 치)

Integrity: "One must be able to distinguish right from wrong, and have the conscience, if wrong to feel guilt. " -General Choi Hong Hi

Eight examples of poor integrity as found in the Encyclopedia of Tae Kwon Do written by General Choi Hong Hi:

  1. An Instructor who misrepresents his art by teaching improper techniques to his students because of his lack of knowledge.
  2. The student who misrepresents himself by "fixing" breaking material.
  3. The Instructor who camouflages bad techniques with luxurious training halls and false flattery to his students.
  4. The student who requests rank from his Instructor or attempts to purchase it.
  5. The student who gains rank for egotistical purposes.
  6. The Instructor who teaches and promotes his art for material gain.
  7. The student whose actions do not live up to his words.
  8. The student who feels ashamed to seek opinions from his juniors.

Perserverance (In Nae)인 내

There is an old oriental saying, "Patience leads to virtue or merit." One can make a peaceful home by being patient 100 times. Certainly, happiness and proseperity 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 perservere.  Robert Bruce learned his lesson in perserverance from the persistant efforts of a lowly spider.  It was this perserverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century.  One of the most important secrets in becoming a leader in Taekwon-Do is to overcome every difficulty by perserverance.  Confucius said; "one who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance." - General Choi Hong Hi

Self Control (Guk Gi) 궄 기

"This tenet is extremely importan inside and outside the dojang, whether conducting oneself in free sparring or in one's personal affairs.  A loss of self control in free sparring can prove disasterous to both student and opponent.  An inability to live and work with in one's capability or sphere is also a lack of self control. According to Lao-Tzu 'the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else."  General Choi Hong Hi

Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgool)

뱈줄 보옭오올

"Here lie 300, who did their duty." 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 pited against overwhelming odds.

A serious student of Taekwon-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, with indomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however many the number may be.

Confucius declared; "it is an act of cowardice to fail to speak out against injustice."  History has proven, those who have pursued their dreams earnestly and strenuously with indomitable spirit have never failed to achieve their goals.  -General Choi Hong Hi, IX Dan

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