Tenets of TaeKwon-Do




The Student Oath and Tenets of Taekwon-Do are a verbal affirmation that is recited by all of the students at the beginning of each training session.

The purpose of the Student Oath is to remind all of the students in the Dojang, regardless of their rank, that the physical, mental, and spiritual growth that they enjoy as a by product of their Taekwon-Do training, must also extend beyond the Dojang walls.

In order to derive the true benefits of Taekwon-Do, each student must take the underlying principals of this art form and make them a regular part of their daily life.  When you leave your Dojang, always be sure and take the meaning of those words out into the world with you. Because it is in the every day world that is outside of those four walls that you train behind each day, that the true meaning of the Student Oath is truly meant to be practiced.
 

Courtesy

Respect for others is an important part of the Asian culture therefore common to Taekwon-Do. Gichin Funakoshi (the Founder of Karate) stressed that karate begins and ends with Courtesy. He also stated that without courtesy there is no Dojo (Dojang). The Dojang etiquette is well defined. You bow correctly and show respect in everything you do and everywhere you go. Respect is extended to all...fellow students, instructors, parents, educators, law, deceased, nature, etc.

Integrity
 
Although it may be similar, this form of integrity takes on a more wider role then defined in the common dictionary. In Taekwon-Do, integrity means not only to determine what is right or wrong but also having the conscience to feel guilt if one has done wrong and to have the integrity stand up for what is right.  The highest test of Integrity is not how it is observed when others are around but how it is observed when one is alone.  To maintain Integrity in Taekwon-Do the students must choose a path or way, the right way, paved by the saints and sages of the past, and not change or deviate from that way regardless of the hardships that are met.

Perserverance

To persevere means complete dedication and commitment necessary to achieve mastery of the art. In no case is mastery possible without strenuous effort and sacrifice on the part of the practitioner. The endeavour must be of a sincere nature and not just superficial. Serious effort on the part of the student will be recognized by the Instructor who will in turn spend more time with him or her.  

Self-Control 
The Encarta Dictionary defines self-control as "Restraint the ability to control your own behavior, Especially in terms of reactions and Impulses."

According to Lao-Tzu " the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else ". A trained fighter is a person with a fierce spirit and great strength so it is unfair to use it against an untrained person. The Taekwon-Do students spirit is unbeatable and one must use this knowledge only for the sake of justice. A person of character can walk away from a fight because he is in control of his emotions and is at peace with himself. They do not have to test their abilities on the street. They win without fighting and will have no regrets because no one will be injured. Refraining from violent behaviour is hard to explain to many Westerners because of their environment, or the attitude of winning tournaments, and they want to do it as quickly as possible which is against the principles of Taekwon-Do. It is therefore necessary for instructors to constantly remind the students of the importance of the Student Oath and the Tenets of Taekwon-Do.  

Indomitable Spirit 

This means that the art of Taekwon-Do is more than just physical. All beginners, especially the young, are taught the importance of character building through discipline and rigorous training. For the beginner, the character building process begins with perfecting techniques through repetition. The spirit to fight will be achieved as one gains more confidence through development of stronger techniques. Train to bring out the spirit, not only to fight but to overcome personal problems especially in times of sickness, domestic crisis, business problems and life in general. It is a long path to develop these spiritual values but once the concept is understood and experienced it will provide a lifetime benefit of inner strength and peace.