Taekwondo Etiquette

WHAT IS ETIQUETTE?

    It is the conventional rules of a social behavior

                  The code of etiquette is established by associations aimed at encouraging the taekwondo person of etiquette, always trying hard to cultivate the character of a Taekwondo player.  So that all Taekwondo family throughout the world may follow the examples in the same manner.

                   Individual gathering together makes a group or organization an organization can be maintained by the family established discipline specially a group of youngsters need for more discipline environment. The youth over flowing passion can be tempered only through reinforced moral education which is possible only by the training of etiquette, Etiquette should be based on upright mind  and modest attitude. One should get rid of mean attitude showing only modest attitude which is an important part of etiquette. Decent and accurate speech, graceful conduct, upright and modest attitude etc., are all the essentially of etiquette deserving of the healthy life are also the source of maintaining harmony and soldiery for a community life.

Ethical background

                 As in all martial arts ethics is of great importance in Taekwondo.

                 One can look at individual ethics, treat of fellowmen right, or one can look at social ethics as part of a whole, it all comes down to one part, the difference between the good and evil but does this means that we can kick one on the head because we don’t want a person to be injured wear protective guards. So this is not really a problem it is all part of the sport.

                   Taekwondo is not a destructive sport but the sportive one. Joining a competition is not to hurt your opponent but to test your strength in both physical and mental ways. Taekwondo students can improve themselves physically and mentally by training. The final goal is to active harmony with nature and yourself balance is gamed by controlling both evil and good forces.

                      A true Taekwondo student kwons how to behave in different situations, Taekwondo is not only a way to improve skills to defend yourself, but it is the way of life.

Examples for the code of Etiqutte

              Taekwondoists bow and upright posture in attention position one bows the head at 90 degrees and body at 45 degree(Upper body should bent at the waist) Back soles of  both feet should stick together.

#Bowing while sitting on the floor of “DOJAND’

           --If a senior is seated one should kneel down and bow.

          -- When a senior enters rise up, show courtesy by standing upright and then kneel down to bow before the senior.

#If one serves as an attendant

     --When entering a room an attendant must guide the senior to the seat.

     --Even during a meeting the attendant should always keep watching the seniors from his position, to be able to respond quickly to any sign of help by senior.

     --When a senior talks everyone should listen carefully with attention.

# INSTRUCTORS ATTITUDE

   --Head of the dojang (instructor) must be a model of respectable personality.

   --The instructor must keep in mind that every speech and behavior of his is watched closely and imitated by his trainees.

  --An instructor should not speak bad about others seniors or instructor in front of trainees.

  --Attitude of an instructor should be clear.

  -- Instructor should pay attention to status of trainees at home if they had any trouble instructor should take initiative to contribute to development of community.

#DOJANG ETIQUETTE

 Some of the rules common to all dojangs.

1. Trainees must bow when entering or learning  the workout area.
2. Trainees must wear the  gentle uniform to all practice sessions.
3. All uniforms must be clean and in good condition.
4. Trainees must keep their body clean and nails trimmed.
5. Trainees must not wear jewellary or sharp objects  when     working out.
6. Trainees must not chewgum and candees or eat while in the dojang.
7. If late wait until the masters or seniors tells you to come in.
8. Trainees must not engage in idle talks while in the dojang and should remain attentive at all time.
9. Trainees must always be corteous and helpful to each other.
10. Trainees should never use their skills except in self defence and competition.
 

 

#TRAINING DEMANDS

--Sincerity is necessary

--Effort is necessary.

--Do your best while training.

 

How to Bow Correctly in Taekwondo and Why

Bowing in any martial art is a sign of respect and should be a sincere slow bow. It is sometimes more disrespectful to bow incorrectly than to not bow at all as this is a sign that you do not understand the reason behind the gesture.

Some martial arts may differ but in Taekwondo you must always be in attention position when you bow. So make sure you have no gaps between your feet and your hands are placed smartly at the sides of your body.

From your waist bend 45 degrees and lower your eyes to the floor. Hold the position for a split second before coming back to your original standing position.

Things to remember when bowing:

• Bow from attention position with your feet touching.
• Looking at your instructor or partner (in Taekwondo) shows mistrust, so ensure you always lower your eyes.
• Bow 45 degrees from your waist slowly.
• Never bow while you are moving. Always stop and stand in attention position.
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It is important that you also know and understand the correct time to bow. Sometimes you see students bowing all the time without understanding what they are doing. Bowing constantly makes bowing meaningless. It is often just seen as something you have to do and go through the motions of before and after a lesson.

When you bow to someone you are making a public gesture that you respect them as a person in the martial arts and what they stand for. That is why every time you bow it should mean something both to you and the other person. Half hearted bows or a simple nod of the head don’t symbolically mean anything it is a lack of etiquette if anything.

Bowing, especially for adults, is also a very humbling experience. To acknowledge that someone else, irrespective of age, has more experience and knowledge than you can sometimes be quite difficult to grasp. Also bowing when you enter and leave the Dojang is not for anyone else but you. This simple action reminds you that you are there to listen to the advice of the instructor and approach learning with an empty cup.

 

 

TAEKWONDO PHILOSOPHY

What is Philosophy?

A personal rule of life or

A system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.

The philosophy of Taekwondo is very special, but what makes it so special?

If we learn philosophy from books, we tend to forget it as soon as we leave them, because it is not related to our actual lives. But since Taekwondo is connected with our lives like every movement of ours is, we can never forget its philosophy.

That is, the philosophy is one of actions that can be learned from other actions, and our everyday activities. Taekwondo philosophy represents the principles of the changes and movements in human beings. It also represents the principles of our lives, since life consists of our movements. Therefore, we can say Taekwondo is a philosophy in itself. We can understand the philosophy of Taekwondo by doing Taekwondo, and this understanding should lead to better understanding and enhancement of our life.

The principles of Taekwondo can be explained in several ways but here we will explain it simply with the principle of "Sam Jae" [Three Elements] and that of "Eum" [the Negative or Darkness] and "Yang" [the Positive or the Brightness]. "Sam Jae" refers to "Cheon" [the Heaven], "Ji" [the Earth], and "In" [the Man] and the principles concerning them. In oriental countries, it has been recognized as the central principle that explains the changes of everything in the world. "Sam Jae" and the changes of "Eum" and "Yang" constitute the "Eight Trigrams for Divination" in the "Book of Changes."

The principle of Sam Jae has been emphasized in oriental countries, especially in Korea. If you understand Taekwondo's principle, you could understand all the skills and spiritual depth of Taekwondo. The principle of Eum and Yang has also been emphasized in oriental countries as the central principle of life. It maintains that everything has an opposite side. This principle explains various forms of changes, but it comes from "Taegeuk" [the Great Absolute], which represents the ultimate claim that Eum and Yang was the one and the same thing. If we understand Taekwondo according to this principle, we will find a solution, and by continuously changing skills, we will never get stuck, in any situation. After we understand these philosophical principles of Taekwondo, we can find proper ways to understand and develop our lives.

TAEKWONDO SPIRIT

The meaning of taekwondo spirit

                          Spirit and mind are two words often confused in usage because of their similarity. However, spirit refers to the immaterial intelligence which systematically established human thinking on the basis of values. Therefore Taekwondo spirits means the Taekwondo man’s systematic thought process in regarding values established through taekwondo training when one reach an improved ability to understand the relative merit of things and act effectively and decisively as a result of training, then it can be said that taekwondo spirit has been up to some extent established, and developed not until a behavior and moral philosophy have been established as a result of internal assimilation of the three dimension of taekwondo ideology i.e. Technique, Artistic & Philosophical, it can be said that a comprehensive Taekwondo spirit has been established.

Technique and spirit:- Technique is the starting point as well as the ultimate goal of taekwondo, all the natural values of Taekwondo arises from technique and exist at any stage of development within and because of technique.

                           Taekwondo spirit therefore starts with technique develop itself with in technique and arrives at perfection through technique. As one trainees in the series of technique which develop progressively from basic movements poomsae and kyorngi(sparring) to higher level. Spirit is developed progressively and in concrete stages like wise.  

                        The determinant factor in Taekwondo training is called the reactive motion. Man existing in a certain environment is influenced by that environment and in turn, acts against the environment. The medium through which influence each other is the reactive motion. If that awarness can be reached, no gap would wxists between the state of an individuals internal conscousness and that of the external environment, and it would become possible for the individual to control and adjust the internal and the external fields subjectively.

This type of development of the spirit is accomplished by pure presence of spirit into a technique and through the exprencies within the technique. During violent sparring of the trainees, once calmness is not lost , the self and the opponent are both deeply and clamely viewed with in the mind, action is neither feared nor avoided all external concons about result of outcome are discardent.

Putting teakwondo spirit into practice

             Taekwondo spirit refers to mental frame of the ideal human being into which taekwondo seekds to develop. It is a mental image of the ideal taekwondoist which an trainee carries when the three dimensions of taekwondo is technique. Art and philosophy are intigreated/combined from another dimensions of human. Personality, it is seenes as the beginning of actual teakwondo spirit.

FIVE TENETS OF TAEKWONDO

                 Taekwondo has a philosophy which is based on constant striving for excellence. The aim is to be an honorable person with good character and physical condition. To reach the ultimate benefits of Taekwondo, one must practice it daily and commit to it for a lifetime. Although it is almost impossible to achieve perfection in each of these areas, one must always strive to improve. In Taekwondo there are five basic tenets of living that we abide by these should serve as a guide to student, both inside and outside the training.

Introduction

Frequently, at the end of class, the question will be asked of students, “Can you name the five tenets of Tae Kwon Do?” After some stumbling and a few puzzled expressions, student after student will eventually trip over one of them until all five have been identified in one form or another. However, very little is normally discussed as to their origin & meaning, how they apply in our Tae Kwon Do training and practice, or how these principles can translate and be employed in our everyday life. This article will endeavor to put these tenets in perspective and bring a better appreciation of how embracing each of them will help bring us peace and harmony as we face our daily challenges.

The Origin of the Five Tenets

 “What, exactly, is a tenet?” A dictionary or encyclopedia definition would merely define it as any opinion, principle, dogma, or doctrine which a person or group believes, maintains, or practices. However, this stoic definition does not do justice to the rich heritage from which our current Tae Kwon Do tenets were derived nor the lifestyle that heritage defined.

During the Three Kingdoms Period of Korean history, an organization was developed from the youths of noble families for the purpose of training warriors to defend the Kingdom of Silla from rival kingdoms. This organization was known as the Hwarang and, to be considered for selection, a youth had to be a person of good character, virtue and countenance. These youths were taught arts, dance, literature and the sciences. They were trained in the arts of warfare and hand-to-hand combat. The leaders of each group of Hwarang youths were referred to as Kuk-son. It was from the ranks of the Kuk-son that many of the military and government leaders were subsequently chosen. And, it was two noted Hwarang warriors who were responsible for the development of the Hwarang Code of Conduct from which our current Five Tenets were derived.

During the 30th year of the reign of King Chin Hung, the king who first established the Hwarang, warriors Kwi-San and Chu-Hang sought out the famous Buddhist warrior monk Won Gwang Beop Sa(meaning Won Gwang Teacher of the Law) and requested he provide them with a set of rules or principles to live by for those who did not have the ability to embrace the Buddhist monks’ secluded way of life. Won Gwang provided them with his “Five Commandments for Secular Life.” These commandments were accepted as the Hwarang Code of Conduct and were comprised of these five rules: (1) rigid loyalty to king and country; (2)respect and obedience to one’s parents; (3) unswerving loyalty to and trust of friends; (4) to display courage and never retreat in battle; and, (5) prudence in the use of violence or in the taking of life. Hwarang warriors were reputed to exhibit displays of their allegiance to this code in every facet of their lives.

There are numerous tales of bravery and dedication to these principles that have served to define the spirit of the Hwarang throughout history. One such story relates the tale of the hero warrior Sa Da-Ham who, upon the death of his best friend, starved himself to death due to a death pact they made to each other as youths, thus demonstrating his loyalty to his friend and adherence to the code. Another tale tells of Kwan Chang, who became a commander at the age of 16 and, after being captured and released due to his young age during a battle against the forces of Paekje, continued to mount attacks until he was finally captured and executed for his persistence in battle.