SMA (Shim's Martial Arts) Philosophy of Taekwondo

The purpose of Tae Kwon Do is not to learn how to hurt people. Some people look at martial arts and say "I wish I knew martial arts. Then I could beat everyone in a fight." This is not the true meaning of martial arts, however. Once someone begins their study of martial arts, they start to understand and learn the true philosophy and ethics of martial arts.

At Shim's Tae Kwon Do, there are five principles practitioners need to focus on.

1. COURTESY(ETIQUETTE)

2. INTEGRITY

3. PERSEVERANCE

4. SELF-CONTROL

5. INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

This week the first principle we will be focusing on is COURTESY. Korean translation is Yeh Euh.

Tae Kwon Do originated in Korea with a strong military background. If you read the history of Tae Kwon Do, you learned the "Hwarang" were noblemen who used martial arts to defend themselves against the opposition. They had a code of honor.

1. Serve your lord
2. Serve your parents
3. Trust your friends
4. Never withdraw from battle
5. When taking a life, be selective

The modern commandments of Tae Kwon Do stem from these.  You might recognize some similarities.

1. Respect oneself

1.  Respect your parents/Teachers/Elders

2. Be loyal to your friends
3. Have a strong and invincible spirit
4. Be loyal to your school
5. Always finish what you start

As you can see, loyalty and respect play a big role in martial arts. Lets try to focus on being courteous towards one another as a martial arts family!

Children benefit from Tae Kwon Do...

Taekwondo is a total learning activity. Lessons are tailored to your child's age and skill level. Your child begins by practicing basic patterns and forms, board breaking, kicking, blocking, striking, and punching. These fundamental skills increase your child's physical coordination, flexibility, balance, strength, and mental acumen.

Taekwondo develops your child's athletic abilities and self-awareness, and improves the child's capabilities in self-defense.  Taekwondo emphasizes moral development as well. Children learn respect for themselves and others, heightened concentration, and increased self-discipline and self-restraint.

The self-discipline that develops as a result of learning and practicing the techniques usually carries over into other areas of the child's life. School grades often improve as your child learns to focus on objectives and to work toward achievement. The self-discipline and self-resect which Taekwondo develops can provide your child with the skills and mindset necessary to resist peer pressure.  Bring out the positive qualities that have always been part of you! Develop patience, confidence, self-discipline, inner calm, and a consistently positive mental attitude.