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What is Tae Kwon Do ?
Tae Kwon do has been developed into an international martial arts form that takes its roots from the Korean people. The art form is steeped in tradition and has a very long history. The term "Tae Kwon Do" comes from the Korean word consisting of three characters, which have their proper meanings respectively: "Tae" means stepping, thus standing on the foot, "Kwon" means the fist or striking by the fist; and "Do" means a way or road to walk on, signifying the righteous way of human life.
The objective of training in the art of TaeKwonDo is to seek the perfection of self, through the incessant spiritual refinements resulting from the strengthening of both mind and body to grow self-control and endurance durin gthe course of training, and finally to acquire the tolerance and modesty that the stronger can show the weaker, if one reaches to an extraordinary level of Tae Kwon Do mastery.
Originally, Tae Kwon Do, which is characterized the the whole-body exercise, has developed various techniques to serve as protective weapons used in defending against enemy's attacks by means of turning all parts of the muscles and joints into weapons.
Basically, all movements of Tae Kwon Do start from the instinct of self-defense, then developing from passive actions to active ones, that is, shifting instantly from a defensive to an offensive in order to overpower an enemy, and finally end in reaching the stage of dexterity to develop a fatal blow.
It should be emphasized; however, that the true value of training in Tae Kwon Do can be found in the philosphical aspect of Tae Kwon Do, which ains at reaching the stage of a complete self-control and higher self through mastery of the art attained by a profound practice, thereby moderating the aggressive instinct of a human being and elevating one's person to the highest level of excellence.
In short, Tae Kwon Do aims to cultivate a person into a righteous and true human being. |
