Life in Balance
(Why Study Taekwondo Philosophy?)
by Ronda J. Sweet

Serious practitioners of any sport testify to the mental benefits derived from constant practice of physical arts. The football coach will brag that he made men out of boys; the basketball coach the same. Parents of soccer kids and Little Leaguers discuss how playing their sports has taught their children cooperation, coordination, and other life benefiting skills.

So why is Taekwondo different? Why should you go beyond the study of blocks and attacks to enter the mystical path of the mental aspects of a sport? After all, haven't we already agreed that serious practitioners of any sport derive important mental and maturity skills, and let's face it the most spiritual the football coach ever gets is the pre-game prayer. So, why? The answer to this question is not simple. Conceivably it is possible to learn Taekwondo or any martial art without studying the mental and spiritual aspects of the art/sport.

Many argue that Taekwondo is just a sport and no more than that. In fact many people become uncomfortable with the concept of a sport with "mental" and "spiritual" aspects. These same people challenge that martial arts instructors should leave the teaching of these aspects to the church. Depending on who you are and where you are spiritually, and why you began learning Taekwondo, this may apply to you.

Not long ago I met a woman in one of my college courses who realized that she recognized me. After the usual "Do you go here and there's," we realized I had refereed a match involving her son at a local tournament. Politely, I asked where her son took his lessons. After giving me the answer, with my obligatory reply that that was a good school, she told me she had searched long and hard for just the right school for her son.

With the number of schools and styles available, one needs to make a careful examination of all aspects of a school before plunking down hard earned cash for instruction, consequently, I did not realize at first the connotations of her statement. Only after her continued explanation of the criteria she used did I become concerned. Her only criteria for determining what school her six year old son would attend was that the school teach only the physical aspects and none of "that Eastern philosophy crap."

I was appalled. No matter what a school claims, it is impossible to teach Taekwondo without including the philosophy of the art. It would be unconscionable to teach the art or the sport without instilling the philosophy behind it. Would you give a teenager a gun without the safety instructions?

The purpose behind the Brady bill is to attempt to keep guns out of the hands of someone who might misuse them. Are Taekwondo instructors no less charged to keep skills in the hands of responsible individuals who are not going to misuse their teachings?

I asked her what it was she did not want her son to learn. Was it self-control, self-esteem, just what exactly? She replied again, that she objected to "Eastern Philosophy." Without knowing what constituted "Eastern Philosophy," she summarily discounted what Taekwondo has to teach because of its Oriental derivations.

It was an exercise in futility to try to explain to her that upon careful examination all religions, etc... basically have the same messages couched in different wordings. Western, Eastern, New Age, etc... no where does it say it is okay to steal, lie, or kill? The basic differences fall in the categories of that which came before and that which will come. This is not to discount the basic principles behind the differences in religions and spiritual spheres, only to emphasize the similarities. In Taekwondo, especially modern Taekwondo, the only issues of a mental or spiritual philosophy are those that cross those boundaries. Consequently, it seems ludicrous to choose a sport and then discount a major aspect of it because you don't understand it. If that is how she felt, why choose Taekwondo over soccer or Little League?

In the end, her answer to me was that perhaps we had "different values." As I do now, I knew then nothing would dissuade her from her chosen path. I left it at that, feeling somewhat insulted at "different values." Did this mean she thought it was okay to lie, cheat, steal, or kill? Had she replied "different beliefs," I might have been mollified, but "different values?"

To be fair to this woman, no one begins a course of study in Taekwondo with the goal of becoming spiritually enlightened. A few might say they want to learn self-discipline, or something of the sort, but let's be honest, everyone starts Taekwondo for selfish reasons. Bruce Lee wannabes abound, future Mighty Morphin Power Rangers flood children's classes, and let's face it, it is socially responsible to learn to defend oneself in this era of abduction and mugging.

Only after one has progressed through some of the belt ranks does the student realize there is more to this than taking a hit or breaking boards. Many do not even begin this search until after achieving a first dan black belt. You, as a serious student, are getting a head start on the mental aspects of this sport. In researching the local bookstores and available martial arts books, I came to the realization that the average student can learn Chun-Ji (the beginning form for most white belts) from no less than twenty books, basic self-defense from at least ten or more authors, the life and philosophy of Bruce Lee from that many or more authors, and David Carradine will teach you the secrets of Tai-Chai.

What I didn't find were any books dedicated to the student interested in the mental and physical aspects that differentiate Taekwondo from other sports, that didn't require a high dan rank and a Grandmaster to interpret. We cannot even begin to impart the whole of Taekwondo philosophies in these articles, but it is our hope to inspire you to go beyond this book and explore further the concepts entailed within these pages.

Why study the philosophy of Taekwondo? Other than the simple reason it is impossible to ignore it, it is a major component of Taekwondo study. Successful Taekwondo students are able to translate the lessons learned in the dojang (training hall) and apply them to their outside life - Life in Balance - the whole concept behind Taekwondo. If students are confident only sparring in class, and cannot translate this confidence to their workplace, then their instructor has not done his duty by them.

Until a black belt friend of mine (fourth dan) learned this lesson, it was easy to tell what was happening in his personal life. If his personal and business life was going along well, then you saw him in class, at testings, and at other dojang functions. If he was having problems outside the dojang, he suddenly stepped up his training schedule. He would train on his lunch hours, extending them an extra hour to take on extra dojang duties, he would train three and four hours a day sometimes, because he didn't have his life in balance. At those times when he had trouble translating his Taekwondo lessons to his life, he turned to the one place where he felt secure, powerful, and in control. Eventually he realized how "out of balance" his life was, and worked hard to "practice what he taught." Today, he is a healthier person and a much better martial artist.

The philosophical aspect concerns the way in which we live our lives, our interactions with our families and friends, co-workers, bosses, and employees, even people who don't like us or those we don't particularly like, and lastly, of course, ourselves. Taekwondo is not a religion. Some instructors can make it seem that way, but in the generally accepted definition of religion, it is not. In the aspect of a better way of life, of an existence that is in harmony with oneself, the people of this planet, and with the planet itself; yes, Taekwondo can be a way of life in a spiritual sense. Yet, no one is trying to take God or Jesus away and replace them with Buddha or a tree. The study of Taekwondo can make people better people. It can help someone to become a better Christian, a better husband or wife, a better parent or child, a better anything.

Taekwondo assists individuals in realizing their potential. Few are able to comprehend where they could be from where they are. Taekwondo bridges the gap between the percentage of our brain/body that we are able to utilize and control and the percentage we are capable of controlling.

Only you can balance your life. Your instructor cannot teach you, cannot show you, they can only guide you. A good instructor will assist you to achieve this goal of "Life in Balance." This is why you are taking Taekwondo instead of some other sport, because only a balanced study of this sort will have the impact on your life (not just your health) that all people seek.

Studies show people are more spiritual today than they were five years ago, possibly attributed to the fact that the Baby Boomers are reaching an age where they must face their mortality. Taekwondo is a bridge that enables students to span their physical, mental, and spiritual limits and gain a Life in Balance. Taekwondo is not a religion; nor should it strive to take the place of religion. Taekwondo is a way of life that complements and enhances our physical, mental, and spiritual lives.