MARTIAL ARTS PHILOSOPHY - "THE WAY"

Since the beginning of time, animals have always developed a means to protect themselves from the environment, such as thick fur that protects them from the cold. Physical tools, such as teeth, claws, and pure speed help protect the animal from its predators. But still only the strongest can survive. Thousands of years ago, man’s early studies of the martial arts try to mimic these animals’ natural defensive techniques.

Modern Martial Arts earned a reputation for developing physical techniques and stamina. Every muscle is exercised and developed, even every finger and every toe. In fact, Tae Kwon Do and Judo have been rated as having the most rigorous exercise. These specialized martial arts exercises strengthen and build endurance while maintaining weight control. These especially engineered exercises are designed as techniques, which require both coordination and speed, and are used to compensate for the human’s comparably lack of natural strength and speed. With perfection (or near perfection) of martial arts techniques, the less strong human can overcome even the strongest person or even an animal.

Modern studies of the martial arts found that much more is actually needed to be incorporated into the physical self-defense. This additional and important aspect of the Martial Arts is less renown and often less glamorous then the flashy physical techniques. Very few people ever truly understand how critical the MENTAL aspect is to martial arts. Even in entertainment movies, the plot almost always fails to relate the relative importance of the MENTAL aspect. It is this kind of aspect that makes us much different from animals.

In this MENTAL way, human beings are not like animals at all. People need more than physical well being. In fact, people require lots of mental well being and mental protection. But Martial Arts is only a method or tool to help individuals to achieve these attributes of mental well being and mental protection. The martial arts training has a structure which acts as a catalysts for each person to develop his/her own mental well being and mental protection.

One of the most important facets in the martial arts training structure is the relationship between each student and other individuals. The key to a good relationship is RESPECT. To foster RESPECT, the students through meaningful repetition are taught in many different ways to develop a philosophy of respect. Examples of “respect” training include such things as: “when a student walks onto the training mat, he/she should ‘bow’ to the national flags”, “at the beginning of every class and ending, the students bow to the instructors”, “during the class the students and instructors bow to each other at the end of each phase of training”, and “before and after every sparring event, the competitors bow to each other”. Again, the training structure of martial arts reinforces the ever-important aspect of RESPECT.

This respect does not have boundaries. Respect becomes the “way” of the martial arts student and will carry over to his/her entire life. Hopefully, the student’s respect will be given to elders, parents, and even towards the person, themselves. Yes, respect is the key to relationships and good sportsmanship. In the martial arts, the students are in an environment that expects and demands a respectful attitude. Today’s society and American culture has lost some of the tradition of respect.

SELF-CONTROL is another still important aspect of the martial arts. The development of self-control, like respect, takes time to mature. In fact, the techniques and understandings of the martial arts takes years, if not tens of years to master. To master the mental and physical training, one must develop dedication. Tolerance to pain and fatigue are also important to master, just as patience. The art of patience is fostered by training, mainly by learning and teaching, both requiring an incredible amount to patience.

Abilities increase as the student realizes his/her own capabilities through sparring and forms. Preparation and competition through various levels of tournaments also brings about confidence, as does participation in other sports. You can feel the aura of self-confidence that any Olympic or world class athlete carries. The development of self-confidence and security is the means to bring about the realization that physical violence is only for the self-defense of others.

Like animals, the strongest people not only survive but also surpass. Unlike animals, strength is physical, mental and inner. However, in animals living is most important, whereas people need human relationships, achievements and society.

When a student enters the Dojang/Dojo (school), the person becomes part of a family, which he/she is the youngest member. This is true for every student. The instructor is head of the family, and will always be respected, no mater how knowledgeable or skillful the student becomes. The instructor will always be given the respect that he/she has earned.

Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Hapkido all contain the Korean word ‘Do”, which means “The Way”. Martial Arts are the “Way” through respect, physical well being and technique that makes each of us better individuals. And by becoming ‘deeper’ individuals, we can create and maintain greater human relationships and hopefully one will contribute to the martial arts and society. This is the ultimate goal of the Martial Arts!

From the writings and teachings of Grandmaster Chang Hee Yoon

Presented by Master Instructor Dien Nguyen