Overview

Taekwon-do is a version of unarmed combat designed for the purpose of self defence. It is however, more than that. It is the scientific use of the body in the method of self defence; a body that has gained the ultimate use of its facilities through intensive physical and mental training.

It is a martial arts that has no equal in either power or technique. Though it is a martial art, its discipline, technique and mental training are the mortar for building a strong sense of justice, fortitude, humility and resolve. It is the mental conditioning that separates the true practitioner from the sensationalist, content with mastering only the fighting aspects of the art.

This is one of the reasons why it is called an art of self defence. It also implies a way of thinking and life, particularly in instilling a concept and spirit of strict self-imposed discipline and an ideal of noble moral rearmament.

Translated literally “TAE” stands for jumping or flying, to kick or smash with the foot. “KWON” denotes the fist – chiefly to punch or destroy with the hand or fist. “DO” means an art or way – the right way built and paved by the saints and sages in the past. Thus taken collectively “TAEKWON-DO” indicates the mental training and the techniques of unarmed combat for self defence as well as health, involving the skilled application of punches, kicks, blocks and dodges with bare hands and feet to the rapid destruction of the moving opponent or opponents.

Taekwon-do enables the weak to possess a fine weapon together with a confidence to defend him or herself and defeat the opponent as well. Of course, wrongly applied, taekwon-do can be a lethal weapon. Therefore mental training must always be stressed to prevent the student from misusing it.

Even if taekwon-do is practiced for the sake of exercise alone, the enjoyment derived will justify the time invested and spent. As an exercise, it is equally suitable for the young and old, male and female.

(Encyclopedia of Taekwon-do. General Choi Hong Hi. Vol 1. Pg 21)

History of Taekwon-Do

Although the origins of the marital arts are shrouded in mystery, we consider it an undeniable fact that time immemorial there have been actions involving the use of hands and feet for the purpose of self protection. If we were to define these physical actions as “Taekwon-Do” any country might claim credit for inventing it. There is however, scant resemblance between Taekwon-Do, as it is practiced today, and the crude forms of unarmed combat developed in the past.

Modern Taekwon-do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no other martial art is so advance with regards to the sophistication and effectiveness of its techniques or the overall physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners.

When & Where did Taekwon-Do begin?

A combination of circumstances made it possible for General Choi Hong Hi to originate and develop Taekwon-Do. In addition to his knowledge of Taek Kyon, he had an opportunity to learn Karate in Japan during the unhappy thirty-six years when his native land was occupied by the Japanese. Soon after Korea was liberated in 1945, he was placed in privileged position as founding member of the newly formed South Korean Armed Forces.

This provided him with a definite sense of creation, and the latter gave him the power to disseminate Taekwon-Do throughout the entire armed forces, despite furious opposition.

The emergence of Taekwon-Do as an international martial art in a relative short period of time was due to a variety of factors. The evils of contemporary society (moral corruption, materialism, selfishness, etc) had created a spiritual vacuum. Taekwon-Do was able to compensate for the prevailing sense of emptiness, distrust, decadence and lack of confidence.

In addition these were violent times, where people felt the need for a means of protecting themselves. And the superiority of Taekwon-Do technique came to be widely recognized. General Choi Hong Hi’s social status, the advantage of being Taekwon-Do’s founder and his god-given health also contributed to the rapid growth.

(Encyclopedia of Taekwon-do. General Choi Hong Hi. Vol 1. Pg 21)

Taekwon-Do

By PLAVEB
IL Shim, The Concept, From the Abstract to the Practice

Henry's Corner June 2011 Issue 1

 IL SHIM, THE CONCEPT, FROM THE ABSTRACT TO THE PRACTICE.

Dear Friends

Just as change is an inevitable element of life, organizations will either evolve or wither. Although change may cause feelings of uncertainty, it is the bold who embrace it and constantly challenge the parameters within which they operate.

Approximately 23 years ago Master Daher felt a need to restructure his organization in order to use it as a vehicle to pursue his new goals. He confided this ambition to me and asked me to suggest a name for his new organization.

The name of an organizational entity needs to reflect its objectives and the aspiration of its leader. Considering the character of the leader, Master Daher, and his ambition to unite the people of the world under the umbrella of the art of Tae Kwon Do, the concept of IL SHIM or ONE MIND quickly occurred to me.

As you are all aware, the word IL means one and SHIM denotes mind or heart. Ancient people believed the seat of the mind was the heart. Hence, SHIM carries these two meanings. In fact, I have learnt that the Chinese character for SHIM is a crude diagram of the heart.

The beauty of the name IL SHIM is both in its duality and its component meanings.

Interpreted on an individual level it signifies single mindedness, individuality and strength of character. On another level IL SHIM means unity where many people come together as one to share the core values of Tae Kwon Do. Just as in the concept of yin and yang, in IL SHIM we have one concept that encompasses two seemingly opposing forces which complement each other and interact as parts of a dynamic system.

It is the resourcefulness and the strength of the individual’s mind that will eventually bring about the union of many individuals under the banner of Tae Kwon Do which will in turn through the nurturing quality of togetherness strengthen the character of the individual. So, on and on goes this harmonious cycle.

We humans as sentient beings with cognitive powers must stop to think about the meaning of our lives’ pursuits and whether the discipline we are engaged in has the values that we are willing to uphold, protect and propagate. Like the proverbial philosopher on a journey to discover the meaning of his existence, we need to establish the validity of our system of beliefs. Once we are convinced of the soundness of our doctrine we need to make it our modus vivendi.

There is a multitude of other Tae Kwon Do organizations in Australia affiliated with ITF. I sometimes wonder what it is that differentiates them. Each one makes some claim to superiority usually based on the quality of their instructors and some will even pay lip service to the moral enlightenment of their practitioners. These satellite bodies which are operating relatively autonomously with a loose affiliation with the main body of ITF have a responsibility to impart to its members the core values which identifies ITF Tae Kwon Do. Each satellite organization will inevitably have its own character and modus operandi depending on its leadership but fundamentally it is a question of whether their focus is on teaching and spreading the tenets of Tae Kwon Do.

At Il Shim International Tae Kwon Do we have formulated the most effective system of edifying the individual practitioner. We do not sit still like the hermit philosopher who has discovered the meaning of life nor do we simply bask in our physical achievements like gladiators but actively reach out and seek to unite as many people as we can in order to cultivate, share and enjoy the tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit.

We need to constantly ask ourselves this question. “Are we relentlessly striving to live by these tenets and propagate these values as the spirit of IL SHIM prescribes?” Are we so caught up in the physical aspects of Tae Kwon Do that we forget that the physical manifestations of this art is an expression of its tenets and tools with which we uphold and protect them?

Mind over matter. Sound Familiar?