2011 – Henry Pak

Henry’s Corner December 2011 (2)

2011

Dear Friends

As another year draws fast to an end and we reflect on the achievements and challenges we had in 2011, let us be thankful for the fellowship and camaraderie we share through our art of Taekwon-Do. I have simply titled this article 2011 so I can freewheel and talk about various issues that concerned and affected us in this year that is coming to a close. After all it is the festive season and I am allowed to let loose and be a bit expansive, aren’t I? So here I sit in the tranquillity that night offers, floating through the vast and endless energy of the universe and surfing the freedom of my mind. How poetic! Settle down, Henry!

The litmus test of a discipline is its ability to provide the cohesion which keeps its members united under a system of belief which promotes our growth as human beings and our growth happens in relation to other people because, as independent as we like to think ourselves to be, we are not solitary beings and our lives are inextricably linked with those around us.

In one of my previous contributions titled “The Unifying Force of Taekwon-Do” I dwelled on the universal appeal that the core values of Taekwon-Do have and how it serves to unite the people of our world. There is literally a supermarket of belief systems out there. Look around you and you can hear them being sold. Just listen to them! “Gather around everybody and tell us what you need! Boy, do we ever have one that will make you the life of the party! Here is one that should suit you but if it doesn’t make you popular we will exchange it for another one! As a matter of fact why don’t we tailor make one for you!” Ethics and morality are up for sale and people choose belief systems based on how “convenient” it is for them and not based on their truthfulness or validity. The core values of Taekwon-Do are not for sale. Our tenets are what we believe everyone should embrace as the foundation for building a better world.

The moral obligation of a Taekwon-Do instructor has a close correlation to faith. A belief is theoretical and faith is practical. You can believe something is true but unless you live your life according to that belief it is not faith. To use the vernacular, faith is “Putting your money where your mouth is.” If we have faith in the art of Taekwon-Do, we will be the vanguard of the protection and propagation of its core values. The instructors need to be in philosophical agreement that our focus is on the edification of the individual.

We are practitioners of the art of Taekwon-Do. An art is a product of human creativity and Taekwon-Do is a way of life. Hence we are meant to be pursuing a way of life where we are practicing and disseminating the values we uphold. I have experienced the unlimited power of the mind to both create and destroy. When I stood on the crossroads of either total oblivion or salvation I experienced an epiphany, a realization that it was either an inability or unwillingness to put my beliefs into practice that was at the root of my problems. That is, I had to convert my beliefs into faith. I had to live my life according to my beliefs. Once again, you can believe in something as much as you like but it is purely academic unless you are putting it into practice.

For a Taekwon-Do practitioner, how this power which exists in all of us is channelled will depend on both internal and external factors. What is certain is the importance of training, discipline, and moral guidance, both endogenous through self reflection and exogenous through proper counsel to overcome the impediments to channelling this energy in the proper direction.

I am delighted that Master Daher has a new found determination to propel Il Shim Taekwon-Do to the heights that we all know it can reach. A mountaineer may climb the Everest simply because “It is there,” but we must take Il Shim Taekwon-Do to the zenith of its potential because “We can and we must.” Simple words that are pregnant with moral obligation for we must propagate the core values of Taekwon-Do. Grandiose, it may be, but the intention must come from a humble heart or it will be self defeating.

With news of the resurgence of Il Shim Taekwon-Do we are filled with joyful anticipation for the advent of glorious days ahead for our organization. When an organization goes through a spurt of growth, it is easy to bask in the favourable turn of events and neglect to maintain the momentum and use this opportunity to propel us to greater heights. Success would be self defeating if it breeds complacency and not foster greater ambitions.

The reconciliation between ethics and business is a perennial issue for commercial entities, especially ones like ours which is supposed to focus on the moral enrichment of its practitioners. We may feel as if we are constantly treading a fine line between integrity and the pursuit of profit but, for an entity such as ours, focusing on our core values should deliver profit as a natural by-product. Hence we remain faithful to our determination to not focus on the making of money as practitioners of Taekwon-Do but paradoxically end up achieving profit through concentrating on our core values.

Improvisation and adaptation are keys to survival, relevance and progress but isn’t there a timeless quality about Il Shim Taekwon-Do that sets it apart from other martial arts organizations? In other words what is our USP (Unique Selling Proposition)? Without this element we would be just another martial arts organization wading through a sea of mediocrity.

We are all aware that our core values are special but let us not forget that there are other martial arts organizations that also aspire to morally and spiritually uplift its members. Hence, I am suggesting that our uniqueness comes not only from the SUBSTANCE of what we are but from the DELIVERY of this content. The success of Il Shim Taekwon-Do will be achieved through the projection of our image as an organization which focuses on and

promotes integrity, respect, justice, humility and charity and demonstrating how through the practice of Taekwon-Do we can instil these values in everyone. We are all aware that these values are universally embraced but it is by packaging them in the spectacular techniques of Taekwon-Do and educating the public about the connection between these values and the physical manifestations of Taekwon-Do that we should be able to attract many people to come and participate and enjoy the benefits of our art. All public exhibitions and tournaments must be accompanied by a clear explanation of the substance of our art so as to change the public perception that Taekwon-Do is just a fancy form of fighting. I fervently believe that, once we can change the public perception of Taekwon-Do and introduce them to the moral and ethical foundations of our art, membership will boom. In an age of world-wide turmoil, insecurity and chaos, the core values we embrace have special relevance.

There may be some people out there who are saying, “But I just want to learn how to defend myself!” This is fine too, except if you do not immerse yourself in the spirit of this art you will be missing out on all the riches it has to offer. There is also another angle. The physical techniques of Taekwon-Do will allow you to defend your body but the spirit of this art will arm you with the fortitude to deal with the chaos in this world. Don’t you wish to protect both your body and mind?

I have been made aware of a comment by two different people regarding my articles for our web site. These two readers felt that my articles “would go over people’s heads.” Please allow me to respond. I am simply writing in a manner and style which I have written in all my life and the contents are what I believe to be the core issues but they obviously felt that my articles were either too in-depth and/or the vocabulary and expressions I employ are beyond the grasp of many people. I sincerely appreciate any feedback and I invite people to send them to me directly but may I say that I do not agree with “dumbing down” the expression of one’s thoughts since this is condescending to the readers.

When I read a book by a renowned sociologist many years ago, I recall him saying in the introduction that he did not believe in talking down to his audience because this is essentially condescending. He meant that he would use the full length and breadth of his power of expression to deliver his thoughts and it would be up to his readers to decipher what he wrote if need be and investigate and question his message.

So I agree that it is up to readers to challenge themselves to digest and hopefully gain some new insight. Our main objective in communication is to be as clear and precise as possible. Anyway, I never thought my articles would be difficult for most people to comprehend.

We are in the business of morally and physically enriching people. In order to do this we must vigorously challenge the existing paradigm and elevate our approach so everyone is encouraged to contemplate in-depth on our reason for being.

One other comment I would like to make is that those of you who have read all my articles to date would have noticed that there has been a recurring theme in many of them. I have been trying to encourage the practitioners of Il Shim Taekwon-Do to stay focussed on core values as this is the heart of the art and my entreaties in this regard may have sounded esoteric to those who are new to our discipline. To take away the core values which are contained in the student oath and tenets is tantamount to taking the soul out of the art. Training in Taekwon-Do without concentrating on the spirit of the art is like reducing it to a system of physical movements.

May I say that I appreciate all feedback because it is through your comments, encouragement and criticisms that I will also grow.

I wish you and your families all the best for this festive season and may there be peace on earth in the New Year!

Please send me your thoughts to henry239@tpg.com.au