The Unifying Force of Taekwon-Do

Henry’s Corner September 2011 (1)

THE UNIFYING FORCE OF TAE KWON DO

Dear Friends

In my last contribution, I mentioned the unifying force of Taekwon-Do and the need to dwell a little further on this subject matter. What sets a discipline like Taekwon-Do apart from other systematized physical pursuits is the higher values which this art embraces that transcend all races and nationalities and has broad appeal.

Even in a country like Australia where people may appear rather expansive and tolerant with a laissez faire approach to life the cohesive power of Taekwon-Do offers our society a way of life which represents a struggle against its parochialism. Very often the persona disguises the bigotry lurking within us all. We need to accept the imperfections of our nature and recognize that the task is to constantly chip away at our flaws and imbed in our consciousness the need to strive against the inequities that exist within us. Taekwon-Do offers us a framework for action in this regards.

Master Daher’s success in Taekwon-Do is testimony not only to his indomitable spirit and the opportunities this wonderful nation offers but what this art offers to the dedicated.

The first tenet of Taekwon-Do, courtesy, recognizes the equal value of all human beings. We may not be created equal in terms of physical or mental attributes but we are created equal in the most important sense, in our value as a human being. This is why Taekwon-Do prescribes respect for all other human beings regardless of their race, gender, age or station in life. How wonderful it always is to watch people from various backgrounds and walks of life in a dojang training in harmony towards a common purpose.

The survival and longevity of a system of belief is dependent upon what I would like to call its absolute value and its relevance to society. By absolute value, I am referring to its goodness which transcends all other culture specific values and has universal appeal. It may sound redundant to speak of an absolute value and relevance in the same context but absolute value gives a discipline universal appeal whereas relevance to prevailing social climates gives immediacy.

Ultimately, Taekwon-Do is about moral and physical enrichment. This is what we as practitioners and instructors offer to the rest of the world. This is the relevance we have in this chaotic world. We seek to introduce more people to our art so, as it is mentioned in the Student Oath, we can become champions of freedom and justice and build a more peaceful world.

My friends, let us spread the word!