Philosophy: Nature

The nature of Taekwondo is founded on two fundamental aspects; practical value and ideological value. The practical value of Taekwondo is found in the elemental movements of each individual technique and in the principles governing those movements. The ideological value of Taekwondo is found in the three ideals which from the identity of Taekwondo: the technical ideal, artistic ideal, and the philosophic ideal. Further, modern Taekwondo is a method of Physical Education and a system of competition.

The Technical Ideology of Taekwondo

The technical expression of Taekwondo originally derived its value from the practical aspects of training. Bare-hand self-defense and physical exercise for health were the basic practical benefits of Taekwondo.

Therefor, the technical ideal of Taekwondo was seen as the practical application of training and techniques to human living conditions. Even as an awareness of Taekwondo's other ideals emerge, the technical ideal remains an essential element of Taekwondo training. The technical ideal, then is embodied in the word "Musul" which describes its practical values.

The Artistic Ideology of Taekwondo

Art arises from a state of mind and soul in union and is expressed through an action consistent with that union. When one devotes mind and soul to the refinement of Taekwondo skill, a sensation of exquisite achievement can be realized outside of the practical considerations of technical development.

The sublimation of practical concerns into the desire to develop complete and perfect Taekwondo skills is the concept of "Muye," the artistic ideal of immersion of soul in body for the sake of perfection of action.

The Philosophic Ideology of Taekwondo

The concept of "to(?)" is the central metaphysical concept which covers the entire realm of oriental philosophy.

The philosophic ideal of Taekwondo training is the realization of the relationship between man and nature or the universe as discovered through practicing, and how to live in harmony with that universe. This is the essence of "Muto."

A narrow sense of normative concepts such as "courtesy" and "sense of honor" have little to do with Taekwondo's philosophic ideal. Nor is this ideal found in Technical values such as p'umsae or the concept of a "deathblow." The philosophic ideal is moving away from an introverted mind toward an extroverted mind.

The Nature of Taekwondo as Physical Education

Physical education is the systemized attempt to integrate man's intelligence, emotion, and will through physical action. Taekwondo's technical, artistic and philosophic ideology abound with educational values.

Developing the physical body is the domain of technique, developing a concentrated spirit the domain of art, and achieving a harmony between mind and body as well as an understanding of, and cooperation with nature is the realm of Taekwondo philosophy. the philosophic objective of perfecting the human being through Taekwondo is identifiable to the philosophic objectives of physical education thus defining Taekwondo as a methodology of physical education's principles.

Taekwondo had not been altered or exploited as a "new" modern form of physical training, but instead has always embodied the values of physical education.

The essential values of Taekwondo which begin to be formed through the technical ideal at the inception of training and which one to maturity at the philosophic or "to (?)" stage correspond with the nature of physical education which exists to develop an ideal human being through a physical training regime.

The Nature of Taekwondo as a Competition

Competitions of strength are an expression of man's natural instincts. Historically, competitions of strength between men have been the most common of all competition patterns. The nature of Taekwondo's development as a form of competition has been that of a competition of strength which relies on skill for its proper expression.

Man naturally desires to prove that he is superior to his opponent in competition, this desire combined with the resultant values derived from sincere efforts to develop technically and the human interaction of training and competitive confrontation all shape the Taekwondo competition. These experiences and lessons together with other factors such as sportsmanship, i.e., human responsibility, as well as pleasure and recognition have led to the development of the concept of Taekwondo competition. Historically, Taekwondo developed as a "hoe" or game, therefore, Taekwondo as a martial art has a historical relationship with the values of competition.

The competitive ideals of Taekwondo are power, quickness, and accuracy. The embodiment of these ideals in the training and competition process gives Taekwondo its unique identity as a modern sport.

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