Though there are many different style of MA on this site.. I'm sure most, if not all, hold to some type of Tenets to live by!!

Here are the Tenets of TKD that we teach at our school
Courtesty
Integrity
Perserverance
Self-Control
Indominable Spirt

But what do these Tenets really mean??

I feel that, the success or failure of our students MA training depends largely on how one observes and implements the Tenets of TaeKwonDo which should serve as a guide for all serious students of the art we teach!!

COURTESY
TaeKwonDo students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct the training in an orderly manner as well.
1. To be polite and nice to one another.
2. To be ashamed of one's vices, contenting those of others.
3. To promote the spirit of mutual concessions.
4. To encourage the sense of justice and humanity.
5. To distinguish instructor from student, senior from junior, and elder from younger.
6. To behave oneself according to the etiquette.
7. To respect others' possessions.
8. To handle matters with fairness and sincerity.
9. To refrain from giving or accepting any gift when in doubt.

INTEGRITY
In TaeKwonDo, the word integrity assumes a looser definition than the one usually presented in Webster's Dictionary. One must be able to define right and wrong and have the conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt.
1. To have and show honor

Listed below are some examples, where integrity is lacking:
1. The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper techniques to his students because of a lack of knowledge or apathy.
2. The instructor who camouflages bad techniques with luxurious training halls and false flattery to his students.
3. The student who requests rank from an instructor, or attempts to purchase it.
4. The student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling of power.
5. The student whose actions do not live up to his words.
6. The student who feels ashamed to seek opinions from his juniors.

PERSEVERANCE
1. To "NEVER Give UP" and "Always" keep trying to over come your obsticles.
There is an old Oriental saying, "Patience leads to virtue or merit." "One can make a peaceful home by being patient for 100 times." Certainly, happiness and prosperity are most likely brought to the patient person to achieve something, whether it is a higher degree or the perfection of a technique, one must set his goal, then constantly preserve. It is this perseverance of tenacity that finally enables oneself to free them of doubt and or obsticles. One of the most important secrets in becoming a leader and/or Instructor of TaeKwonDo is to overcome every difficulty by perseverance.

Confucius said; "one who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance."


SELF-CONTROL
This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the do-jang, whether conducting oneself in free sparring or in one's personal affairs. A loss of self control in free sparring can prove disastrous to both student and opponent. An inability to live and work within one's capability or sphere is also a lack of self-control.
1. To Control your "Mind" and "Body"!

According to Lao-Tzu "the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than some one else."


INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
1. To have "Unbreakable" Spirit.

-"Here lie 300, who did their duty," a simple epitaph for one of the greatest acts of courage known to mankind.-
Although facing the superior forces of Xerxes, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermoplyae showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. It is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.

A serious student of TaeKwonDo will at all times be modest and honest. If confronted with injustice he will deal with the belligerent without any fear or hesitation at all, with indomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however many the number may be.

Confucius declared: "it is an act of cowardice to fail to speak out against injustice." As history has proven, those who have pursued their dreams earnestly and strenuously with indomitable spirit have never failed to achieve their goals.


What are your tenets and how do you implement them and express them to your others?

Happy Training,
LF