What is Tae Kwon Do?
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial
art that uses discipline as a means of developing
and enhancing mental, physical, and spiritual
health. Translated, Tae means foot,
Kwon means fist, and Do means the
way, hence, Tae Kwon Do means The
Way of the Foot and Fist. It
is a physically dynamic art that showcases
a myriad of foot skills. Today, it is a global
sport that has gained an international reputation,
and is among the official games of the Olympics.
What are the Benefits of Tae Kwon
Do?
Tae Kwon Do builds focus, discipline, confidence,
and mental, physical, and spiritual health.
It is especially beneficial to youths and adults
who struggle with inattention. By studying
this simple, repetitive, and structured art,
you or your child can:
- Develop strong minds, bodies, and
spirits
- Build focus skills
- Raise self-esteem
- Develop and build positive character
traits
- Become self-secure
- Learn basic – and vital – self-defense
techniques
How Does Tae Kwon Do Work?
Tae Kwon Do helps develop mental, physical,
and spiritual balance using what I call The Triangle
Approach. Because students work on
all three sides of the triangle in every class,
each side is developed equally. These three
sides are:
- Spiritual – Students
meditate before each class. They learn to
sit still, in silence, clearing their minds
of anything that happened before class, and
anything that might happen afterward. They
focus on the present moment, on proper posture
and breathing – inhaling through the
nose and exhaling through the mouth, breathing
through the diaphragm instead of the chest.
Babies breathe through their diaphragms,
but most outgrow this instinct with age.
Tae Kwon Do returns the student to the beginning,
learning how to be alive, human and renewed.
- Physical – Now the
physical realm literally kicks in: Students
stretch; do calisthenics; practice multiple
drills that include blocks, punches, and
kicks; and even pump out some good old-fashioned
push-ups. Sometimes, they spar – for
long periods. This phase helps build flexibility
and strength in key muscle groups, such as
quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, hip flexors,
and abdomens. Though it is common for students
to lose weight as a result of their training,
it is just as common for students to gain
weight at this phase because they are strengthening
core muscles, and muscles are heavier than
fat.
- Mental – Near the
end of each drill, when students are most
tired, they enter the mental realm: pushing
the limits of what they thought was possible
to new heights. Here, they build self-esteem
and confidence. For youth with attention
and focus challenges, this aspect of the
art is where most finally feel they can succeed.
Each side of the Tae Kwon Do triangle must
carry equal weight, and when all sides of the
Tae Kwon Do triangle are equal, students achieve
balance in their overall lives. They are more
respectful children, kinder neighbors, and
better students, employees, parents, husbands,
and wives. Balance is vital, for if any one
side of the triangle is stronger or weaker
than the others, the triangle will surely collapse.
Is Tae Kwon Do for Me?
To practice Tae Kwon Do, you don’t have
to be fit like a Greek Olympian athlete, slim
like a model, or even a young 20-something.
You simply have to be willing to try your best,
whatever that is. Put simply, at Tao of Texas,
students are prohibited from saying the word “can’t.” Why?
Because if you say you can’t,
chances are you never will try. And if you
never try, it’s a guarantee that you’ll
never accomplish your dreams. But more spiritually
important, if you never accomplish your dreams,
you are left with regret. Tae Kwon Do provides
the balance, confidence, and inner and outer
strength to help its students accomplish all
sorts of goals and dreams. Even yours.
Start By Believing You Can
The question is simple, and it’s yours
to answer: If you have not found the balance
you crave in your life, will you regret not
having tried Tae Kwon Do?
Start
by believing YOU CAN today.
Join Tao
of Texas Martial Arts Institute.
