The Taekwondo Oath

You say it every class:
Sir, I will Practice in the Spirit of Taekwondo with Courtesy for fellow student, Loyalty for my instructors and Respect for my juniors and seniors. I will live with Perseverance in the Spirit of Taekwondo having Honor with others, Integrity within myself, and Self Control of my actions.

You've said it so many times that you can say it without even thinking about it. DON'T! Every time you say this, you are taking an OATH! An oath is a promise-- and a promise should never be broken or taken lightly.

So what are you promising to do? Well it comes in two parts. The first half of the oath, said at the the beginning of class, is what you promise to do in class. You are promising to practice with courtesy, loyalty and respect. What does that look like? I think it looks like this: While you are in class, you demonstrate courtesy by listening to instructors and other students; you treat others the way that you would want them to treat you, and you don't distract them from their practice. You demonstrate loyalty by trusting your instructor to know the best path for your progression in Taekwondo and by working to the best of your ability on the drills, exercises or sparring they assign to you. Finally, you demonstrate respect in class by knowing that you can learn from anyone-- whether a white belt or a black belt. Everyone in class has something valuable to add to your Taekwondo knowledge.

The second half of the oath is what you promise to do when you leave the school. You promise to live with perseverance, honor, integrity and self control. What does living in this way look like? Again, I think it looks like this: Outside of the school, others should see something different about you. They should see the qualities mentioned in the oath. They should see you working hard without giving up (perseverance). They should see you treating others with respect by listening to them and learning from them (honor). They should be able to believe you and count on you (integrity). And finally, they should see that you control your anger, emotions, habits, and actions (self control). That's a BIG promise! And for this part of the oath, you are promising to do it at home with/for your parents and family, at school or work, driving on the highway, or any other time you aren't in the school.

Taekwondo SHOULD make you different both in your classes and outside of the school. Being a black belt or a black belt in training puts you in a position that very few people are in. The discipline you gain, the respect you give (and get), the self control, and the confidence that you have should be noticeable to your friends, family, and teachers!

By actually holding to the promise you make as you enter class and leave class, you will become a better martial artist, a better student, a better friend, a better family member and a better person! Your instructors are always here to help you as you incorporate these promises into your life!

Good luck in your journey!

Mr. Bailey