originally published in Totally Taekwondo Magazine Issue #35 January, 2012
A particularly valid exercise when weighing the true value of martial arts training in modern times is an exploration of the balance between practicality and effort - or put another way, what is it that can ultimately be gained from the vast amount of time and sweat we invest in our daily practice? Most tae kwon doists will undoubtedly have little difficulty answering this question with responses ranging from defensive proficiency and physical fitness to personal entertainment and social interaction. But, for the most part these legitimate replies only scratch at the surface of what truly lies beyond the obvious benefits of traditional tae kwon do training.
Bearing this in mind, if an intangible ingredient, exclusive
of weight-loss, muscle mass or devastating kicks could be quantified, what
would it be? Following years of observation, practice and associations with highly
respected colleagues, I have discovered that at the center of every great
martial artist exists the uncommon virtue of nobility, sorely earned and sincerely cultivated through a process
of enlightenment involving courage, confidence and humility. By nobility, I do
not refer to a group of individuals distinguished by class, privilege or
heritage, but rather to the elite few, exalted in character by an indomitable
will tempered by unquestionable modesty. Few institutions today successfully
imbue this attribute. Yet by following the path or Way of tae kwon do, tang soo do, karate-do, or any martial art that
earnestly supports an underlying philosophy nurturing virtue over commercialism,
nobility can be attained.
Sculptors talented in their art often view a solid block of
marble as a substance already containing the object of their efforts; all they
seemingly need to do is chip away at the excess material in order to reveal the
finished product. This analogy can be applied to the practice of traditional
tae kwon do as well. Most individuals possess the potential for expressing
pronounced nobility yet are rarely given the opportunity to articulate its distinctive
nature. Thus, it is the job of the master instructor, as it is the sculptor, to
draw this quality out of the student, to cobble away at the habits and
preconceptions that shroud nobility’s manifestation eventually revealing the
true heart of the martial artist. This is no easy task and requires active
participation by both master and disciple.
If one were to chart a course with nobility as its final
destination, several significant milestones on the journey would need to be
realized. The first is courage - the
ability to face adversity and its consequences with unflinching resolve. Oddly
enough, Taegeuk Sa Jang, the fourth
poomsae in the popular Kukkiwon series, is symbolized by the I Ching philosophical component of thunder,
requiring the practitioner to face danger with valor. The brand of courage necessary to foster true
nobility is not the type that rings hollow with false delight in oneself, but
the kind that recognizes human frailty (our own) and adjusts a defensive response,
whether physical or emotional, accordingly.
Once courage is painstakingly established, the next step is
the development of confidence and
since this attribute cannot exist in a vacuum without courage, the two must combine
to create a powerful elixir that can, if left unchecked, potentially
deteriorate into arrogance. Clearly, a seemingly over-confident instructor stoked
by unbridled self-importance can be, charitably put, a hindrance to a student’s
progress. Instead, given that the compounding of these two honorable
characteristics should rightly result in a sense of reserved self-assuredness,
those associating with an individual possessed of this quality will experience
a sensation of comfort in their presence. I, personally, have become conscious
of this aspect when speaking and training with my teacher, Grandmaster Richard
Chun. This is a sure sign that the combination is authentic and devoid of any self-interest.
The final denominator in this equation needs to govern the
two preceding factors. Once courage and confidence have been attained, they
must be balanced by humility, the act
of being justly unaffected by ones status or achievement without
self-debasement. Alone, humility is a sought after attribute claimed by many
but very often sadly incomplete. It suggests a settling and acceptance of character
with little room for misplaced pride since its Latin root humilitas can be defined as “from the earth.” Humility should never
be confused with being obsequious, especially in martial arts training. Paying
proper respect to seniors, instructors, masters and the art of tae kwon do
should not be construed as blind submissiveness but rather as a proper sign of
deference to decorum and tradition. Nevertheless, for our purposes humility
serves as a mold shaping courage and confidence into a single enduring, benevolent
entity leading to nobility. How then can the cultivation of this virtuous
amalgam be accomplished using the traditional tae kwon do curriculum as a primary
tool?
One of the great gifts of traditional tae kwon do training
is the practice of formal exercises known in Korean as poomsae, hyung or tul.
These choreographed sequences of self-defense tactics aimed at defeating multiple
attackers advancing from various directions, teaches us not only martial skill
but unquestionably holds the potential to promote, if practiced with
earnestness and purpose, nobility. It is no coincidence that poomsae mimicking,
as karateka C. W. Nicol writes in his excellent book Moving Zen, a battle without bloodshed or vanquished, can nurture
such profound virtue. Warriors of the past and present were and are constantly
challenged by clear and present danger. They must routinely face
life-threatening hazard with courage, confidence and humility if they are to
survive. Likewise, executing poomsae with realism should conjure images of
actual combat. If this is the case, then the tae kwon doist must clearly address
the imaginary threat with supreme courage. Once the individual movements within
the poomsae become instinctual through repetition, then the element of
confidence it introduced; half the battle won! Yet, if we allow this confidence
to override focus and judgment, we ultimately lose. Humility must trump
arrogance colored by self-delusion if we are to remain clear minded. And, as we
now know, once the moral triad of courage, confidence and humility is realized,
nobility is not far behind.
Young or old, male or female of whatever color or creed,
martial artists are universally enlightened people since only an elite few
persevere over many years. We typically strive for excellence in our practice
and thus, our lives. Through meditation we develop a tranquil mind; through
disciplined physical practice we build a sound body. By embracing the tenets of
tae kwon do we gain moral fortitude. Every aspect of our training offers a
recipe for success. Yet, nobility resides at the core of our efforts and when
examining the practicality of what we do in modern times, what better reward
can we seek? So practice your required poomsae, hyung or tul with realism and
purpose and cultivate a noble heart.
Master Doug Cook, a 6th
dan black belt, is head instructor of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in
Warwick, New York, a senior student of Grandmaster Richard Chun, and author of four best-selling books entitled: Taekwondo…Ancient
Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional
Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, and Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence, focusing
on the rewards and virtues of taekwondo, all published by YMAA Publications Center, Inc.. He is
also a regular contributor to Totally
TaeKwonDo and Taekwondo Times. Master Cook and Grandmaster Richard Chun recently completed a
new book focusing on Original Koryo and Kukki Koryo. Master Cook can be reached for lectures, workshops or
questions at www.chosuntkd.com or
info@chosuntkd.com.
