| Cabot Martial Arts Academy |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
In today’s society, it is becoming harder and more complicated to understand what drives people to be happy or sad-
Life is moving so very fast, and moral decay (the bad guy) appears to be everywhere around us…in school, church,
between friends, sometimes even in the home. To get a grip on this idea (bad is all around us) a person needs a
plan…a plan for happiness and comfort. But now we must ask the question: is happiness real? Or is it just a fairy tale.
Why does the world seem to be getting harder and meaner, all the while it also feels like you just don’t fit in? There are
many possible answers, but let’s narrow it down to how Martial arts could be an example of what can go right. Perhaps
the secret to being happy isn’t really a secret at all-perhaps happiness is the outcome of proper physical fitness, proper
nutrition, and a belief in something good. If this is so- let’s look at a certain way of life that is not always accepted as
being cool or popular. The following describes some ideals that every child/adult must have to become a happy,
productive citizen, and how Taekwondo helps attain these ideals.
Physical Fitness
A fit and healthy lifestyle is the accumulation of good habits. Four components make up a healthy lifestyle: exercise,
nutrition, and hygiene and grooming. Taekwondo helps with the exercise component and may provide assistance with
the other two components. Taekwondo instructors promote eating healthy and require students have proper hygiene
and grooming while in class.
Self-Control
Everyone must learn to "self-manage" their own actions. If parents do not establish boundaries, or if they establish
boundaries and are not consistent in enforcing them, they make it difficult for their children to learn self-control. Children
get the idea that boundaries are flexible. Taekwondo has rules of behavior that are strictly enforced. If children want to
continue training and competing with their friends, they must learn to control their behavior or pay the consequences.
Goal setting is a natural outcome of self control that can lead the student of any age to making great accomplishments
all in a step-by-step plan.
Focus
Taekwondo teaches students to pay attention and block out distractions. Pattern practice demands that you block out
distractions and concentrate on making perfect motions. Sparring requires a student’s undivided attention at all times or
they lose the match.
Respect
A disrespectful child gets no respect, so he or she turns that attitude inward and starts to see him or herself as a person
who does not deserve respect. Taekwondo teaches children to be respectful at all times to everyone, and that they earn
respect in the same measure that they give respect.
Confidence
Taekwondo helps students both young and old become experts at something, which then gives them more self-
confidence. Everybody knows that if you are good at something, you become confident in that thing, but that will
confidence spill over into other areas of your life.
Spiritual Development (For Children)
Traditionally, this is a task for parents. Taekwondo class can help, but parents still have the leader’s role in development
to help their children to develop and maintain a real relationship with God. Today, many believe that absolutes—wrong
and right—do not exist. So their children do not know the price they pay when they choose to disobey these absolutes.
With no absolutes, we end up teaching our kids about a "gray" area between black and white where people are free to
define and choose their own sense of right and wrong. However, children must be taught that they are not free to
choose the consequences of their choice-only by making correct decisions can one control the consequences of choice.
Honesty
Honesty is more than simply avoiding lies. It includes a belief in, and a pursuit of, the truth. Honesty is a sign of healthy
self-esteem, because an honest person takes responsibility for his or her actions. A person who feels good about him or
herself has no need to resort to deception. Taekwondo teaches students to be honest, even when it is not easy to do or
is not the popular thing to do.
Courage
If someone is constantly afraid, he or she feels less and less able to deal with his or her surroundings. Instead of
experiencing growth, the comfort zone shrinks and he or she withdraws from life. Courage determines how much
freedom you experience. Fear will hold you back and prevent you from trying new things, pursuing meaningful
opportunities, and from living the life you are meant to live. Taekwondo helps students face their fears and conquer
them. As they gain more courage, they are not afraid to try new things.
Contribution
Students are taught the joy of giving so they will become persons who contribute to society. Life rewards you in direct
proportion to your willingness to contribute. Taekwondo students learn to give assistance to new students or those with
physical or mental challenges and they learn community service. They learn that helping others makes you feel good
about yourself.
Positive Outlook
Students should look at their lives positively, not negatively. Taekwondo instructors do not tell students they are doing a
technique wrong; they praise them and tell them how to improve the technique. As a result, students have a positive
outlook about their futures and feel capable of doing anything.
Responsibility
Taekwondo teaches students to take responsibility for their own actions, for assigned tasks, for new students, and for
other students of lower rank. As they learn responsibility, they are given more responsibilities.
Persistence
Sometimes, things in life do not come easily. Some students take longer to earn rank in Taekwondo than it does for
others. Taekwondo teaches us to not give up and we will succeed if we persist in our efforts.
What Can Tae Kwon Do Offer You? |
