A black belt strives, and has the means, to personify the tenets and commandments of TaeKwonDo through both actions and upholding of tradition. Ultimately, the wearer of a black belt has committed to earning the responsibility, accepting the authority and personifying the maturity through which he or she and fellow students will develop. To earn the black belt, the student of TaeKwonDo should demonstrate commitment to the five tenets of TaeKwonDo, observe the commandments of modern TaeKwonDo and uphold tradition through responsibility, authority and the maturity to understand both.
The five tenets of TaeKwonDo – Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit – provide the framework for success to every student in the art. These tenets will be explained briefly, along with an explanation of how I believe they apply to the black belt student. The tenets are not a set of five words that students should simply be able to recite on command. They should be understood through actions much more than vocal demonstration. It is easy to define a word and it is sometimes very difficult to show that meaning through one’s actions.
Courtesy means to show decency to others and to treat older and younger, senior and junior with equal respect. It is a balanced reminder of where you have been and where your journey will take you. The black belt has the responsibility of not only demonstrating courtesy, he or she must also apply themselves to helping other students understand the reason courtesy allows training to progress for all students. Whether it’s releasing a hold exactly when your partner “taps out” or demonstrating patience for a student having trouble with self-defense or a new form, black belts have the responsibility of not only ensuring courtesy is embodied by their person, they also must provide education to students.
Integrity is to know right from wrong and always choosing the ethical path. In modern society, we often see excuses made as to how someone isn’t responsible for their own actions. Additionally, lying is often considered perfectly acceptable, so long as one isn’t caught. Integrity is not always the easy choice, though in doing what is right we provide opportunities to our true selves. When a student is asked a question, he or she should answer honestly. If one doesn’t know something, integrity in your actions and words will provide you an opportunity that dishonesty would not.
In TaeKwonDo, the black belts need integrity to accomplish each of their goals. Who would take instruction or want to learn from a person in whom they had no trust? By demonstrating this tenet, the art is furthered with students who trust and are trusted by instructors and instructors who trust and are trusted by masters.
Perseverance is willingness to push forward in the face of personal failure. I see perseverance as a largely internal tenet that can have remarkable external results. We all have techniques that are difficult to us as individuals. Through extra training, assistance from other students or instructors we can break the problem down to individual parts and adapt past the obstacle in our minds. All that is required is patience and time.
For senior students, perseverance means not only demonstrating patience for their own development as students but for their development as leaders in the art. All attempts at teaching will not succeed, though something will be learned through all iterations. They must demonstrate to the other students that patience; hard work and willingness to falter on the path of success will lead to realizing one’s potential.
Self-Control is the way of understanding one’s current limitations and accepting them until you can develop beyond them. Self-Control is probably the tenet of TaeKwonDo that I value most and the one I must seek constantly to maintain. This virtue applies in all areas of life and is so difficult to demonstrate because it is simply easier to do as we like, not as we should. Some examples include: eating whatever you want, ignoring the rules and applying a technique for which you are not qualified. Some of these actions are minor infractions and others can have devastating results.
Arguably, Self-Control seems simple in theory for a black belt, but is surprisingly complicated in demonstration. The point of all the acquired knowledge in TaeKwonDo is to further the art and to allow the students to develop, not to “show off” or impress others. Blasting through a board or your partner may seem impressive, but what about the ramifications? Was someone injured? Was the technique correct or was it just flashy?
The popular image of the black belt and what I believe a black belt should demonstrate are two radically opposing ideas. Self-Control is central to this personal vantage. The senior student is to provide the example for everyone in the class. This means he or she must be patient in each aspect of teaching and learning; and the black belt has to foster this ideal in each student he or she influences. Self-Control from the black belt is essential for every practitioner of the art to realize his or her ability.
Indomitable Spirit is often confused with Perseverance. Though both have similarities the key difference is that where Perseverance involves a personal, internal struggle that is not limited by ability or outside forces, Indomitable Spirit involves overcoming a critical obstacle or limitation – either internal, external or a combination - that may prevent success if it is not confronted. The clearest example of Indomitable Spirit is a black belt I once trained with. He began as a white belt and had mental and physical limitations. After he made senior colored-belt, he injured himself and was out of the art for an extended time. After healing, he returned and needed to start again as a white belt. He earned his way to the rank of black belt without ever seeming to doubt the reason he returned to the art. Every time I have trouble overcoming an obstacle I believe is insurmountable, looking back at one person’s refusal to accept a setback as failure helps me understand the only way you can ever lose is if you accept defeat.
The five tenets of TaeKwonDo provide a framework for the student. These are five ideals by which a person may succeed in life and within the martial arts. By adhering to these standards and balancing them all through their demonstration, the black belt student will provide the example by which he or she will develop and through which all students over which they have influence will succeed.
The Commandments of modern TaeKwonDo provide a more detailed definition of moral guidelines for students of the art. They are to be applied both inside and outside of the dojang environment. Not surprisingly, these commandments intertwine seamlessly with the five tenets of TaeKwonDo. I believe this represents that while time changes certain aspects of society – technology, medicine, behavior, trends, etc. – what is moral, courageous and true will always be that way. No one can rewrite what is right and wrong and relativism is completely flawed in attempting to explain away “evil” or “wrong” as something that is just “different”.
The eleven commandments can be divided into three major groups: Four have to do with Loyalty/Fidelity; four have to do with Respect; and three are general guidelines for conducting yourself in life. The Loyalty and Respect groups can easily be interchanged, since to demonstrate loyalty and to show respect are inextricably similar in all aspects of our personal lives. Additionally, the fact there are three major groups does not seem to be coincidence, as three is considered to be the best of numbers in Asian societies.
The Groups can be outlined as:
I. Loyalty
Country
Friends
School
Spouse
II. Respect
Parents
Siblings
Elders
Teacher
III. Other
Never Take Life Unjustly
Indomitable Spirit
Always Finish What You Begin
Similarly to the Tenets of TaeKwonDo, a black belt must also personify the eleven modern commandments. To provide a contrast, the tenets provide a set of five basic rules by which to live one’s life; the commandments provide the student a focus for each of the tenets. The particular importance to the black belt is again in the demonstration of each principle through their actions.
Loyalty can be defined as unconditional devotion to a person, nation and/or concept. When we dedicate ourselves to our spouse, that loyalty is not only to the person, but also to the vow of marriage we have taken with that person. Similarly with a martial arts school, the black belt not only shows dedication to the Master instructor and the school, but to the students as well. In this sense, Loyalty is clearly a force that flows in both directions.
Respect is similar to the tenet of Courtesy. Both encourage fair treatment and honesty to each person with whom we interact. The key difference is that respect is something to be offered only when it is earned and must be earned constantly. Parents earn our respect by providing for us, teaching us through our lives and preparing us for adulthood. In this regard, a teacher in martial arts is no different since in Asian cultures the teacher was often considered a second parent to the learner. Black belt students have earned the respect afforded by their status in the school and most vitally, they must earn that same respect each day they wear the uniform. Respect, then, can be defined as something earned and presented each day as part of a journey.
The final three commandments of TaeKwonDo can best be summed up as matters of conviction. Life is not trivial and the power of understanding this is greater than the ability to callously grant death. Any person, regardless of training or ability, has the power to destroy. Those with the necessary conviction and self-control can understand how much value resides in a single life.
Indomitable Spirit and Always Finishing What You Begin involve the dedication of following through no matter the odds or obstacles. People are rarely in life given anything of value. Only through dedication, conviction and proper worth ethics are we able to earn what we want and need in life and, most importantly, still able to reflect upon ourselves with pride.
The commandments provide the direction by which the student of TaeKwonDo may observe the tenets and apply them both inside and outside the classroom. By demonstrating Loyalty, Respect and conviction the black belt sets the prime example through which students, teachers and the art uniquely benefit. These simple concepts provide a rich and detailed means for all practitioners of the art to enjoy success through dedication and patience.
The final element of earning a black belt is upholding tradition through responsibility, authority and the maturity to understand both. All of the previously discussed tenets and commandments are nothing more than words without an individual to understand and embody each element of them. Only when a black belt can dedicate his or her self to taking responsibility for the black belt oath and the philosophy of TaeKwonDo can that student accept the authority and be considered of the maturity needed to further the art. This is what the black belt must provide within a personal perspective and externally demonstrate to each student and instructor.
Responsibility is something debated from generation to generation with regards to increasing deficiency. In effect, our “instant” society with telecommunications, fast food and instruction upon demand, this concept has proven a valid argument. Traditionally, privileges such as training with a school were only provided after performing significant services to the school. The benefit of this was twofold for the student. First, the prospective student learned to dedicate themselves and a sound work ethic. Second, the same person learned the value of patience and understanding. In tandem, these were infinitely valuable in the student’s progress.
Patience would teach to accept each technique learned and practice it to the point of excellence – there was no haste in learning the next tier of education. To aid in learning, a solid work ethic was necessary for the student to learn the most while exercising the patience he or she had learned.
Responsibility applies to the black belt towards the students and towards his or her instructors. With the proper patience and dedication, the senior students can prepare themselves to accept the dual role of student and teacher. Balance – a harmony of Eum & Yang - is what resides behind the focus required to earn a black belt. This means that the teacher accepts the role of student and the student learns they will become a teacher.
Authority is having domain over an organization, group or people. Because of this, authority is more lauded than Responsibility. Many people have an innate desire for power and influence and Authority provides this in ample quantity. Many people exploit this acquisition because of a lack of self-control. The balancing force necessary to complement this influence is Responsibility. While a black belt can be responsible or controlling based on personal disposition, he or she must balance both aspects to achieve full potential as a leader and a learner.
Maturity is wisdom, patience and understanding of a particular philosophy. It is often a controversial subject within the martial arts, which can be rampant with unchecked egos and “belt factory” promotions. Often, students can be well into the Dans of TaeKwonDo by the time they are 16 years old. While physical ability for these people is not a limiting factor, maturity and understanding of the art they practice can be. Having only been in martial arts for just over two years now, I still have seen cases where a 23-year old student wears the rank of Master instructor. I do not question the knowledge or ability of such an individual, or even the person’s integrity. What is in question is the maturity of the individual to relate experience to students and teach them with the full capacity of a Master instructor. Without this ability, the art as a whole is detrimentally affected. Part of having maturity within any aspect of life, particularly martial arts, is advancing only when you have the experience and preparedness to do so.
Responsibility, Authority and Maturity are essential in the development of every martial artist. When each of these concepts is in harmony with the others, the student will achieve at the pace most ideal for him or her. This not only develops the individual, it also furthers the success of the art. Black belts are the leaders and should be held to the highest standard with respect to the aforementioned ideals. Only through their examples will the art realize its potential without the limitations brought on by irresponsibility, ego and impatience.
The most important aspect of earning a black belt is respecting the influence exercised upon students. This influence can carry through the lifetime of a school and can dictate the predominant attitude that presides over the class. This is why the adherence to the tenets and commandments of TaeKwonDo are so vital to the black belt’s role. In this part Leadership, Attitude and Knowledge are necessary to earn the belt every day it is worn.
In conclusion, the black belt accepts a monumental responsibility when he or she earns the privilege of first degree. Only by adhering to and embodying the tenets and commandments of modern TaeKwonDo can these students expect to realize their potential and further the art to which they have dedicated themselves. Through following these principles each black belt will understand the responsibility, accept the authority and realize the sagacity required for proper leadership in all aspects of living.
The significant accomplishment that is upon the black belt to find success with does not originate from any particular aspect discussed in this writing – It stems from the effort required to strike a balance between each of the entirety of these principles. With this balance, the art and all who belong to it will succeed and develop beyond their perceived limitations. This, I believe, should be the aspiration for every instructor towards his or her students.
