Tang Soo Do:
Is it just kicks and punches?

By Paul Ilko

2^nd Gup

December 2002

Integrity, concentration, perseverance, respect and obedience, self control, humility, indomitable spirit. As students of Tang Soo Do, we hear and recite these words before every class. But what exactly do they mean? Are these just “words” that fill space in class before we all began to perfect our kicks and punches? I recently had the opportunity, after an eight-year hiatus, to step back into formal Tang Soo Do training and reflect upon what exactly Tang Soo Do means and how it could be translated into everyday life. Needless to say, as I reflected back on my years of training, I discovered that I have missed the bigger picture as to what I was actually learning. Naturally, I learned all my forms and techniques required making it to the next level, but I sacrificed an even more important lesson in an attempt to have the highest kick and the fastest punch. At the time, had I learned the entire realm of Tang Soo Do, I feel that I could have contributed much more to myself as a student.

People enroll in Tang Soo Do classes for a number of personal reasons – that is, maybe for maintaining fitness, self-defense, or learning the art. Nonetheless, when we all walked through the door for our first class, we had expectations of learning how to kick, block, and punch. Although the kicks were low and possibly did not resemble a kick at all, we all began to concentrate on making the kicks go higher. Later, this enthusiasm to learn more techniques is enhanced by the quest for the next belt level. Whether an adult or child, I feel (speaking from experience) we sometimes become lost, or I should say blinded, by the excitement of advancing to the next level so much that we overlook exactly where we are going. For example, when I obtained my brown belt over eight years ago (and yes, I am still a brown belt as of today) I was ready to learn every aspect of the belt. I tried to master every block, kick, and form, but I never attempted to even connect the meaning of the brown belt in conjunction to the techniques I was learning. To take it one step further, I did not even think to relate the meaning of brown belt to life outside training. “Peace of mind” is something we all could profit from; so then, why did I not pursue the connection? Now that I am an adult, I think it was definitely a maturing process for me; however, you could never be too young to learn these subtle yet crucial aspects of Tang Soo Do. Besides, back then, all I wanted to do is learn how to kick and punch.

As Tang Soo Do students, we are offered a great opportunity to learn a martial art that has been perfected time and time again over the years, but we all must focus on the art as a whole and not just the kicks and punches. Adults can learn to refine their attitudes (such as I am) to incorporate words such as “indomitable spirit,” “humility,” “respect and obedience,” “concentration,” “perseverance,” “self control,” and “integrity” into our daily lives – including our families, work place, and to our personality. Children and young adults on the other hand, have a greater advantage. We adults become jaded by life’s jabs and it becomes much more difficult to believe in indomitable spirit when a life situation turns sour. But then perseverance overpowers our drive to carry on and face the next challenge. On the other hand, a child is like a blank canvas. Their parents paint the outlines, but it is life and individuality that helps color in the spaces. Society and friends have a major impact on their decisions, and many of the parents are not always around to help to assist in distinguishing right from wrong. This is what makes us individuals – the ability to make up our own mind. If you really examine the basic fundamentals as to what Tang Soo Do stands for, I feel that there is a positive reinforcement to help strengthen what parents strive for in their child as an evolving, maturing individual. When I was a teenager, it was a rather unconscious transformation, which took me about seven years and many life challenges to recognize. Feeding off the foundation my parents had instilled in me, I feel that I have definitely begun to mastered the art of respect because I found myself over the years since I began my Tang Soo Do training to respect others, but most importantly, I respect myself. When faced with many of the teenage issues and when peer pressure was a powerful, inescapable force, the respect and obedience I had for myself allowed me to confidently walk away from a negative situation with my head held high. With that in mind, I feel that I became a stronger and a much better human being. I DEFINITELY THANK MY PARENTS AND TANG SOO DO FOR THAT.

I am not saying that you have to give up the physicality of Tang Soo Do training to master the mental stages, however, I think that it is important to strike a balance between the two. That is what, in my opinion, Tang Soo Do training is all about. We learn to defend ourselves and that encompasses every battle in life. We know how to avoid a punch, but do we know how to defend ourselves from peer pressure, stress, or overcoming adversity? If you learn the kicks, punches, and ideology behind Tang Soo Do as you make your journey to your next belt, you will become a well rounded warrior and be able to successfully face all challenges, not just the physical ones. Whether you are an adult or a child, every facet of Tang Soo Do -- including Master Homschek and the people we train with -- offers a positive influence from which we can all benefit. This is an on going learning process that we all must continue to practice in order to perfect. Therefore, the next time you practice your kicks and punches, challenge yourself to practice respect and obedience, self-control, indomitable spirit, and so on…

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