Introduction 3

3. What is the Relationship between Taekwondo Philosophy and Traditional Oriental Philosophy?

Taekwondo philosophy has a very close and broad relationship to traditional Oriental philosophy. This is because Taekwondo has developed in the context of Oriental culture, particularly the traditional culture of Korea. Therefore, it is quite natural and inevitable that the characteristics of Korean thinking, which form the basis of that traditional culture, likewise inform the essence of Taekwondo. But there is another sound philosophical and anthropological reason why Taekwondo philosophy enjoys a close relationship with traditional Oriental thinking. It concerns the matter of distinction.

If you review works of Oriental philosophy you will soon discover that many of its essential tenets appear illogical. On the other hand, works of Western philosophy have been largely guided by a strict pursuit of logic (it is well known to philosophers that mathematics has provided the foundation of Western sciences). However, it is not because Oriental philosophers were logically confused that they resorted to illogical arguments. Rather, it was because they were seeking to explain something beyond the ken of logical thinking.

Why did they attempt to explain such things that could not be explained in a logical manner? An answer to this is provided in the Buddhist expression, “Why do you not see the moon but only the finger pointing to the moon?” To mean that it is not only the logic of language that can express ideas, and indeed, like the finger, words fall far short. To describe it a different way, relying on logic to arrive at truth is like attempting to provide someone street directions to a destination while taking pains to make absolutely certain that explanation is logically precise. But the destined objective of one’s explanation is to guide him or her to the desired destination, and not as mere exercise in logic.

Each motion of Taekwondo has various aspects in itself, so it is multi-dimensional. Language, however, relies inherently on meaning, which in turn refers only to a certain aspect of things, and so it is falls flat. However you may try, once you are restricted by language that relies on one-dimensional definitions it becomes impossible for you to explain a multi-dimensional phenomenon. For this reason we must resort to logic-leaping expressions. Oriental philosophy has long been explaining and systemizing its particular thoughts through the use of such expressions. Since Taekwondo also has simple yet multiple aspects I am proposing that it would be more appropriate to explain Taekwondo with terms from Oriental philosophy.