Introduction 5

5. What are the Contents of the Philosophical Principle of Taekwondo?

Let me briefly introduce the contents of this volume.

This book is comprised of sixty-four chapters organized into eight sections. It would not be appropriate to explain the contents of each chapter here. Thus the content of each section shall be presented.

Section 1. “Harmony” (Chapters 1-6) gives a definition of Taekwondo as well as the concepts of Do (도[道]) and Life within Taekwondo philosophy. This section discusses the philosophical foundation of the inner principles of Taekwondo, which may prove for most readers the most abstract and difficult part of this work. If it is too difficult to understand, you may choose to skip over this section at first and return later with your understanding of the other sections.

Section 2. “Principles” (Chapters 7-13) explains in concrete terms the more immediate concepts to Taekwondo: the enemy and the opponent, thinking with your entire self, the meaning Taekwondo practice, the interrelationship between Samjae and change. In summary, this section demonstrates how the practice of Taekwondo is connected to its philosophy. Accordingly, this part will provide the essence of Taekwondo, while it may still seem abstract and difficult to readers. The ways of Haneul, Tang, and Saram will be explained from here on.

Section 3. “Samjae” (Chapters 14-22) investigates the more concrete philosophical principles in the motions of Taekwondo. As the title of this section indicates, this part provides a comprehensive explanation of the principles of Taekwondo according to the scheme of Samjae. This section also explains the various aspects of the proper motions of Taekwondo, including detailed explanations of the spiritual principles behind those motions. It also elucidates the couple of ways Samjae makes distance, tide, and balance respectively, in addition to giving explanations on the ideal distance, tide, and balance.

Section 4. “On Skills” (Chapters 23-29) explains the concrete principles underlying Taekwondo skills as well as some important factors in their development. I compare the ideal motion of Taekwondo to that of water. In addition to this, I explain that one should rhythmically control both one’s own motion and that of one’s opponent, while providing explanations of how to discover one’s blind points, regular vital points, as well as the basic skills of Taekwondo attack and defense.

Section 5. “Attack and Defense” (Chapters 30-39) explains Taekwondo attacking and defending techniques and their underlying principles. This section will provide standards for making a pose and motion, controlling your mind as you make your movements, the source of the powerful attack and the principle of the attacking technique, the ideal method of uniting attack and defense with its principle and so forth. Chapter 39 will explain the main principle of managing one’s fighting as a series of continuous attacks and defenses as well as elucidate the ultimate strategy.

Section 6. “How to use a Weapon” (Chapters 40-47). By “weapon” is meant here every sort of tool employed in attack and defense in Taekwondo. It implies the weapon in its abstract dimension. This conception implicitly presupposes that the principles of Taekwondo are not confined to merely the use of hands and feet, but may be applied as well to the use of swords and guns and even to controlling military and political power. Further, the beauty of Taekwondo, which is also explained in this section, does not imply the mere epistemological one but the comprehensive beauty that we can experience internally in our motions. So it is my I hope this concept might also be applied to dance.

Section 7. “On Poomsae” (Chapters 48-55) presents the philosophical foundation of Poomsae that constitutes a primary training process. I begin my explanation from the implication of poomsae and the proper training process, to explanations of the basic motions which comprise poomsae. Here I explain the significance of basic motions, the principles required in the training of those basic motions, and the reasons behind them, all based on the ways of Samjae.

Section 8. “The Basics” (Chapters 56-64). Since the implications of basic motions have already been explained in section seven, the implication of the basics in this section can be said to mean the foundation of Taekwondo in principle. This section explains the process of growth you experience in the Taekwondo training and its meaning, and then the spiritual and physical implications of beginning the training and its difficulty. The entirety of these issues will be explained in the relation to the whole of life, for the foundation of Taekwondo is man’s life.