PHILO

SOPH

YTABLE OF CONTENTS

Ying Yang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

What is Taekwondo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Basic Principles of Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Moral Philosophy - Maxims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Moral Philosophy - Tenets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 & 70

Moral Philosophy - Attitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Moral Philosophy - Commandments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Theory of Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Zen Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Black Belt Character Life Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75-78

Black Belt Life Skill of the Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

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TIGER TIPIn Chinese it is called Ying/Yang. In Korean it is called Um/Yohng.

Can there be male and no female? Can there be left and no right? Can there behot and no cold? How about day and no night, or anger and no happiness? Ofcourse not. Although each is a counterpart of the other, each is also dependenton the other's existence. Separate but together Um/Yohng illustrate the evolutionof all things. Um and Yohng provide the central premise around which the vener-able Yi Ching (Book of Changes) is based. Despite Yi Ching's antiquity, its funda-mental laws of Um and Yohng and other principles are as relevant today as whenthey were first developed thousands of years ago.

Master the Principle of Um and Yohng and you will forever change the way youinteract with people, your living and working environments, and the externalworld.

Um is the Way of the Earth. It contracts and condenses. Um represents thepassive principle in nature exhibited as darkness, cold and wetness. On a humanlevel, Um symbolizes femininity and inertia. Um is quiet and inward. The realmof the dead.

Yohng is the Way of Heaven. Yohng expands. It represents the active principle innature exhibited as light, heat and dryness. On a human level, yohng representsmasculinity and the positive side of our emotions. The land of the living.

The dot is a seed of knowing awareness. It symbolizes the potential for change.Nothing can be wholly Um, just as nothing can be wholly Yohng. For example,night inevitably changes into day; death and decay always gives rise tonew life.Strive to balance Um and Yohng and you will improve the harmony in your life.

WHAT IS TAEKWONDO?Pronounced Tay-kwon-doe.As it is literally translatedfrom the korean, TAemeaning "to kick" or "tostrike with the foot." kWonmeaning "fist" or "to strikewith the hand", and domeaning "path of discipline"or "Art". Taken together,Taekwondo means "the artof kicking and punching" -"the art of unarmed com-bat". Modern day

Taekwondo, as it has cometo be developed over theyears, is a unique MartialArt incorporating both thequick, straight-line move-ments that characterize thevarious Japanese systemsand the flowing circularmovements of most Chinesestyles. But what trulydistinguishes Taekwondoare its varied and uniquelypowerful kicking

techniques. it is thisprominent use of leg andkicking techniques that setsTaekwondo apart from allother Martial Arts.Taekwondo is far morethan simply a systemconcerned with physicalprowess, it is also an Artdirected toward the moraldevelopment of itspractitioners.

KWONMeAnS "fiST"

or"To STrike WiTh

The hAnd"

TAEMeAnS "kiCk"

or"To STrike WiTh

The fooT"

DOMeAnS "ArT",

"MeThod"or

"PATh ofdiSCiPLine" 66

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF TRAININGPAY AttENtION.

CONCENtRAtION: Associated with "Key", power, promotes a calm mind. The ancient Masters taught, "With a calm mind, one is free from hesitation."

PAtIENCE AND ENDURANCE "if one's mind is made up to learn, then there will be success."

SINCERItY IN PRACtICE: "if one does not practice regularly, then do not face the enemy."

Perfection in the Martial Artist is like a jewel, it is merely a roughstone until polished.

SPEED: There are counter defenses to all known offenses. "Judge the chance and take the opportunity. Take the first opportunity and be quicker than the opponent."

CONSERVAtION OF ENERGY: "The inner force is concealed until it is released." Tension is the greatest consumer of energy.

RESPECt AND OBEDIENCE: All things in nature operate according to rules. Mankind is one with nature.

VANItY: Large egos are carried by small minds. When a fish is in a cup, the cup seems to be the whole world. We are small compared to the infinite universe. There are more than 4,000 techniques to learn, taking over 10 years to master.

StUDENt'S AttItUDE: • never tire of learning. A good student can learn anywhere, anytime. This is the secret

of knowledge.

• A good student must be willing to sacrifice for his art and instructor. Some students feelthat their training is a commodity bought with monthly dues, and are unwilling to takepart in demonstrations, teaching and working around the doe-jahng. An instructor canafford to lose this type of student.

• Always set a good example for lower rank students. it is only natural they will attemptto emulate senior students.

• Always be loyal and never criticize the instructor, Taekwondo, or the methods.

• if an instructor teaches a technique, practice it and attempt to utilize it.

• remember that a student's conduct outside the doe-jahng reflects on the Art andinstructor.

• if a student adopts a technique from another doe-jahng and the instructordisapproves of it, the student must discard it immediately or train at that school.

• never be disrespectful to the instructor. A student is allowed to disagree withthe instructor, but the student must first follow the instruction and then discuss thematter later.

• A student must always be eager to learn and ask questions.67

TIGER TIPYou may hemyour sleeves orpant legs if theyare too long, butit is considereddisrespectful toroll them up fortraining.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY - MAXIMSRIGHt EFFORt: • it's the will that makes men, success takes perseverance. • A man is born to achieve great things, if he has the strength to conquer himself. • he who wants to succeed should learn to fight, to strive, and to suffer. • if you want to do your duty properly, you should do just a little more than that.

IGNORANCE: • empty heads have long tongues. • A fat belly cannot believe that such a thing as hunger exists. • Showing off is the fool's idea of glory. • if you make a jackass of yourself, there will always be someone ready to ride you. • Those who are unaware they are walking in darkness will never seek the light.

LEARNING: • A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence. • Wise men can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. • Self-education makes great men. • Learn today and enjoy that pleasure tomorrow. • if you know how you lost a fight, you are not a loser, but a winner.

tOMORROW: • if you don't want to slip up tomorrow, speak the truth today. • Yesterday's dreams are often tomorrow's realities. • A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at. • if you spend too much time thinking about a thing you'll never get it done.

RIGHt AttItUDE: • knowledge will give you power, but character, respect. • Character is to the soul what outward appearance is to the body. • Mistakes are always forgivable; if one has the courage to admit them. • one great cause of failure is lack of concentration. • it's not what you give, but the way that you give it. • Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is

concentrated strength. • if you think a thing is impossible, you'll make it

impossible. • Pessimism blunts the tools you need to succeed. • optimism is a faith that leads to success.

tHE GOOD LIFE: • real living is living for others. • if every man would help his neighbor, no man would be without help. • True refinement seeks simplicity. • You can acquire a lot in life, if you are prepared to give up a lot to get it. • if you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of. • To strive actively to achieve some goal gives your life meaning and substance.

Take these words to heart, make them the essence of yourself, and live by them. The benefit toyourself and to others will be immeasurable. 68

TIGERTIPWhen at ease, holdyour hands at yourbelt. The right hand- your yohng orweapon hand issheathed by yourleft hand.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY - TENETS

tENEtS OF tAEKWONDOrespect and Courtesy (Ye Ui)

integrity and humility (Yom Chi)

Perseverance (In Nae)

Self-Control (Guek Gi)

indomitable Spirit (Baek-jul Bool-gool)

tHE StUDENt OAtHi shall observe the tenets of Taekwondo.

i shall respect the instructor and seniors.

i shall never misuse Taekwondo.

i shall be a champion of justice and freedom.

i shall build a more peaceful world.

StUDENt CREED(and its meaning)

Taekwondo for Myself.(i am not competing against or trying to keep up with others, this is something

i will learn at my own pace. The more effort i give, the more i will learn.)

Taekwondo for White Tiger.(every student at White Tiger is a living representative of the school.

My actions inside and outside the school affect all of the students and the overall reputation of the school. i will never do anything that would dishonor my

classmates, instructors or the school.)

Taekwondo for my Country.(My training has a purpose greater than my own personal benefit. My training

can be used to benefit the community i live in. Through demonstrations, teaching, mentoring, and my own moral development, i can enhance my life

and the lives of the people around me.) Peace on earth begins with Peace within yourself.

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MORAL PHILOSOPHY - TENETSThe tenets of Taekwondo should serve as a guide for all serious students of the Art.

COURtESY AND RESPECtTaekwondo students should attempt to practice the followingelements of etiquette: 1. To promote the spirit of mutual concessions. 2. To be ashamed of one's vice condemning that of others. 3. To be polite to one another. 4. To encourage the sense of justice. 5. To distinguish the instructor from student and senior from junior.

INtEGRItY AND HUMILItYin Taekwondo, the word integrity assumes a looser definition than the one usuallypresented in Webster's dictionary. one must be able to define right and wrong, and havethe conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt. Listed are some examples, where integrity is lacking: 1. The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper

techniques to his students because of a lack of knowledge or apathy. 2. The student who misrepresents himself by "fixing" breaking materials before

demonstrations. 3. The instructor who camouflages bad techniques with luxurious training halls and

false flattery to his students. 4. The student who requests rank from an instructor or attempts to purchase it. 5. The student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling of power. 6. The instructor who teaches and promotes his art for materialistic gains.

PERSEVERANCEThere is an old oriental saying, "Patience leads to virtue or merit, one can make a peacefulhome by being patient for 100 times." Certainly, happiness and prosperity are most likelybrought to the patient person. To achieve something, whether it is a higher degree or the perfection of a technique, one must set his goal then constantly persevere. robert Brucelearned his lesson of perseverance from the persistent efforts of a lowly spider. it was thisperseverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century.one of the most important secrets in becoming a leader of Taekwondo is to overcome everydifficulty by perseverance.

SELF-CONtROLThis tenet is extremely important inside and outside the doe-jahng, whether conducting one-self in free sparring or in personal affairs. A loss of self-control in free sparring can prove dis-astrous to both student and opponent. An inability to live and work within one's capabilityor sphere is also a lack of self-control.

INDOMItABLE SPIRIt"here lie 300, who did their duty", a simple epitaph of one of the greatest acts of courageknown to mankind. Although facing the superior forces of Xerxes, Leonidas and his 300Spartans at Thermopylae showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. it is shownwhen a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds. A serious student of Taekwondo will at all times be modest and honest. if confronted withinjustice, he will deal with the belligerent without any fear or hesitation at all, and withindomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however many the number may be. 70

TIGER TIPIt is considered disre-spectful to turn yourback to higher ranking -especially Black Belts orjudges. When competingin tournaments, takethree steps backwardto leave the ring to pre-vent turning your back.

MORAL PHILOSOPHY - ATTITUDE

PERSONAL GOALS

KNOWLEDGE of the mind

HONEStY of the heart

StRENGtH of the body

PROPER AttItUDEA winner never quits, a quitter never wins.

Strive to maintain a positive winning attitude.

The winner is always part of the answer.The loser is always part of the problem.

The winner always has a goal.The loser always has an excuse.

The winner says, "Let me do it for you."The loser says, "That's not my job."

The winner sees an answer in every problem.The loser sees a problem in every answer.

The winner says, "it may be difficult, but it's possible."The loser says, "it may be possible, but it's too difficult."

The winner listens...The loser just waits until it is his turn to talk.

When a winner makes a mistake, he says, "i'm sorry, i was wrong."When a loser makes a mistake, he says "it wasn't my fault."

A winner says, "i'm good, but not as good as i could be."A loser says, "i'm not as bad as a lot of other people."

A winner knows that experience in the ring is more valuable than winning a trophy or medal.

A loser says, "i was cheated by the referees."

A winner pays attention, seeks information and is aware;A loser says, "how was i supposed to know, nobody told/taught me."

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MORAL PHILOSOPHY - COMMANDMENTS

Taekwondo is not just train-ing in kicking, punchingand self-defense. it is farmore, even, than trainingin mental and physicalcoordination.

A major featureof our Art is thedevelopment of a certain SPiriT which carries over to all aspects of life.

This spirit was partlyillustrated by the charactertraits a student ofTaekwondo aims to devel-op, the tenets of Taekwon-do. it is also illustrated morebriefly, but perhaps evenmore essentially by the com-mandments of Taekwondo.

To throw further lighton the moral philoso-phy and spirit ofTaekwondo, see the next page for a collection of maxims, or rules of conduct,

which convey a part of the philosophy under-lying our Art.

COMMANDMENtS OF tAEKWONDO

Be Loyal to your country.

Be Obedient to your parents.

Be Loving to your family.

Be Cooperative with others.

Be Faithful to friends.

Be Respectful of your elders.

Be Honest in personal affairs.

Show Concern for others.

Never Attack without reason.

Finish what you start.

LoYALTY

oBedienCe

LoVe

CooPerATion

fAiThfULneSS

reSPeCT

honeSTY

CoMPASSion

MerCY

PerSiSTenCe

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THEORY OF POWERThe average person only uses 10 to 20 percent of his potential power. But through MartialArts training, a high level of reACTion forCe, ConCenTrATion, eQUiLiBriUM,BreATh ConTroL, and SPeed can be obtained. These are the foundations of power.

REACtION FORCEif your opponent is rushing towards you at a high speed, the force with which you strikehim would be that of his own onslaught plus that of your blow. The two forces combined,his and yours, are quite impressive. This, then, is the reaction force from the opponent.

CONCENtRAtIONBy applying the impact force onto the smallest target area, it will concentrate the force and,therefore, increase its effect. it is very important that you unleash your strength at thebeginning, and focus it on a particular point of contact on your opponent's body. Theshorter the time for the concentration, the greater the power of the blow. This is why wepunch with only the first two knuckles, not the entire fist.

EQUILIBRIUMin Taekwondo, balance deserves special consideration. By keeping the body always inequilibrium, that is, well balanced, a blow is more effective and deadly. The stance shouldalways be stable yet flexible for both offensive and defensive movements.

BREAtH CONtROLControlled breathing not only affects one's stamina; but can also condition a body toreceive a blow, and augment the power of a blow directed against an opponent.

SPEEDSpeed is the most essential factor of force. reaction force, breath control, looseness,relaxation of muscles and concentration cannot be ignored, rather coordinated toattained maximum efficiency.

MASSMathematically the maximum kinetic energy of force is obtained from maximum body weight and speed. it is all important that the body weight be increased during the execu-tion of the blow. Maximum body weight is applied with motionby turning the hip or by utilizing the springing action of the knee joint.

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ZEN MINDTraining in Martial Arts ismore than the study offighting technique and self-defense. The study of tech-nique is not the task of aday or of ten thousand days.it is rather the path of a life-time. Through regular prac-tice and sweat one mayattain the first level of devel-opment. Beyond technique,however, is the cultivationof the inner person.

The exercises of Martial Artsdevelop strength and flexi-bility of the body. Poom-say(forms) develop patience,concentration and attentionto detail. Sparring developsquick reflexes, spirit andhumility. Meditation devel-ops inner awareness andconfidence. in the end, how-ever, only by balancing allof these can one reachbeyond the Black Belt to thetrue virtue of Taekwondo.only a few will attain BlackBelt rank, and fewer stillwill reach beyond it to amature understanding ofself and Martial Arts.

Through Martial Arts weaim to master ourselves asthe first step toward master-ing the world around us. Wepractice physical techniquewhich helps our under-standing and leads ustoward virtue.

tHE MODEL OF VIRtUEAll sports have a commoncode of sportsmanship. AMartial Artist's ideas can bedescribed in terms of theoriental lady or gentleman:Kun-Ja - the model of virtue.

in the orient, the ultimate goal or ideal of every Kun-Ja

is to arrive at a harmonywith nature. Kun-Ja is anideal person, a man orwoman, of learning andexperience. A person withthe virtues of wisdom orknowledge, humanheartedness and courage.These virtues can beunderstood through Key,Yin, Yohng and Doe.

Key is the wisdom of intelli-gent decision and correctrecognition. it requiresclarity and contact with theworld. Key is a sail and ananchor. it is the drivingforce that moves the MartialArtist and it is the anchorwhich connects him or herto the world, keeping himfrom being swept away bythe storm of illusion andfalse enlightenment.

Yin is human heartedness.Clarity without humanitybegets brutality and deathof the spirit. it is not enoughto have contact with theworld. The Martial Artistmust first and foremost bea human being, moved bylove and compassion forother persons. it is this com-passion that is at the focusof the relationship betweenparent and child, studentand teacher. it is this humanheartedness that passes thespirit of Martial Arts fromgeneration to generation.

Yohng is humanitarian love and benevolence. The person who has a compas-sionate heart does notworry. he who giveslove always haspeace of mind. Courageis decisive practicality; thefearlessness in action when

action must be taken.

Doe, the way, is the correctcourse which people shouldfollow; the principles ofaction and spirit...absolutegoodness. Doe is not a place,but a path. Understandingof the path helps us under-stand that virtue is nevercomplete. Just as you cannotcount a person happy untilhis death, you cannot com-prehend a life of virtue untilits path is run. if Key is asail, then Doe is the windthat tills it. Without wind,the sails are slack and use-less. When you step fromthe path and think you haveattained virtue, your Keyhangs limp and you are list-ing on the waters of yourlife. The life with no path isaimless and pointless.

By following the path, wemay gain virtue. The prac-tice of Doe produces actionwhich becomes virtue.

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BLACK BELT CHARACTER LIFE SKILLSevery student should striveto attain the Black Belt LifeSkills. The skills are intendedto help guide you in MartialArts, create better relation-ships at home, with yourfriends and family andprovide you with the toolsfor success in school and inyour career.

An additional Black Belt LifeSkill will be introduced eachweek during the beginningmeditation portion of class.This skill will be incorporat-ed into the lesson and dur-ing “mat chats” givingexamples on how the skill can be used outside the doe-jahng.

PAtIENCEThe basics are a beginner'sfoundation upon which onebuilds, if it is rushed and notbroad enough withoutstrong understanding, allabove will crumble. As abeginner, with hard workand patience; you willachieve all goals.

The basics...once you know them, younever think of them. If youdon't know them, you cannever get past them. If youknow them, they are noth-

ing. If you don't know them,they are everything. Take thetime to make them nothing,

for they are all.

CONCENtRAtIONfor children, developing ahabit of focus will improvetheir success in any area oflearning. The goal of thefocus curriculum is to createcarryover to the academicclassroom, playing field andother activities. When a childdevelops strong focus habits,they will be rewarded withgreater knowledge andfaster progress.

for adults, the focus curricu-lum is not a revelation but areminder. With consistentfocus you can achieve morein your personal and profes-sional life. As a skilledMartial Artist, you willdevelop the ability to be

focused on the moment,whether it be breaking aboard, making a presentation or listening to your child.

As a beginner, one of themost important habits astudent can develop to

facilitate faster learning isthe habit of focus.

• eYe foCUS • BodY foCUS• Mind foCUS

INtEGRItYin korean, "Tae" means tostrike or kick with the foot,"Kwon" means to strike or punch with the hand, and "Do" means the path of discipline – the right wayof doing things. it is thisfocus on the moral develop-ment of its practitioners thatmakes Taekwondo truly an"Art" form. in the quest ofthe "Do", Martial Artistsalways strive to achieve perfection of technique,knowledge of the mind andhonesty of the heart.75

BLACK BELT CHARACTER LIFE SKILLSMartial Arts are not onlyabout competition or even

self-defense, ultimatelyMartial Arts are about self-

improvement of the body,mind and spirit

ASPIRAtIONSMartial Arts are distinctfrom all other forms of sportand recreation by virtue ofproviding a built-in goal sys-tem. The White Tiger BlackBelt curriculum providesshort - and long- term goalsrepresented by the differentcolor belts. Preparation forthe Black Belt exam variesby a student's age, individ-ual ability and effort, andconsistency in training. Takethe time to set both short-and long-term goals foryourself or your child.determine the exact dateyou wish to achieve the dif-ferent belt ranks. By pushingthemselves to stay on sched-ule, most students findthemselves to be more excit-ed and motivated abouttheir training.

A winner is someone whoset goals, commits to those

goals, and then pursuesthose goals with all theability given to them.

COOPERAtIONone of the strongest benefitsof receiving group instruc-tion is the feelings of team-work and camaraderie that itdevelops. We consider that aMartial Artist belongs toseveral teams: their schoolteam - White Tiger Team,their color belt team andperhaps a demonstration,competition or leadershipteam. At different times youwill work along with mem-bers of your team to accom-plish individual and teamgoals. Cooperation skills areessential to achieve thesegoals efficiently.

While it is important to beself-confident and self- moti-vated, it is also important tobe aware of your teammates'needs (Martial Arts team,work team, project team orfamily members) and look

for opportunities to cooperate with them toachieve greater success.

T. e . A . M . = T o g e T h e r e v e ry-

o n e A c h I e v e sM o r e

SELF-CONtROLWithout self-control, thepractice of the Martial Artscan be truly dangerous toboth you and your trainingpartners. however, unlikethe violent and fighting-oriented atmosphere seenall too often in video gamesand on television, thelegitimate practice ofMartial Arts is foundedupon nonviolent premisessuch as respect, courtesy andself-control. Students atWhite Tiger are expected toexhibit absolute self-controlregarding the use of theirMartial Arts skills both inand out the training school.Closely related to physicalself-control is emotional self-control. Letting one'stemper, excitement or 76

BLACK BELT CHARACTER LIFE SKILLSdisappointment get out ofcontrol can be as harmful asa kick. remember that ourwords can hurt someone elsejust as much as our actions.

Achieving self-control is thefirst step in controlling the

world around you.

PERSEVERANCEeven with the best instruc-tors, most cooperative class-mates and clearly definedgoals, it is not uncommonfor a Martial Art student toundergo setbacks and disappointments. As aresult, Martial Arts trainingmust cultivate a spirit ofdetermination, perseveranceand indomitable spirit. Ateach level of training, youcan expect your instructorsto recognize your abilitiesand potential and to work tohelp you realize them.remember, not only haveyour instructors lead thou-sands of students throughthe challenge you are facing, they went through it themselves.

Breaking boards, learning anadvanced form, or sparringwith a highly skilled partnerare challenges at first, but ifyou rely on your instructors'guidance, success is not aquestion of "if", but "when".

If one's mind is made upto learn, then there will

be success.

AttItUDEThe translation for the word"key-hahp" is "spirit shout" or"confidence yell". Whilemany visitors to our schoolare somewhat surprised oreven startled by the amountof noise in the class, our stu-dents have grown to treat itas second nature. A class fullof loud, directed key-hahps isalso a class full of enthusi-asm, confidence and positiveattitude.

enthusiasm adds to yourlearning experience. in fact itadds to all interactionbetween people. on a dailybasis, realize that a positiveattitude is more of a habitthan a personality, more of a

conscious decision than aspontaneous action.optimism is a faith thatleads to success.

Attitude is a little thing thatmakes a big difference.

CONFIDENCEhow does someone developconfidence? Although thepraise and positive motiva-tion of the instructors can bea factor, true confidenceexists and lasts throughaccomplishing a challengingtask. in other words, confi-dence has to be earned.Consider the most difficultform you had to learn, themost intimidating boardbreak, or the most exhaust-ing class. it is because ofthose experiences that youhave a right to be confidentof your physical, mental andemotional strength.

Applying the confidence youhave earned through MartialArts should be of major ben-efit to your daily life. Try tocompare Martial Arts chal-77

BLACK BELT CHARACTER LIFE SKILLSlenges to daily ones: facepublic speaking as confi-dently as you do your bestat testing, learn a new skillwith the enthusiasm thatyou learn a new form andbreak a limiting habit likeyou break a board.

Build the confidence to be your best!

RESPECtThe first thing a new studentmay notice when learningMartial Arts are all the external signs of respect evidenced during training.Students remove their shoesbefore entering the trainingfloor, they bow to one anoth-er and use honorary termssuch as "Sir" and "Ma'am".however, these externalactions are only the surfaceof the respect involved inMartial Arts.

At the core of respect liesunderstanding and accep-tance. it is when we trulyappreciate another person'sabilities, challenges, needs

and contributions that wecan be said to respect them.in Martial Arts training, youhave worked with literallyhundreds, perhaps eventhousands, of other students.Training side by side, youcome to realize who they areas a Martial Artist: how fast,how flexible, how focusedand how determined. As aresult, you also gain insightinto who they are as a per-son. The result is not onlycamaraderie, but respect.

To receive respect, you must give respect

RESPONSIBILItYAs a high ranking student, itis important to set an exam-ple for your junior belts.Always show respect, effort,sincerity and perseverancewhen you train. After yearsof being a student, you maynow realize just how diffi-cult instructing others canbe. it is important to contin-ue to show respect to yourseniors and be humble even

as your skills advance. Asyou approach Black Beltstatus, it is important toremember that you are arepresentative of White Tiger and of Martial Arts asa whole. Continually make a strong effort to carry yourself with the confidence,pride and sincerity that is representative of yourtraining.

responsibility throughout allareas in one's life buildsadmiration and respect fromothers. Be dependable, keepyour word, and be timely inyour commitments. By con-sistently setting a responsibleexample, you can encourageothers to do the same.

The price of greatness isresponsibility

BLACK BELt RESPONSIBILItIES

• Judge at Testings• referee at Tournaments• Participate in Special

events

...to provide support andmotivation, just as yourseniors did for you.

TIGERTIPLife skillspracticed withinthe doe-jahng donot stop theminute you walkout the door.They are tobecome a partof your everydaylife.

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BLACK BELT LIFE SKILL OF THE WEEK

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TIGER TIPEvery Monday the White Tiger Black BeltCharacter Life Skill will rotate. The large bannerin the Phoenix will change as well as theInstructor’s flip charts in each room. TheInstructors and students will have “Mat Chats”to discuss how each Life Skill can be integratedinto their daily lives as they strive for improve-ment. Chats will include how they can use the Life Skill in the Doejahng, in school, at home, for themselves and to benefit others.