Why is discipline emphasized so much in taekwondo?

Answer 1

"Discipline" comes from the Latin disciplina, meaning "instruction given to a learner"

Taekwondo is an educational system. When a student learns from a teacher, they are gaining knowledge and skills in a specific discipline.

"Discipline" also holds other meanings pertaining to behavior, order and control:

1. training to ensure proper behavior: the practice or methods of teaching and enforcing acceptable patterns of behavior

2. order and control: a controlled orderly state, especially in a class of schoolchildren

3. calm controlled behavior: the ability to behave in a controlled and calm way even in a difficult or stressful situation

4. conscious control over lifestyle: mental self-control used in directing or changing behavior, learning something, or training for something

(Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation.)

While teaching most any subject, there needs to be a certain amount of cooperative behavior in the classroom environment to encourage successful learning, and accurate transmission of the lessons. There also needs to be a reasonable amount of order to the structure of the curriculum to help students understand the material, and retain the information. The student needs to begin at a starting point of basic information and rudimentary skills, and grasp each set of related material before progressing to the next level.

Also, Taekwondo is an art of self defense which promotes non-violence, and harmony with nature, and others in a society. Developing well-disciplined personal behavior traits helps students to avoid unnecessary conflict. It is likewise important for the skilled Martial Artist to remain calm and controlled when dealing with a hostile or violent situation, especially when there is a great deal of commotion and stress present that might otherwise cause clouded judgment, knee-jerk responses, over reaction, or less than ideal choices of behavior. A calm, controlled, well disciplined mind better equipped to handle difficult situations, and is less likely to make an error in judgment, or be manipulated by others into actions resulting from poor choices.

Finally, Taekwondo is a way of life that teaches the artof appreciating the value of all living things, the way of harmony through ideal action, and the path of right behavior through a set of tenets, moral and ethical Codes of Conduct. To ignore these things would upset the balance and harmony of nature, and create problems rather than avoiding unnecessary conflict, or resolving conflict peacefully whenever possible. Those who live by the sword, might likely die by the sword. Wear the sword as a deterrent, and use the sword justly, and wisely, only when it is necessary to protect the innocent, and restore the peace.

Therefore, Taekwondo is a discipline, that requires self discipline to protect and preserve life, maintain a peaceful and harmonious existence, and to pass along this knowledge accurately and completely to each subsequent generation.

Answer 2

Because patience is extremely important and beneficial in life.

Patience can be defined as the ability to endure waiting, or provocation without becoming upset. It also means to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. These are skills that everyone should ideally possess, and particularly an expert of the Martial Art.

One must have the wisdom to know when it is best to wait, and when it is best to proceed forward or retreat. One must also posses the self control to calmly do what is appropriate, with perseverance and indomitable spirit.