Reckon your strength.

‘Twas a good class at the Do Jang today. I enjoyed the sparring and all that, but the best part was getting some time after class to talk to Master Wang.

I had asked him about the 5th tenant of TKD and how to achieve it because that’s one of the main reasons I wanted to join TKD.

He was explaining the significance of the culture engraved in TKD and how the knowledge has been passed down for years and years for a reason. He wants to instill the concepts involved with martial arts into his students and he explained that there is a lot you can obtain through the training of the body and mind in martial arts.

He also said something that was really interesting to think about.. Well, for me at least.

He looked at me quite sternly and said:

“It is one thing to know the definition of something, but those are just words. Until you have actually experienced it it will remain ethereal. Through training, proper guidance, focus, keeping an open mind, and allowing yourself to be enriched by the culture of TKD and martial arts in general only then will the next steps in your path begin to materialize and become clear. It’s not easy and there will be times during your martial arts that may be overwhelming, but don’t forget that martial arts is not just physical. It’s a spiritual and philosophical experience that will mold you. You will understand what it really means to be a martial artist and develop the aura of a true master so maybe one day you will be the one doing the teaching. We’re not trying to change who you are, we want to add our knowledge and life lessons onto what you already know and have experienced. Every one is different and will take away different aspects and concepts of the teachings…”

He said a looot of other things and they were really good, but this here was pretty much the main idea that he was trying to get across.. I thought it was pretty sick..