As in all Martial Arts, ethics are
of great importance. One can look at individual ethics, treat a fellow-man
right, or one can look at social ethics, as part of a whole.
Ethics basically all comes down to
one point, the difference between 'good' and 'evil'. We practice taekwondo,
often seen as an aggressive sport, but does this mean that we can be aggressive?
Do we want to be aggressive? The answer is NO!
We wear protection, because we
don't want someone else to be injured, nor do we want to get hurt ourselves.
Taekwondo is not a destructive and aggressive sport, but a sportive one. As I
see it, taking part in a competition is not to hurt your opponent, but to test
your strength, in both physical and mental ways.
Taekwondo students can improve
themselves physically and mentally by training. The final goal is to achieve
harmony with nature and oneself. Balance is gained by controlling both evil and
good forces (Yin vs. Yang): A true Taekwondo student knows how to behave in all
situations.
In my opinion, Taekwondo (and I
guess this goes for every Martial Art) is not only a way to improve skills of
self defense, but it's a way of life. Practicing Taekwondo gives the student
more self-confidence, but this should not result in a false sense of
superiority.