21.10.2016 / article5 coments

Social aspect of Taekwon-do

Taekwon-do has many meanings. It brings stamina, strenght, fun, ability to defend yourself. Some enjoys winning medals, learning that there is prize for effort. Some find themselves in teaching and influencing others. And as time goes these meanings are changing and intertwining.

And beside these there are social aspects of Taekwon-do. Meeting with my old Taekwon-do friends from time we were in talented youth organization together (15+ years ago) brought me to writing this essay. It was great evening, we met after years, but there were still what to talk about. Of course old Taekwon-do stories took its place, but we also spoke about what are we living now.
I believe that also people from other leisure activities meets like this, but I think Taekwon-do has something beyond. Beyond because we fight together, learning how to control natural human aggressivity. Fighting and hurting each other, but becoming deeper friend through it. Training and training camps where people of age from childrem to old adults meet together are also special. And it brings something natural to these moments, because in nowadays society we meet divided into age groups and that closes our eyes from knowing how colourful life is.

And I believe that this is what "I shall build a more peaceful world" in Taekwon-do oath is about. We are developing small natural society in nowadays global, quick and superficial one. From small kids to old adults, few times a week learning how to be together, how to like each other, how to help, how to solve conflicts, how to teach each other not only techniques.

And I am writing this as I am afraid that such strong relationship is possible to develop only through regular meeting. Me and friends of mine on photo attached to article met up to 5 times a week and went to each training camp. Nowadays students are disturbed by to many possibilities and activities, so it is harder for them. Sometimes training less than once a week, skipping training camps, because they have something else to attend. An I am afraid that in such circumstances that strong wide Taekwon-do family is not possible to create. Taekwon-do is just something you go to and then stop to and relationships are to week to endure.

One more thing came to my mind while meeting my old friends. It is nice we met after years and I won´t forget this night. There were two girls who won so many medals even internationally, that if they put all of them on, it would break their necks. One of gentleman sitting by he table was (I think I am right) youngest black belt in Czech republic to whom I look up while white belt. There were this guy able to fight like a lion even nowadays without training and one I remember to train as hard as I saw only few time in my life. But I am the last one to still practice. And that is, in my opinion, meaning of "DO" - the way of life. Not in any magical meaning, but in real life you start to practice, pass gradings, win few medals, come to "master" black belt finding out that you know really nothing and seeing how many people here can teach you.Then you eventually start to teach, getting older, learning what is important in your training to stay strong and healthy through regular practice...but for this you need to make a decision that as you brush your teeth daily, you have your Taekwon-do weekly - forever.

Maybe you consider this essay strange and you have right for it. But maybe you are in this hard period. Finishing school or you have to much to do at university. Or staring a new job and career looks like the most important thing. And maybe this may gives you motivation to persevere, because I believe Taekwon-do can give you so much in physical, mental and social aspect as probably what makes you worry the most now can not. But Taekwon-do can give you all this only if you give Taekwon-do your time.

So see you at training and many other interesting events we have :o)

Martin Svitek, IV. Dan, Sonkal Praha