| Mr. Teer's Four Dimensions of TaeKwon-Do |
Mr. Teer is the 4th Degree Black Belt, Chief Instructor at
Shreveport TaeKwon-Do Academy. He has trained many
awesome students and Grand-National Champions. So how
does he do it? Check out his philosophy on "The Four
Dimensions of TaeKwon-Do...
Shreveport TaeKwon-Do Academy. He has trained many
awesome students and Grand-National Champions. So how
does he do it? Check out his philosophy on "The Four
Dimensions of TaeKwon-Do...
The benefits of the Korean martial art, TaeKwon-Do, are many and varied. These benefits can be categorized
into four areas or "dimensions" concerning an individuals health, well-being, and growth. The Four
Dimensions of TaeKwon-Do are Discipline, Devotion, Determination, and Direction.
Discipline: There can be no arguing that the present day culture in America has all but abandoned any sense
of the importance of personal self-discipline. The irony of this is that the founders of this nation understood
the only way this government would survive was if the people would first and foremost practice
self-government or self-discipline. Yet it is commonplace today to see children who seem unwilling to obey
their parents, learn from their teachers, demonstrate a due regard of civil authorities, and generaly get along
with others.
A. TaeKwon-Do offers students of all ages the oppertunity and environment in which they can cultivate
self-discipline. The precision required in learning the various patterns (katas) promotes mental, physical, and
emotional benefits. Many child psychologists now recognize that children who have dificulty paying attention
in school experience an increased attention span after participating in a martial art, such as TaeKwon-Do.
The rote memory associated with the patterns also has a positive effect upon a student's ability to memorize
other things.
B. The physical exertion that accompanies the precision of TaeKwon-Do's kicks, blocks, and punches
produces an aerobic workout that is very beneficial for one's physical conditioning. The ability to defend
one's self that comes in the context of a good cardiovascular workout, results in a student who feels better
about himself/herself and feels more confident about living safely and successfully in the world.
C. It takes discipline to advance in TaeKwon-Do and the student who advances will cultivate even
more discipline. From childish temper tantrums to road rage, from clinical depression to eating disorders,
TaeKwon-Do gives the individual the tools to cultivate the discipline necessary to bring one's own life
increasingly under "self-control".
Devotion: In the same way that "self-discipline" has all but disappeared from the American social landscape,
people today are all too often unwilling to commit themselves to a noble purpose or cause. We have gone
from a society of joiners to a collection of people who just want to be left alone. The result of this is a sense
of isolations and a loss of community.
A. The TaeKwon-Do School (Do Jang) offers a setting and environment where students of all ages
and physical abilities can come together and be a part of something bigger than them. They can experience
the excitment of personal achievement and group approval. While learning the art of TaeKwon-Do, the
student discovers others who are promoting the virtues of "courtesy" and "intergrity".
B. The built-in reward structure associated with advancement in rank provides a setting in which the
individual often finds himself/herself very devoted to the TaeKwon-Do school. Such a climate encourages
individuals and families to get involved and participate at all levels of the TaeKwon-Do experience.
Determination: It should come as no suprise that an undisciplined and uncommitted society would
demonstrate very little capacity to handle strife and difficulty. Simply put, it is easier to quit something than
to strive to accomplish a goal that may be challenging. It stands to reason that a decrease in a joiner
mentality will be offset by an increase in a quitter mentality.
A. TaeKwon-Do not only teachesthe propriety of perseverance and an indomitable spirit, it
cultivates these attitudes in the training regimen. With a clearly defined goal set before the student, namely
that of advancing to the next rank, the stage is set for a student to be shown how he or she can improve in
the many number of areas.
B. The positive feedback that comes as an acknowldgement of the student's progress, cultivates a
spirit of determination in the student. The more the student progresses, the more he or she will be determined
to reach the next level of excellence, whether in patterns or sparring.
C. At some point in the training process, the student sees the difficulty not so much as an obstacle to
growth, but rather as an oppertunity for growth. The student thus takes the lessons learned in the
TaeKwon-Do school and is able to apply them to any number of life situations.
Direction: As a result of a lack of discipline, a loss of devotion and the unwillingness to show determination,
we are becoming a nation of people who sense no real direction in their lives. Many tend to live aimless and
purposeless lives, and as a result are often hopeless when contemplating the future. In short, they are human
beings living at the level that is arguably less than human.
A. TaeKwon-Do is literally "The way (do) of the foot (tae) and the hand (kwon)." The emphasis
is upon the tern "do", which speaks to more than a way to use one's feet and hands in self-defence. "Do"
embraces a way of life, and a way of viewing life. It is in the context of the student learning to make better
use of his or her feet and hands that a world of possibilities opens up.
B. Those who are not knowledgable of taeKwon-Do as a martial art, sometimes wrongly conclude
that such training will encourage "bully" mentalityon the part of the practicioner. But, those who have
practiced TaeKwon-Do for any significant period of time knows that just the opposite is true.
C. The focus that is derived from increased discipline, the sence of community tha flows from
newfound devotion, and the personal drive that is the fruit of the greater determination, all comes together to
give the TaeKwon-Do student a feeling tha life has meaning a purpose. Because TaeKwon-Do is an art form
that can be practiced literally to the very end of one's life, the student will experience a cyle of renewed and
increased levels of discipline, devotion, determination, and direction. Thus, the Four Dimensions of
TaeKwon-Do addresses many of the individual's basic needs and helps to produce well-rounded, well-adjusted
citicizens.
into four areas or "dimensions" concerning an individuals health, well-being, and growth. The Four
Dimensions of TaeKwon-Do are Discipline, Devotion, Determination, and Direction.
Discipline: There can be no arguing that the present day culture in America has all but abandoned any sense
of the importance of personal self-discipline. The irony of this is that the founders of this nation understood
the only way this government would survive was if the people would first and foremost practice
self-government or self-discipline. Yet it is commonplace today to see children who seem unwilling to obey
their parents, learn from their teachers, demonstrate a due regard of civil authorities, and generaly get along
with others.
A. TaeKwon-Do offers students of all ages the oppertunity and environment in which they can cultivate
self-discipline. The precision required in learning the various patterns (katas) promotes mental, physical, and
emotional benefits. Many child psychologists now recognize that children who have dificulty paying attention
in school experience an increased attention span after participating in a martial art, such as TaeKwon-Do.
The rote memory associated with the patterns also has a positive effect upon a student's ability to memorize
other things.
B. The physical exertion that accompanies the precision of TaeKwon-Do's kicks, blocks, and punches
produces an aerobic workout that is very beneficial for one's physical conditioning. The ability to defend
one's self that comes in the context of a good cardiovascular workout, results in a student who feels better
about himself/herself and feels more confident about living safely and successfully in the world.
C. It takes discipline to advance in TaeKwon-Do and the student who advances will cultivate even
more discipline. From childish temper tantrums to road rage, from clinical depression to eating disorders,
TaeKwon-Do gives the individual the tools to cultivate the discipline necessary to bring one's own life
increasingly under "self-control".
Devotion: In the same way that "self-discipline" has all but disappeared from the American social landscape,
people today are all too often unwilling to commit themselves to a noble purpose or cause. We have gone
from a society of joiners to a collection of people who just want to be left alone. The result of this is a sense
of isolations and a loss of community.
A. The TaeKwon-Do School (Do Jang) offers a setting and environment where students of all ages
and physical abilities can come together and be a part of something bigger than them. They can experience
the excitment of personal achievement and group approval. While learning the art of TaeKwon-Do, the
student discovers others who are promoting the virtues of "courtesy" and "intergrity".
B. The built-in reward structure associated with advancement in rank provides a setting in which the
individual often finds himself/herself very devoted to the TaeKwon-Do school. Such a climate encourages
individuals and families to get involved and participate at all levels of the TaeKwon-Do experience.
Determination: It should come as no suprise that an undisciplined and uncommitted society would
demonstrate very little capacity to handle strife and difficulty. Simply put, it is easier to quit something than
to strive to accomplish a goal that may be challenging. It stands to reason that a decrease in a joiner
mentality will be offset by an increase in a quitter mentality.
A. TaeKwon-Do not only teachesthe propriety of perseverance and an indomitable spirit, it
cultivates these attitudes in the training regimen. With a clearly defined goal set before the student, namely
that of advancing to the next rank, the stage is set for a student to be shown how he or she can improve in
the many number of areas.
B. The positive feedback that comes as an acknowldgement of the student's progress, cultivates a
spirit of determination in the student. The more the student progresses, the more he or she will be determined
to reach the next level of excellence, whether in patterns or sparring.
C. At some point in the training process, the student sees the difficulty not so much as an obstacle to
growth, but rather as an oppertunity for growth. The student thus takes the lessons learned in the
TaeKwon-Do school and is able to apply them to any number of life situations.
Direction: As a result of a lack of discipline, a loss of devotion and the unwillingness to show determination,
we are becoming a nation of people who sense no real direction in their lives. Many tend to live aimless and
purposeless lives, and as a result are often hopeless when contemplating the future. In short, they are human
beings living at the level that is arguably less than human.
A. TaeKwon-Do is literally "The way (do) of the foot (tae) and the hand (kwon)." The emphasis
is upon the tern "do", which speaks to more than a way to use one's feet and hands in self-defence. "Do"
embraces a way of life, and a way of viewing life. It is in the context of the student learning to make better
use of his or her feet and hands that a world of possibilities opens up.
B. Those who are not knowledgable of taeKwon-Do as a martial art, sometimes wrongly conclude
that such training will encourage "bully" mentalityon the part of the practicioner. But, those who have
practiced TaeKwon-Do for any significant period of time knows that just the opposite is true.
C. The focus that is derived from increased discipline, the sence of community tha flows from
newfound devotion, and the personal drive that is the fruit of the greater determination, all comes together to
give the TaeKwon-Do student a feeling tha life has meaning a purpose. Because TaeKwon-Do is an art form
that can be practiced literally to the very end of one's life, the student will experience a cyle of renewed and
increased levels of discipline, devotion, determination, and direction. Thus, the Four Dimensions of
TaeKwon-Do addresses many of the individual's basic needs and helps to produce well-rounded, well-adjusted
citicizens.