The following explanations refer to the Tae Kwon Do philosophy developed by Grand Master Shin. We treat the philosophical aspects of Tae Kwon Do here, references to the techniques are given here.
The term Tae Kwon Do contains three elements.
Tae is understood as foot, jump impact, running, control of the lower body.
Kwon is understood as arm, shoulder, head, hand, control of the torso.
The term Do is multilayered and has comprehensive meaning. We understand the Do as nature principle of striving for completion. Nature strives for completion and reaches this by means of the evolution. Do is also the never ending development process of human beeings in order to get completion.
Tae and Kwon refer to the physical condition. Tae and Kwon designate together the entire human body.
Do refers to a mental, metaphysical condition.
Tae Kwon Do tries to get perfection for oneself. The method is the physical movement. Tae Kwon Do can be designated therefore as self perfection with the help of the own body.
Tae Kwon Do is also a combat system, which acts with the use of under body and torsos. Beside foot and hand, knee, shoulder, head or elbow are used also.
We understand the human body as a reduced image of the outside nature. In the human body the same rules apply, as in nature.
Humans consist of the components bodies, spirit and soul.
The spirit is created by the body. The spirit forms the thoughts and the understanding and is a product of the body. The spirit makes the connection between soul and body.
The soul is originally, present independently of the human body and a feature of the universal, natural, Ki energy. The soul is independent therefore of time and place. The soul can leave the human body, e.g during mediation or at death.
The Ki energy is a universal nature energy and causes the movement of nature and/or propels it.
Copyright 2003, 2004 Boo-Young Shin, Jürgen Lüters
