“Because You said”

Recently, I have had several discussions with students from a range of ages. The topics were varied across the Song Moo Kwan Taekwondo and Haidong Gumdo curricula. One striking recognition was just how much the younger ones rely on their natural athleticism and strength. Yes, I already “knew” that but it was even more pronounced when listening to them talk about what is “behind” their practice.

A younger student’s “why do we do it this way?” question when working on drills and technique often receives unsatisfying response. The answer usually depends on the lesson plan for the night since the same drill can be used to focus on different things. Sadly, the student doesn’t hear the lesson plan reason but an adult saying “because I say so”.

I guess my real hope is that they stick around long enough to look beneath the drills and techniques to truly find the applications and principles, then to look at using them in life.

For those of you willing to look a little further, The Peaceful Warrior movie is worth watching and the book series is even better. It is NOT an entertainment movie but rather an enlightening one. Enjoy some clips here.