Tae Kwon Do Instructor and Scholar
Philosophy
Many people, including many who practise a martial art, seem to hold the view that martial arts are exclusively about physical fighting skills. There may be some acknowledgement that there are non-physical aspects (such as tactics or determination), but for them, martial arts are ultimately about fighting, about winning the fight, about being the last… Continue reading Martial arts without morality
It has not taken long—in his very first class, one of my new students has asked the question, “how long does it take to get a black belt?” There are many people across the world with some experience in martial arts, and perhaps many of them would smile wryly at this question. But the question… Continue reading How long does it take to get a black belt?
A little over a month ago, I recommended watching a video by Maitre A. A. Crown concerning one key thing that classical fencing teaches. For those of you who did watch it, you will know that the key thing being taught is, in a word, integrity. This should not be a foreign concept for any… Continue reading Integrity and courtesy
Maitre Adam Adrian Crown is a classical fencing master in the United States of America. (‘Maitre’ denotes ‘Master’ in the French language.) I have watched a few of his videos on YouTube, and much of what he says about the practice of his art resonates with me. (A caution: from my recollection, some of his… Continue reading One key thing that Classical Fencing teaches
Why do martial arts exist? If we go back to their historical roots in military arts and warfare then, at a fundamental level, martial arts exist because of fighting. These combative skills and systems emerged in the body of human knowledge because people fought each other—and they wanted to win, or at least to avoid… Continue reading The Foundation