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COURTESY is the behavior that comes from a respectful attitude. Respect is the attitude that stems from humility. Each student must recognize how much there is to learn and that it is necessary to have someone teach the way. It is respect that will enable the student to be open to learning that comes from the instructor and from the deep places in the heart from where spirituality is nourished. This is why I bow to my instructor ; this is why I bow as I enter and leave the dojang ; this is why I bow to myself whenever I practice alone before the wall of mirrors in the dojang or in my basement.
INTEGRITY is the completeness one attains from adhering to a code of values, i.e. sincerity, honesty and loyalty towards oneself and others. Wrong doing can lead to a path of personal deceit and destruction and the feeling of guilt is the conscious mind allowing one to see the error of his ways.
PERSEVERANCE is the nectar of sweat that yields the honey of accomplishment. The martial arts are a lifelong venture. This venture can be begun by the timid ; but it can only be continued by those who discover perseverance within themselves. This quality can be learned as long as the student simply says "one more try." Perseverance means that one has learned the art of living with adversity while still keeping one’s sights on goals.
SELF-CONTROL, mastery over one’s behavior, is a vital component in the maturing process. So many children have benefited from their experience with martial arts because they have learned self-control. This enables them to direct their energies in creative ways as attaining better grades in school, more respect and acceptance of responsibility from teachers and parents, and develops a circle of friends based on the positive human values of gentleness and caring rather than rowdiness or intimidation.
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT is the will to do one’s best with all one has, against even the most insurmountable odds. It reflects a personal desire to achieve, through setting goals and living with the results, and resetting goals with the values appreciated through failures.
In the final analysis, it is these five qualities of spirit that will keep the martial artist on the mountain of life, regardless of the body’s physical limitations the years bring forth. To develop and to cherish these qualities and then to practice them, will enable the martial artist to face any and all terrain on the mountain of life where family, work, leisure, friendship and spirituality flow like streams into a lake, running over with water for everything living. |
