Courtesy from Kou Loong (The Star)

Stick to ideals of taekwondo

Let 's Hear It

I AM responding to the letter “No More punch in taekwondo” (StarEducation Dec 21), where a disgruntled parent had complained regarding the various taekwondo associations in Malaysia. Being an active practitioner and tutor of taekwondo for 32 years, I must explain that there are three main bodies regulating the practice of this martial arts worldwide, not to mention its many offshoots.

There is the International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF), the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and the Global Taekwon-do Federation (GTF).They practise distinct forms in terms of styles and have different priorities. For example ITF emphasises the traditional methods of Taekwondo, WTF the sports aspects, and GTF emphasises the self defence aspects of the art. These organisations in fact are branches of the same tree reaching out for the “abundant sunlight”.

The scenario is the same all over the world. Malaysia which has the ITFM, MTA, MGTF is not spared the scrimmage. The government is attempting a merger of sorts with the taekwondo organisations. It is trying to look into the best interest of all parties concerned in ensuring the optimal growth of the martial arts in Malaysia. In reality, getting all the organisations under one umbrella body, though ideal, would not be so easy to achieve since the current situation is dictated by the international status quo.
So let us not raise our hopes.

As for the acceptance and recognition by other schools or associations, I have students from WTF joining my classes without any loss of seniority. The techniques and fundamentals are the same. They will only need to put in the extra effort to learn some new patterns and movements.

That extra effort and knowledge gained will go towards making them more complete exponents of this ancient martial arts. So I do not feel that changing schools would be a problem, as long as we maintain the right attitude, remain humble and be willing to learn. My advice to the writer is to guide her children to practise until they excel in whatever taekwondo system they have been using. Her children must be told that becoming accomplished sportsmen should not be the ultimate goal, but excelling is.

The greatest obstacle and rival they will ever meet will be their own perceived limitations. Guide them to focus their youthful energy on learning and embodying the true spirit and ideals of the sport.

Capability, knowledge and supremacy in martial arts lie solely in the degree to which the individual exponent practices the techniques and fundamentals taught by whichever instructor or association. In fact the true essence of taekwondo lies in the core values of discipline, courtesy, humility and respect.

KOU LOONG