National Advocacy Center
  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Staff & Advisory Board
    • Partners
    • Good Shepherd Sisters
    • Of Note News >
      • Of Note Archives 2022
      • Of Note Archives 2021
      • Of Note Archives 2020
      • Of Note Archives 2019
      • Of Note Archives 2018
      • Of Note Archives 2017
      • Of Note Archives 2016
      • Of Note Archives 2015
    • Contact
  • Act for Justice
    • Road to Justice
    • Human Trafficking Conference >
      • HT Packet & Digital Toolkit
    • Giving
    • Outreach
  • Issues
    • Central America
    • Economic Justice
    • End Racism
    • Human Trafficking >
      • Know the Signs
      • Trafficking Resources
    • Immigration & Refugees
    • Muslim Relations
    • Women & Children
  • Resources
    • Advocacy Tools
    • Analysis for Action
    • Poetry Library

Tae Kwon Do as a Way to Peace

8/28/2019

3 Comments

 
Picture
I have been practicing Tae Kwon Do for 35 years and I am now a 7th Degree Black Belt. For the last 33 years I have taught in a Korean school and have offered free classes in various community centers. At the community centers, I have taught primarily low income and immigrant families. I have been joined in this effort by amazing volunteer instructors, including former students.

On Thursday, September 19, my students and I will be performing a TKD demonstration as part of NAC's fundraiser/birthday party celebration. See https://www.gsadvocacy.org/celebr8.html. During the demonstration, we will include a discussion as how TKD is a path to peace.

Peace is not simply an absence of violence but a way of being in the world.  And peace begins with each of us. Through the daily practice of TKD, I can bring my body, mind, and spirit together. In TKD, I learn to focus my mind and to channel my energy.  

From the first class of TKD and every class afterwards, we practice showing respect to ourselves and to each other. We do this practice through the traditional Asian practice of bowing to each other. The students bows to the instructor and the instructor bows to the students. Before a sparring match, the participants bow to each other.

This is key to non-violence. If we have to use force to restrain another person either to protect that person from doing self-injury or to protect another person, we use the force mindful of the other person's dignity as a human being. We would use minimal force required and would know how to apply this force.

There is the story of a Buddhist monk in a boat with other people. One of the men assaults a woman. The monk relates that using an umbrella he struck the man with loving kindness. Certainly, non violence would not prohibit us from using force to protect a person from self destructive behavior or doing harm to another person. But the moral requirement is to use such necessary force with loving kindness.

Using force skillfully requires intense practice to avoid over reacting or acting inappropriately.  Although I have never had to use force against another person, I have moved into situations to help prevent impending violence. My TKD practice gave me the assurance that of the people present, I was the person most likely to be able to help.

TKD helps to create self-confidence.  Aside from the benefits of self-confidence in everyday life, it also serves to create peace. Much of violence is based on fear and insecurity. If we are confident we do not have to prove ourselves to others through violence. 

We begin and end each class with a brief period of meditation. For many people, this may be the first time they have sat quietly and let the mind settle down.  This experience can lead to peace. 

Each student experiences the spiritual dimension of TKD in their own way. For me as a Catholic, the energy of TKD  is the spiritual energy of the Holy Spirit.  In addition, almost from the beginning I have asked Mary to bless our TKD classes.

A central part of our TKD classes is learning forms. The forms are set patterns of blocks, punches, and kicks. As the students progress in their training, the forms become more complex. Learning and practicing these forms is the traditional way of becoming a martial artist.

In times of grief, I have found practicing the TKD forms a way to healing. It is a way of safely releasing energy that may be blocked by our sorrow and feeling overwhelmed.

For many people, TKD is a way of safely getting in touch with their anger. We all suffer situations where we may be demeaned.  If we are not comfortable with our sense of anger, we may deny to ourselves that we are angry. For some people this unacknowledged anger can turn into depression. Through the TKD practice, we can get in touch with that anger and find a safe way of expressing it.

The TKD class provides a sense of community.  Students are lined up according to rank with the more advanced students instructing and helping the newer students. This sense of a caring community can be very important.

If you have an interest in TKD or another martial art, I suggest you visit various martial arts schools. Observe the classes.  Is the instructor knowledgeable? Is the sense of the class one of order and caring for each other?

When the student is ready, the instructor will appear.

To learn more about TKD and the work of the National Advocacy Center, please come to our celebration on Thursday, September 19 (https://www.gsadvocacy.org/celebr8.html).  Thank you.

3 Comments
custom writing link
9/30/2019 03:04:14 am

For some reasons the neighbors' kids are not so noisy today. Normally I would go out and say hi to everyone from the window and ask them nicely to keep quiet. I noticed that today, they are not here. I am torn between wanting to feel relieved and worrying will the kids ever come back. I guess it's too early to tell. All I know is that I am happy when all the children are happy. Soon they will be grown ups like us and they won't survive if they will not learn to take things lightly.

Reply
rushessay link
10/14/2019 10:58:14 pm

No one can really explain how one can possibly fall out of love when love was not really there in the first place. It could be fake. It could be blurry, totally. It's like you never know if your person of interest feels the same way. You will never know if any of them are only after the things they can get from you. It doesn't matter what is it and how cruel it can be. Yet you give it and you totally have no idea when it's acceptable to say no. You tell yourself you are maybe a very unlucky person yet deep in your heart you are happy.

Reply
Mixed Martial Arts Betting Odds link
3/20/2023 10:13:40 pm

This blog looks good and very informative. I learn new points that help me to increase my knowledge. It is extremely helpful for me.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Lawrence E. Couch serves as the director and lobbyist for the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.


    RSS Feed

    Want more? Sign up for updates, resources, action alerts. Rise Up & Act for Justice.
    Sign Up

    Archives

    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    August 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All
    Archdiocese Of Washington
    Border
    Catholic Charities
    Catholic Social Teaching
    Congress
    COVID
    COVID-19
    Detention Center
    Family Separation
    First Flight
    Fraudulent Elections
    Fr. Melo
    George Floyd
    Hhs
    Honduras
    Human Rights
    Human Trafficking
    Juan Orlando Hernandez
    Larry Couch
    Martin Luther King
    National Advocacy Center
    Pandemic
    Poem
    Poetry
    Race
    Racism
    Rooster
    Sex Trafficking
    Sisters Of The Good Shepherd
    Social Justice
    Tornillo

NAC Quick Links

Ways to Act

Reach out to your elected officials and others on important policy decisions impacting the common good.
Act for Justice

Stay Informed

​Our email network alerts you to legislative news and directly connects you with lawmakers.
Sign Up

Advocacy Tools

Learn how to personally advocate for change and access other advocacy resources.
Access Tools

Our Issues

We advocate for laws that benefit the marginalized, especially families, women and children.  
Learn More

Contact

National Advocacy Center
of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

504 Hexton Hill Road
​Silver Spring, MD  20904

Phone 301.622.6838 | Fax 301.384.1025
E-mail us
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Website design adapted and modified by Perisphere Media.