Arguably the most well-known martial art in the world, Tae Kwon Do is a striking based fighting style that does not include grappling in its training. Relying on keen focus and a firm center of gravity, Tae Kwon Do teaches you how to strike correctly but more importantly that you must understand the reason behind your strike.
The Philosophy behind the practice
Tae Kwon Do is far more than just a style of fighting. It is a way to understand oneself and the world. The word Tae Kwon Do can be understood in English as “empty hand.” Empty hand has two meanings within the discipline. 1) Referring to a practitioner’s ability to fight empty handed or without weapons. 2) Empty hand is interpreted as containing Japanese Zen principles. In this regard, the empty hand refers to a person holding onto nothing except the perfection of one’s self and art of the style. By being like a quiet valley where every sound can be heard a person can remove the selfishness and wickedness within themselves and become an exemplary and spiritually fulfilled individual.
In this sense Tae Kwon Do is not a martial arts so much as it is a training path to spiritual knowledge. In fact, a founder of one of the first schools of Tae Kwon Do, Gichin Funakoshi, thought that practitioners would have to use their training at most once in their lives. Except for an instance where you must defend yourself to avoid personal harm, all other situations should be resolved nonviolently.
Why study Tae Kwon Do?
At 5 Minute Fitness Gym, we endeavor to not only impart the techniques of Tae Kwon Do but also its philosophy. True strength is not the ability to cause harm, but the ability to remain calm and resolute in the face of adversity.
When the people of Saint Paul decide to learn Tae Kwon Do with 5 Minute Fitness Gym they will learn:
- Self-control
- Balance
- Respect
- Discipline
- Concentration
If you live in the greater Saint Paul area and are interested in taking a class with us then please feel free to contact us through phone or email. We look forward to training with you.