Learning & Teaching The Do

Learning and Teaching theLearning and Teaching the DoDo
revised January 2009
Grandmaster Trân Triêu Quân
President
International Taekwon-Do Federation
■What is the Do in Taekwon-Do?
■What are the benefits of teaching the Do?
■A program for teaching the Do

Learning and Teaching the Do
CONTENTS
1. Why practice the Do?
2. The Circle of Taekwon-Do Activities
3. What is the Do?
4. Developing the Program – History & Process
5. Taekwon-Do Values – the Tenets
6. Why Teach the Do?

Learning and Teaching the Do
CONTENTS (cont'd)
7. Benefits of Teaching the Do
8. Teaching the Do
9. The Program to Teach the Do
Concept 1: A Happy Life
Concept 2: Using a Project Management Approach:
The Tree
Conclusion

The three main goals of practicing Taekwon-Do are to:
1. improve physical fitness and mental health through
training
= Taekwon-Do as a sport
2. develop self-defense abilities
= Taekwon-Do as a martial art
3. live according to basic universal values
= Taekwon-Do as a way of life
ITF Taekwon-Do can help us to live
a healthier, safer, and more principled life.
Three Main Goals
Why practice the Do?

The Circle of Taekwon-Do
Activities
2.

The Circle of Taekwon-Do Activities
The Circle

The Circle of Taekwon-Do Activities
The Circle of Taekwon-Do Activities illustrates the full
scope of ITF Taekwon-Do teaching.
The Do is the heart of the circle because it affects
every aspect of ITF Taekwon-Do.
Taekwon-Do is a way of life. Therefore, we should
apply the Do not only in the dojang but in every
aspect of our lives.
The Circle

What is the Do?
Origin & Meaning of the Word
Origin: The word Do comes from the Chinese word
Dao which can be translated literally as "the
road" or "the way".
Meaning: The word Do has many meanings.
In the teaching of the martial arts, we could
define the Do as "the way to become a better
person and have a happier life".
Chinese character for Dao Korean character for Do

What is the Do?
How "Tae Kwon Do" evolved into "Taekwon-Do"
Tae Kwon Do
General Choi explained that his newly-designed martial art
was not well known at the beginning (1955).
To ensure the correct pronunciation of the name, he wrote it
as three separate words: "Tae", "Kwon", and "Do".
Taekwon-Do
With the publication of his first book in English, titled simply
"Taekwon-Do", he changed the spelling to "Taekwon-Do."
General Choi explained that the change was designed to
highlight the need for balance between the physical training
(the tae and the kwon) and the mental training (the do).

What is the Do?
The Philosophy of the Martial Arts
The fundamental purpose of the Martial Arts is to
produce good citizens who have:
■good basic values,
■a strong mind and a strong body,
and most importantly,
■who are productive members of society.

What is the Do?
The Philosophy of Taekwon-Do
In order to become a productive member of society,
one must:
■be at peace with himself or herself,
■feel good in one's own skin.
To reach this state one must learn about the Do and
apply it in our lives.
When we are happy, we are able to
reach out and help others.

What is the Do?
General Choi summed up the Taekwon-Do philosophy in the
last sentences of the Student Oath:
I shall be a champion of justice and freedom,
I shall build a better and peaceful world.
It is only by cultivating values like peace, freedom, and
justice that we can fulfill Our Founder's wish that all his
students become productive citizens.

What is the Do?
For all ITF Taekwon-Do practitioners, the ultimate
goal is to contribute actively to building a better
world with peace, freedom, and justice.

What is the Do?
Influences on the Taekwon-Do Philosophy
 Confucius
 Lao Tzu
 The Buddha
 The Dalai Lama (modern Buddhism)

What is the Do?
Confucius
A Chinese philosopher, born 551 BC.

TO
LEAD
Work with wisdom and devotion to bring
peace to the world 4
TO DO
Use your know-how and hard work to
bring order to the society you live in 3
TO BEHAVE
Develop a harmonious family life through
application of moral culture 2
start here
►
TO BE
Know yourself and improve yourself by
self-evaluation and continuous education
( training)
1

What is the Do?
Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu emphasized:
 respect for the natural world,
 the balance of ying and yang.
We need to:
 work to protect the environment,
 achieve balance in our lives.
A Chinese philosopher, said to be a contemporary of Confucius.

What is the Do?
The Buddha
The Buddha taught:
 We must show respect for all living things.
 Problems are often caused by egotism.
 Humans are never satisfied.
 Unquenchable desire + lack of self-control +
ignorance = suffering.
Siddhārtha Gautama, born in 563 BC.
founder of Buddhism; revered as the first Buddha.

What is the Do?
The Buddha
To stop the suffering, we must learn to:
 abandon the ego,
 practise self-control,
 recognize universal values,
 develop our knowledge and judgement.

What is the Do?
The Dalai Lama – Modern Buddhism
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatzo, born in 1935,
the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Dalai Lama's best known books:
"The Art of Happiness" and "Ancient Wisdom, Modern World".
Teachings:
 The key to creating a better and more peaceful world is to
develop love and compassion for others.
 Individuals can make a difference in society, and we have
a responsibility to do so.
►Note the similarities to the Taekwon-Do philosophy.

Developing the Program
History
General Choi spent a lot of time and effort developing
the techniques and teaching them around the world. While
he felt there were many Masters who were qualified to
teach these techniques, he regretted that none were
qualified to teach the Do.
From General Choi's last book "Moral Guide Book", a
collection of maxims and teachings of ancient wise men:
...the only way one can truly achieve the status as a man of
Taekwon-Do is to go beyond the technical aspect and establish
a lifestyle based on a solid code of morality.
Our Founder left us a valuable resource:
The Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do.

History
When the members of the current ITF team were first
elected in 2003, one of the top priorities was to teach the
whole Taekwon-Do, the Do as well as the techniques.
We wanted to test the IIC participants' interest in
learning and teaching the Do, so that same year a
session about the Do was offered at the IIC in Cologne
(Germany).
Since that time, sessions about the Do have been
integrated into each IIC.

History
In 2003, Dr. Janel Gauthier (4th degree; a professor of
psychology) and Joliette Trân (5th degree; an occupational therapist)
accepted to work with me on this file. The goal of this working group
was to assess the state of the teaching the Do in the ITF.
Our analysis showed that:
A few instructors were teaching the Do on their own initiative, but
in many parts of the world it was not taught at all.
Many International Instructors did not have a thorough knowledge
of the Do.
The good news: Our research confirmed that many ITF
members were interested in learning about the Do.

The Process
Recognizing that Our Founder had left us a valuable
philosophy, we needed to emphasize the importance of
the Do and develop a program to teach it.
In 2004 a feasibility study was conducted.
In 2005 a working group was formed with the
mandate to develop the concept of the program.
The program is based on the Taekwon-Do philosophy
developed by Our Founder and is structured around the
five tenets, which he described as "a guide for all serious
students of the art".

The Process
A single module workshop on Self-Control was
prepared and presented in Benidorm (Spain) in 2006.
After that experience, the module was reviewed and
improved. We decided to offer a three-level program.
Now, at the beginning of 2009, the basic program for
teaching the Do – Level 1 – is ready; Levels 2 and 3 are
under development.

The Process
The Future:
The goal is to have Level 1 of the Teaching the Do
program fully integrated into the teaching of ITF
Taekwon-Do worldwide by 2012.

The Process
The members of the working group discussed
whether it is really possible to change the factors
that influence the way we act and, as a result, learn
to make better decisions.
We found scientific studies showing that it is
possible.
This scientific support encouraged us to continue
our efforts.

Factors that Influence the Way I Act
My Values
My ThoughtsMy Conscience
My Experiences
My Decisions & My Actions

Factors that Influence the Way I Act
Can I control the factors that influence the way I act?
Can I control the effects of:
- my values?
- my conscience?
- my thoughts?
- my experiences?
Yes. Research has proven that it is possible.
We can learn to develop and use personal "thought
filters" that will help guide our decisions and our actions.

Factors that Influence the Way We Act
Scientists have identified the parts of the human brain that control our
thoughts. With discipline and enough practice we can learn to control our
thoughts sufficiently to make better decisions.

Taekwon-Do Values
The Tenets
Courtesy
Integrity
Perseverance
Self-Control
Indomitable Spirit

Taekwon-Do Values
Courtesy – Ye Ui
Respect
Good
manners
Protocol
Kindness
Helpfulness
Loyalty
Empathy
Tolerance
Compassion
Concern about our environment
We express Courtesy by showing:
Examples:
- When attending Taekwon-Do classes, we follow the
dress code and the rules about behavior.
- We do not litter.

Taekwon-Do Values
Integrity – Yom Chi
Honesty
Accuracy
Transparency
Straightforwardness
Openness
and by:
being unbiased, and
recognizing potential
conflicts of interest.
We express Integrity by demonstrating:
Examples:
- We tell the truth.
- We would never use tricked boards for a breaking
demonstration.
It is essential that we avoid even the appearance of
impropriety.

Taekwon-Do Values
Perseverance – In Nae
A positive attitude
Commitment
Staying focused on a goal
Overcoming difficulties
"Bouncing back" after a failure
Perseverance is a process that requires:
Examples:
- After failing a test or grading, we continue to work hard to
prepare for the next try.
- We set reasonable goals, prepare action plans, adjust them
when necessary, and continue to work until we are successful.

Taekwon-Do Values
Self-Control – Guk Gi
not being a slave to our emotions,
desires, and impulses,
analysing our thoughts,
acting according to our principles.
We demonstrate Self-Control by:
Examples:
- We always think about the consequences before acting.
- In a conflict situation, we remain calm.
We demonstrate Self-Control by:
Without Self-Control, it would be impossible to
demonstrate the other four tenets.

Taekwon-Do Values
Indomitable Spirit – Baekjul Boolgool
refusing to compromise our principles,
standing up for justice,
overcoming our fears,
being courageous,
taking reasonable risks.
Examples:
- We make the right decision, even if it is unpopular.
- We meditate on the lives of those who have shown
indomitable spirit and try to imitate them.
We demonstrate Indomitable Spirit by:

Why teach the Do?
The Taekwon-Do Tradition
the respect for authority,
the emphasis on loyalty to the masters,
the importance given to rules of protocol.
The Korean military heritage is still strong in
Taekwon-Do:

Why teach the Do?
Does Protocol = the Do?
Some instructors believe that teaching the Do means
simply teaching the rules of protocol.
But ITF students need to be taught more than the actions
and the words required by the protocol. They need to
learn the meaning of protocol and why we follow protocol.
Taekwon-Do protocol is thoroughly explained in Level 1.
It is essential that all ITF students everywhere understand
the relationship between the Do and protocol.

Why teach the Do?
How to Improve
With a better comprehension of the Do and how it should
be applied, both instructors and students will become
more aware and vigilant.
As all our members become better educated about the
Do, the ITF will continue to evolve as a democratic
organization.

Why teach the Do?
The Do = Common Sense
The Do is not just an Oriental concept.
It teaches universal values.
The Do is the law of common sense.
Our goals for teaching the Do and for introducing
democracy in the ITF are the same:
Everyone will show respect for one another;
Everyone will be treated fairly and with justice.

Benefits of teaching the Do
Benefits for Our Students
Our students will become strong both physically and
mentally.
They will develop good basic values and those values will
guide them to make wise decisions.
Applying the Do will help students to be successful and
have a happy life.
Learning about the Do will prepare them to become good
leaders.

Benefits for Our Students
For example:
Without an understanding of the Do, a student who
reaches a high-level black belt degree or who wins
frequently in competitions could develop a big ego,
becoming arrogant or disrespectful to others.
By applying the Do, the student will understand the
importance of remaining modest and humble.
The student will start to develop wisdom and become a
good role model for his or her fellow students.

Benefits for Our Instructors
By learning and teaching the Do, Instructors will better
understand the complete Taekwon-Do, not just the
"Taekwon".
They will set a better example for their students.
Instructors will be justly proud of being able to guide their
students on the right way to a happier life.
Other martial arts organizations may not teach the Do in
a structured way, so teaching all facets of Taekwon-Do
can give ITF Instructors a marketing advantage.

Benefits for Our Instructors
For example:
If they do not apply the Do, some high-ranking Instructors
and Masters could become overconfident and misuse
their position.
The principles of the Do require showing respect for
everyone, regardless of age or rank.
Instructors who apply the Do are more likely to use their
position to have a positive influence on their juniors who
will become better Taekwon-Do students, better citizens,
and be able to reach their goal of having a happier life.

Benefits for the ITF
By teaching the Do, the ITF sets itself apart from the
martial arts that teach only techniques.
Members who apply the Do will become loyal to the ITF.
In the long term, teaching the Do will help to develop
potential leaders at the various levels within the ITF and
of its affiliated organizations.

Benefits for Society
There are many serious social problems today. Many
people, even those who are very wealthy, are not happy.
By teaching the Do, we help people to have a happier
life.
In many countries citizenship is no longer taught in the
education system. By teaching the Do, the ITF can fill this
need.
We will be producing good productive citizens and future
leaders who will have a positive influence on others.

Teaching the Do
How We Have Been Teaching the Do
We have been using the official ITF Website to introduce and
teach the Do because it is accessible and can be updated
frequently. The sections of the Website we are using to teach the
Do include:
The Way of Life – new quotations, sayings, and proverbs
(every two months);
The Do You Know? contests (three times a year);
The President's Messages (every three months in 2009);
Plus the recently-added Kid Kicks (every two months) for our
younger students.
Also on the ITF Website:
Information about Our Founder, the history of Taekwon-
Do, the Taekwon-Do philosophy, and much more.

Teaching the Do
How We Will Teach the Do in the Future
Levels 1 and 2 will be offered to all instructors.
The structure of the program is based on the five tenets.
Students will learn how to have a happier life by following
the ITF Taekwon-Do way of life.
The Do is like a roadmap. Someone else can trace the
right route on the map for you, but you still have make the
efforts necessary to reach your destination.
To teach the Do successfully, Instructors must have a
positive attitude, an excellent knowledge of the Do, and
be highly motivated to help their students progress.
The goal is to offer Level 1 worldwide by 2012.

The Program
Three Levels
Level 1 – What is the Do?
Level 2 – Self-improvement: Applying the Do in our lives
Level 3 – Leadership Development

The Program
Level 1 – What is the Do?
All students are encouraged to ask questions
and participate in the discussion periods,
practical demonstrations, and role-playing
situations.
For Level 1, the goal is to help participants to learn how to
teach the Do.
This Workshop is for red and black belt holders.
It takes place over two days, for a total of 12 hours:
•2 hours about the history of the Do and the benefits of
applying its principles in our lives,
•7.5 hours about the tenets (1.5 hours for each),
•2 hours about the rules of protocol.

The Program
Level 2 – Self-improvement: Applying the Do
This Workshop is offered to Instructors who have taken
Level 1.
The Workshop lasts one week (five full days).
Participants will learn how to cultivate the five Taekwon-Do
tenets in their lives and how to teach the Do to their
students.
Teaching methods will be explained and teaching tools
provided to the participants for use with their students.

The Program
Level 1 – Teaching Program for White & Yellow Belts
COURTESY INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE
SELF-
CONTROL
INDOMITABLE
SPIRIT
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
Politeness
Kindness Honesty
Positive attitude
Commitment
Benefits Benefits Benefits Benefits Benefits
Application: Application: Application: Application: Application:
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The Program
Level 1 – Teaching Program for Red & Black Belts
SELF-
CONTROL
INDOMITABLE
SPIRIT
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
Helpfulness Accuracy Goal-setting
Emotional
control
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The Program
Level 2 – Self-Improvement by Applying the Do
SELF-
CONTROL
INDOMITABLE
SPIRIT
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
What it is
What it is not
Gratitude
Thankfulness
Loyalty
Straightforwardness
Openness Action plans
Cognitive
control Assertiveness
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The Program
Level 2 – Cultivating the Tenets
SELF-
CONTROL
INDOMITABLE
SPIRIT
Determinants Determinants Determinants Determinants Determinants
Strategies to
develop courtesy:
using empathy,
self-observation,
etc.
Strategies to
develop integrity:
considering the
consequences,
etc.
Strategies to develop
perseverance:
positive attitude,
commitments,
goal-setting,
action plans,
etc.
Strategies to
develop self-
control:
considering the
consequences,
focusing attention,
overcoming
emotions,
employing critical
thinking,
etc.
Strategies to
develop indomitable
spirit:
through exposure to
models,
considering the
consequences,
assertiveness.
resisting peer or
social pressure,
etc.

The Program
Level 3 – Leadership Development
In addition, there will be "How to Teach Leadership"
seminars for Instructors who want to teach basic
leadership skills to their young students.
Level 3 will consist of Leadership Camps designed to
develop future leaders for the ITF and its affiliated
organizations. These sessions will be adapted to meet local
needs.
Participants must have completed Levels 1 and 2 and be
able to show that they are striving to apply the Do in their
lives.
The goal of Level 3 is to prepare participants for a
management career in ITF Taekwon-Do.

The Program
Tools for Teaching the Do
 the Tenets
 the Student's Oath
 written anecdotes, vignettes
 illustrated stories
 interactive stories
 crossword and other puzzles
 sentence completion exercises
 problem solving activities
 drawings to color or complete
 readings
 others

The Program
Teaching Methods & Strategies
 Use a wide variety of methods,
 Learn as much as possible about the tools listed on the
previous slide,
 Work to apply the tenets in your own life,
 Work hard to become good models for your students,
 Praise your students when they make wise decisions
and whenever you see they are making progress in
applying the Do.

The Program
Method of Evaluation
The method of evaluation for this program is still being
developed. It will be based on specific criteria.
The student's knowledge of the Do will be tested.
The student will be expected to explain how the Do should
apply in a specific situation.
The student will have to give practical examples of how he
applies the Taekwon-Do philosophy in his life.
This evaluation will be an important factor for promotion to
higher rank.
Research will be done to assess the effects of
teaching the Do on our members and the
communities in which they live.

Three Recommended Books
Character Strengths and Virtues
published by Oxford University Press and the American
Psychological Association
Why Good Things Happen to Good People
by Stephen Post, Ph.D. and Jill Neimark
"Doing good is good for you."
True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership
by Bill George and Peter Sims
"There is no single right way to become an ideal leader, but you
need a leadership plan."

The Program
Moving Forward
In our research we identified many interesting books about
various philosophies and how to become authentic leaders.
Not surprisingly, there are many similarities between the
characteristics they describe as essential for a leader and the
values we teach based on the Taekwon-Do tenets.
The working group has received numerous positive reactions
to this initiative, particularly from our Instructors. We are
gratified by the interest and support expressed.
The pertinence and value of a program to teach the Do have
been established, and we are now moving forward with the
implementation of the program.

Concept 1:
How to define a happy life
How to achieve a happy life

Concept 1:
Defining & Achieving a Happy Life
One definition of happiness is:
a long-term state of mind based upon an accurate perception of reality.
Does your definition of a happy life include:
a balanced life =
work & study + family & friends + leisure & rest;
a healthy mind in a healthy body:
good nutrition, physical activity, having fun;
meaningful work;
a healthy environment;
living in harmony and enjoying time with family and friends?
Remember: Your definition of a happy life depends on your
individual circumstances. It will evolve as you grow older.

Concept 1:
Defining & Achieving a Happy Life
Understand the difference between pleasure and
happiness.
 Pleasure is instant gratification.
 Pleasure is caused by certain sensations and a specific
situation.
 Pleasure is generally short-lived.
 Pleasure can be deceptive.
Example:
Taking certain drugs may deliver a powerful sensation of
pleasure for a short time, but this is deceptive.
The reality is that taking drugs will never make you truly happy.

Concept 1:
Achieving a Happy Life
To achieve happiness, we need to:
 Respect the fundamental human values of peace,
freedom, and justice,
 Develop a strong, authentic personality,
 Adopt a positive attitude,
 Develop competency in many areas,
 Find a good balance between work, family, leisure, and
rest.

Concept 2:
How to use a Project Management
approach to become a successful
and happy person

Concept 2:
Using a Project Management Approach

Concept 2
The Tree
The Tree illustrates how to apply a Project Management
approach to develop your life project.
By adopting a healthy lifestyle and working on each of the
elements, you will increase the likelihood of finding
success and happiness.
The roots and trunk represent who you are.
The leaves represent the actions you take to achieve your
life project.
The star represents success and happiness.

Concept 2 – The Tree
The Roots = Your Way of Life
 your physical and mental health,
 your philosophy,
 the environment you live in,
 your competencies and experience,
 a balanced life.

The Trunk = Your Spirit
 your goals,
 the ethical rules you follow (human values),
 team spirit,
 your vision,
 wisdom.

The Branches = Working for Success
 your attitude,
 your strategy,
 your life development project,
 your personal and
financial resources,
 the timing.

The Star = A Successful & Happy Person
YOU

Conclusion
ITF students are interested in learning about the Do.
We have developed the concept and the program for
teaching the Do.
We are very pleased with the progress so far.
The teaching of Level 1 will continue to spread.
Our teachers will be consulted for their comments and
suggestions about the program, which will be adapted as
necessary.
Teaching the Do will continue to be a priority for the ITF.
We have a responsibility to ensure that the
teaching of the Do takes its rightful place
alongside the physical training of Taekwon-Do.

Thank you for your interest and attention.
Grandmaster Trân Triêu Quân
President of the ITF
tran.tq@tkd-itf.org

Learning & Teaching The Do

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