Explanation of Taekwon-Do Tenets
Needless to say, the success or failure of Taekwon-Do training depends largely on how one observes and implement the tenets of Taekwon-Do which should serve as a guide for all serious students of the art.
COURTESY (Ye Ui):
It can be said that courtesy is an unwritten regulation prescribed by ancient teacher of philosophy as a means to enlighten human being while maintaining a harmonious society. It can further be as an ultimate criterion required of a mortal. Taekwon-Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of courtesy to build up their noble character and to conduct the training in an orderly manner as well:
1: Promote the spirit of mutual concessions.
2: Be ashamed of one's vices, contempting those of others.
3: Be polite to one another.
4: Encourage the sense of justice and humanity.
5: Distinguish instructor from student, senior from junior, and elder from younger.
6: Behave oneself according to etiquette.
7: Respect others' possessions.
8: Handle matters with fairness and sincerity.
9:
 Refrain from giving or accepting a gift when in doubt.
INTEGRITY (Yomchi):
In Tae Kwon-Do, the word ''integrity" assumes a looser definition than the one usually presented in a dictionary. One must be able to define right and wrong and have the conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt. Listed are some examples where integrity is lacking:
1: Instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper techniques to his students because of a lack knowledge or apathy.
2: Student who misrepresents himself by "fixing' breaking materials before a demonstration or examination.
3: Instructor who camouflages bad techniques with luxurious training halls and equipment.
4: Instructor who camouflages bad techniques withalse flattery to his students.
5: Student who request rank from an instructor or attempts to purchase it.
6: Student who gains rank- for ego purposes or the feeling of false "power''.
7: Instructor who teaches & promotes his art for materialistic gains.
8: Student whose actions do not live up to his words.
9:
 Student who feels ashamed to seek opinions from his juniors.
PERSEVERANCE (In Nae):

There is an old Oriental saying "Patience leads to virtue", "One can make a peaceful home by being patient for one hundred times." Certainly, happiness and prosperity are most likely brought to the patient person. To achieve something, whether it is a higher degree or the perfection of a technique, one must set his goal, then constantly persevere. Robert Bruce learned his lesson of perseverance from the persistent efforts of a lowly spider. It was this perseverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century. One of the most important secrets in becoming a leader of Taekwon-Do is to overcome every difficulty through perseverance.

Confucius said, "one who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance."
SELF-CONTROL (Gukgi):
This tenet is extremely important while inside and outside of the Dojang, whether conducting oneself in free-sparring or in one's personal affairs. A loss of self-control in free-sparring can prove disastrous to both student and opponent. An inability to live and work within one's capability or sphere is also a lack of self-control.
According to Lao-Tzu, "the term of stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else."
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (Baekjol Bulgul):

"Here lie three hundred who did their duty", a simple epitaph for one of the greatest acts of courage known to mankind. Although facing the superior forces of Xerexes, Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans at Thermopylae showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. This kind of spirit is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.

A serious student of Taekwon-Do will at all times be modest and honest. If confronted with injustice, he will deal with the belligerent without fear or hesitation, with lndomitable spirit, regardless of whosoever and however many the number may be. Confucius declared, "it is an act of cowardice to fail to speak out against injustice." As history has proven, those who have pursued their dreams earnestly and strenuously with indomitable spirit have never failed to achieve their goals.

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Taekwon-Do Tenets in Korean characters
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