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Message for the ATA SA Worlds 2015 Team

What I learnt as a spectator of Taekwondo over the past year is that it is a sport / a discipline that is built on certain principles. These principles are normally recited and enforced some time during the practice session.

Sometimes it sounds to me like a rushed, parroted recitation. However, those principles, whether rushed or not, does have an impact on the students, in class and in their lives.

The team going to the Worlds, in some way or another, is already living those principles. 

Allow me to go through 5 of them again:

1. First Courtesy (Ye Ui)

You have learnt to be polite to one another and to respect others. When you wear the Green and Gold the eyes of the world are on you as ambassadors of South Africa and ATA South Africa. Remember this first tenet of Taekwondo - Courtesy.
When you are waiting hours for yours competition slot, or sitting in the plane next to someone you do not know, or cramped in a car for hours on end, remember to be courteous!


2. Next Integrity (Yom Chi)

You may be confronted with situations are less than onerous. It is up to you to decide what is right and what is wrong, choose wisely.

3. What about Perseverance (In Nae)

Perseverance means having patience. One of the most important secrets of Taekwondo is to overcome every difficulty by perseverance. Confucius said," One who is impatient in trivial matters can seldom achieve success in matters of great importance." 
Be patient, be sure that it will be tested!

4. Do you have Self-Control (Guk Gi)

Without self-control, a Taekwondo student is just like any fighter in the street. 
Remember that the loss of self-control is disastrous in sparring, therefore concentrate. 
"Stronger is the person who wins over oneself rather than someone else", Lao Tzu.

5. Is an Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgool) visible in you?

You never gave up, even when the going was tough, your bodies tired, and you wondered yourself, "what am I doing here?"
A true student of Taekwon-Do will never give up, not even when faced with insurmountable odds. 
The most difficult goals can be achieved with indomitable spirit.

The goal you have before you now, is to survive the flight and get to Little Rock, and then when you are there enjoy the experience, even if you are attempting for a placing, enjoy the experience. 
Remember, this is still a sport to be enjoyed.

Then I want to leave you with this scripture from 1 Corinthians 9:25 - 27.

Run Your Race to Win

…25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. 
They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 
26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; 
I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 
27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, 
after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified


I pray God's protection over yuo while you are travelling, while you are training, while you are visiting places and while you are presenting South Africa on the floors. God Bless! Amen



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