2.) Mental Goals
___________________Confidence________________ __
Tang Soo Do is a mostly non-competitive sport. Students challenge themselves to personal betterment. Many goals are easily attained and build strong self-esteem. Our pride is the excellence of character in every student. Students gain confidence to make good choices and say "NO" when they should.
____________Proper Attitude & Discipline___________
Students learn that no-one is perfect. Even though our performance may not be perfect the important thing is that we apply our best effort toward our goals.
In Tang Soo Do we learn to have respect for others as well as ourselves. To be humble while having an indomitable spirit. In other words to reach our full potential with an inner strength that no one can take away, and to do it while maintaining our respect for others and their self esteem. We learn to exercise self-discipline in all situations, and to be encouraging to others.
___________Attentiveness & Concentration__________
Concentration is a tenet of Tang Soo Do and expected form advanced students at all times. When young people exercise their concentration and attentiveness it grows stronger along with their ability to maintain focus and control.
We help young people learn how to focus on the task at hand, and that working hard now will bring rewards later. Students are given reminders along the way such as; push-ups, stairs, or some other small exercise that is good for their bodies while encouraging them to remember when they need to stay on task or maintain control. Compliments are given frequently and promotions are easy to earn with the students own effort. The consistency of the program offers the students a very safe environment where they always know what to expect by any given behavior.
______________Respect & Responsibility ___________
Students are instructed in the proper etiquette used in the Dojang (studio). Much of this instruction is devoted to teaching proper respect of authority figures (parents, teachers, elders, etc.) as well as respect of ones self and ones peers.
Bowing is a sign of respect. It is a form of appreciation and not a form of worship. Students are taught to bow to instructors, one another, the flags of our countries, and martial arts association.
Students are taught that knowledge is power, and that when they are given the knowledge of how to defend themselves they also have a greater degree of responsibility to those around them.
They understand that they need to rise to a higher sense of self-discipline and responsibility because they have the ability to hurt others. In this area instructors are uncompromising. Any student that repeatedly uses unnecessary force on another will not be invited back to class. They are taught and expected to keep themselves from negative situations.
_____________________Leadership__________________
Students are slowly encouraged and taught how to take part in leadership during class and because of the skills students learn through the martial arts they become natural and trustworthy leaders. Tang Soo Do students are just as comfortable weather they are taking a position of responsibility or graciously receiving instruction. Beyond the training floor students are also coached in appropriate behavior out side the Dojang. Substance abuse, stress management, physical fitness, nutrition, personal achievement, and safety are regularly discussed to encourage students not only to make good choices for themselves, but to be strong respected peer leaders as well.
These objectives work together to help students toward achieving their own personal best. The goal of our Tang Soo Do instructors is to train students to find the leader within and to feel happy and healthy in body,
mind and spirit.
