Empty Cup

Bring an open mind and an empty cup to training. When presented with new thoughts, philosophies, and techniques, keep an open mind, absorb the information, process it, and determine if it is useful to you. If it is useful to you, use it. If it not useful to you, remember it, but do not use it except when instructed to use it in class. Bringing an empty cup to class means you come with no preconceived ideas. For example, if you come to class with thoughts of another martial art style in your mind, you will be constantly comparing techniques learned in that style to those you are learning in Taekwondo. You may end up with a blend of the two styles, instead of one clear style. Blending styles is undesirable for a beginner. Store the previous style in your memory and, after years of training in Taekwondo, you may find that the techniques are interchangeable.

Be Courteous

Courtesy may be especially difficult for a beginner student. Many times, on the streets, in schools, and in the workplace, assertiveness is considered a personality strength, and courtesy is considered a weakness—no one what to be considered weak. Oriental traditions, such as bowing, seem subservient to most Americans. However, if one considers the bow as a greeting and sign of respect, similar to a handshake, it will seem more natural. If you are respectful and courteous toward Taekwondo, the dojang, the instructor, and fellow students of all ranks, it will lead to your demonstrating more respect and courtesy at home, on the streets, in school, and in the workplace. This in turn will make you more respectful and courteous in class—forming a circle of courtesy. As you become more confident in your Taekwondo abilities, you will find it easier to be courteous. When you do not have a personal need to "prove yourself," you will be more courteous, and less assertive.

Evaluate Yourself

Critically evaluate yourself. Look for what needs improvement and seek ways to improve it. However, remember that you are your own worst critic—you are usually doing much better than you think. Do not expect overnight success. If it were easy, everyone could do. Progress in Taekwondo is not always level and consistent. Some days you do well, some days you do not do so well. Progress comes in small increments until one day it all "comes together" and you feel like a true martial artist.

Learn the Basics

Sometimes fundamentals are overlooked in the haste to become a black belt. Perfection of the basics will help you more than training for high kicks. The discipline you gain from the process of perfecting the basics during training will be more useful to you than the techniques you learn from the training.

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