It takes decades to understand Taekwondo

Master Funakoshi, the founder of modern Karate, is said to have stated "I have practiced reverse punch for over forty years, and I think that I am just beginning to understand it." Others have made similar statements through the years. If it takes you this long to understand such a minor concept as a punch, then you have a learning disability. It takes less time than this to become a brain surgeon. You may wait 40 years before you actually start to think about what makes a reverse punch work, but once you start, if you concentrate on it, you may understand and perfect it in a few days. Contrary to what many "masters" would like you to think, the martial arts only involve simple body movements and the brain's conscious and unconscious control of those movements. In the United States, Taekwondo is controlled by a small group of Korean Americans

At its beginning in the United States, Taekwondo was taught by mostly Korean immigrants. Therefore, the first Taekwondo organizations were founded and managed by Korean Americans. As in any new business endeavor, there were power struggles as school owners and practitioners differed as to how Taekwondo would be practiced and controlled. Many times the Korean America masters prevailed. Many non-Korean instructors have not forgotten these struggles, and have passed their prejudices on to their students who perpetuate them.

Taekwondo is a national art in Korean, taught in the schools, in the military, and as a college degree. As Taekwondo gained in popularity in the United States, many Korean masters came to America, not as a part of some conspiracy to control Taekwondo in the United States, but because they, like immigrants from other countries, saw an opportunity to better their lives. As the art has grown in popularity, there are now numerous Taekwondo organizations, controlled by masters of many national origins.

Conclusion

These are only a few of the misconceptions people have about Taekwondo. Taekwondo is not the only martial art that suffers from widespread misinformation. As martial artists, we need to accept that there are different ways to accomplish the same thing. One way is not necessarily better than the other ways. However, contrary to the current philosophy of accepting diversity and not being judgmental, there is a right and wrong way to do things. If something is wrong, it is wrong, no matter who supports it. However, one must be careful in making judgments. You must be able to justify your judgments with facts, not with only opinions or rumors.

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