R-E-S-P-E-C-T

“I’m not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”  --- Jackie Robinson

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone respected each other and treated each other with kindness?

Jackie Robinson and Aretha Franklin nailed it...when it comes to RESPECT.

If everyone studied the Martial Arts and exemplified what it means to live a Black Belt Life, then I’m pretty sure our community and the world would be a better, safer place to live.

Respect is at the center of the Martial Arts and is at the foundation of everything we teach. It is the first principle new students learn and we encourage practicing respect every day, especially outside the Taekwondo school. Respect is the thread that is interwoven and holds the Tenets of Taekwondo (Integrity, Self-Control, Indomitable Spirit, Respect, and Perseverance) together.

Who and what do you respect?

In Taekwondo, we believe every student should respect their country, parents, family and friends, and every living thing in our environment. This is seen in the Eleven Commandments of Taekwondo:

When you live a Black Belt Life you continue the legacy of Taekwondo and its founding principles by demonstrating respect to everyone you come in contact with. And that includes respecting ourselves.

When we respect ourselves we only want what is good for our body, mind, and spirit. We eat healthy foods to nourish our bodies. We train to build strong muscles and become physically fit. We participate in learning to keep our minds sharp. And we learn to be at peace with ourselves and each other, to nurture a healthy spirit.

More on Self-Respect next week. Please look for my weekly blog every Monday providing insights on "Living a Black Belt Life" and please share this with your friends and family. Or even better, please come in and visit UMAC for lessons, summer camp, or our after-school program. 

Thank You!