Tae Kwon Do

The real value
of martial arts study . . .
has nothing to do with
physical feats such as
brick breaking
[but]
in what the martial arts
tell us about ourselves:
that we can be much more
than we are now;
that we have no need of fear;
that are capacities for
energy,
awareness,
courage,
and compassion
are far greater than we have
been led to believe.
They tell us that all our
personal limits
can be transcended.
~Don E. Miller~

The Yin Yang, symbol for Taoism, is one of the oldest and best known symbols in the world, yet few understand its meaning. It represents a balance of opposing forces, though opposite, are complementary. The black, Yin, represents Earth, the feminine, dark, withdrawn, receptive and passive and things moving down and in. The white, Yang, represents Heaven, the masculine, bright, forceful and expansive, and things moving out and up. The dots in both symbolize that there is a little of the opposite force in each.

"Yin Yang" exist in everything. Yin Yang is profoundly illustrated in nature: the great calm before and after the storm, the cycle of the seasons, day vs. night, etc. You may have heard some psychologists mention a person’s "dark side" or the shadow self. In Hatha Yoga, the physical branch of yoga, Ha means Sun and Tha means moon, representing again, the balance of opposing yet complementary forces.

Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy that believes in living simply and in harmony with nature. Taoists typically studied such things as meditation (Tai Chi and Chi Gung are moving mediations), herbalism, martial arts, diet, and medicine. The Taoists believe that they could achieve inner clam, improved health, and great martial power by pursuing a strict diet, a meditation regime, and going with the flow. "Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river," stated Lao Tse, founder of Taoism.

Though they might seem unconnected, study of these topics will lead to self-improvement on a mental (mind), physical (body), and spiritual (spirit) level. The result being a more complete, balanced individual, as represented by the Yin Yang symbol. Many ancient eastern philosophies and practices, such as Taoism and yoga, have a lot to offer we Westerners and many today are turning toward these practices for greater peace of mind, health, and well-being.

"Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river."