Taekwondo by Doug Cook

Author:Doug Cook [Doug Cook]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781594392054
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Published: 2016-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Stress in the Martial Arts

Stress for taekwondoists can be defined as a function of the expectations we impose upon ourselves in response to a challenge. This is why I often find it comical when martial arts schools unequivocally promise the hope of stress-reduction in their advertisements. Certainly there is something to be said about the release you feel when punching and kicking targets after a particularly trying day. Working up a good sweat as endorphins course through the bloodstream is undoubtedly a potent elixir for blowing off steam, but represents the extent to which many busy people are willing to go in an effort to purge pent up anxiety. Admittedly, schools flying the martial arts banner focus on this type of physically-intensive program with great commercial success. However, the aerobic workout you receive during a class of this nature reflects only a small portion of the traditional taekwondo curriculum. The sign over the door of these establishments should more accurately read something along the line of Kick Aerobics or Tae Boxing rather than Taekwondo.

At this point it should be noted that anything worth doing has the potential of producing a modicum of stress, which comes in many flavors and just as in the case of good and bad cholesterol, there is good and bad stress. For instance, the tension students recall experiencing during their first date is significantly different from the anxiety that is part and parcel of a visit to the dentist. Likewise, the anticipation we feel prior to leaving for an extended vacation is different from the frustration that frequently accompanies living with our in-laws! Challenges that stimulate the mind, body, and spirit, while forever elevating the consciousness of the individual, can generate an entirely different brand of stress. Attaining the peak of some great mountain, giving the perfect musical performance, publishing a book, receiving a doctorate, and, yes, earning a black belt through the sincere study of traditional taekwondo, all fall into this category, proof positive that quests rewarded by a great sense of achievement routinely exact their cost and take their toll.

Clearly, for those seeking nothing more from their training than an adrenaline-filled, heart pumping workout, the stress relief associated with a martial-oriented aerobics program is instantly gratifying but leaves the spiritual and philosophical components of the martial arts largely ignored. Yet there are those noble few who seek authenticity in parallel with self-enrichment through the practice of traditional taekwondo regardless of the depth and complexity of the challenges presented.

Take, for instance, the performance of poomsae, which represents the essence of traditional taekwondo or any classical martial art for that matter. No doubt, learning a new form, refining it, and memorizing its tactical intent can be a demanding enterprise particularly if it is taken seriously and approached with diligence. Multiply this challenge by the number of poomsae a black belt is expected to possess, regardless of heritage, and you can appreciate the level of stress associated with this prospect. Think of it: A 1st dan WTF-stylist

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