Mat Chat: Indomitable Spirit

We have 5 tenets of Taekwondo. They include:

Courtesy 여의 ye-wee

Integrity 염치 yom-chee

Perseverance 인냬 ee-nay

Self-Control 극기 gook gee

Indomitable Spirit 백절불굴 beckjool boolgool

“Impossible to subdue or defeat.”

Define: Indomitable

They say that many qualities of the training we do on the mats translates to outside the dojang. The courtesy, perseverance, and integrity all build a strong character in our practitioners.

However, there will be times in our lives when there are opposing forces (be it bullies, bosses, co-workers, family members, friends, etc) who seek to undo our work or hinder us.

This is where indomitable spirit comes in.

When you are not defeated when someone throws you down in the schoolyard, and you continue to rise to your feet.

This is indomitable spirit!

To carry on in a sparring match, no matter how many attacks you’ve endured.

This is indomitable spirit!

Now Perseverance and Indomitable spirit may sound very similar on the surface, so let’s dive in and see if there are some deeper differences in the meaning of these two tenets.

Perseverance is better translated to patience, or even suffering for a long time to achieve something you desire. Being able to endure suffering in either mental or physical discomfort for a period of time patiently… that’s a great virtue.

To endure hardship without complaint.

This is a great quality for a martial artist, who is putting their body through some pretty gruelling training.

Now let’s look at Indomitable Spirit…

The best translation I’ve found is ‘Dauntless’ meaning overcoming difficulties with an undaunted fighting spirit.

The meaning behind indomitable spirit, is more that of a warrior that is unfazed by the odds and will continue fighting no matter what.

So now that we compare the two more closely, Perseverance being patience or enduring hardship without complaint; and Indomitable Spirit being an undaunted fighting spirit…

We begin to grasp the idea that they are not so similar after all.

Though both are within your power to obtain!

By training martial arts!

By training hard, and seeing you on the mats.👊