Teaching Seikido : Student-Instructor Relationship

Seikido combines traditional Asian philosophy, as described by General Choi Hong Hi, who founded modern Tae Kwon Do shortly after World War 2, with the latest practical teaching methods. Tae Kwon Do has for centuries been an integral part of the culture and heritage of Korean society. It is a martial art and sport, practiced on military training fields and in school gymnasiums, as well as private schools. As a martial art, it attempts to build a strong sense of justice, fortitude, and humility, with its strict discipline, physical conditioning, and mental training. It is the proper mental attitude which separates the true practitioner from the sensationalist content with learning only the fighting techniques of the art.

General Choi describes the relationship between student and instructor as based upon Confucian values, which teach that the child remains implicitly obedient and loyal to his parents throughout his/her life. From these values, the student learns that he/she is expected always to obey and respect his/her instructor. It is the instructor's responsibility to build good character, to teach students to be physically and morally strong, and to help contribute to a more peaceful world.

A dedicated and sincere instructor is an absolute necessity for any martial arts school; and the school can only grow and mature with equally dedicated and sincere students. Both instructor and student have a great responsibility to each other, and their relationship must be based upon mutual respect.

Part 2: A Guide for Instructors.