07/09/2026
Aaron, one of our senior Hapkido leaders in Auckland, who recently visited us, also recently wrote about what he has gained from many years of martial arts training.
What struck me was that he did not focus on kicking, throwing, joint locks or self-defence. Instead he focused on character.
Traditional martial arts have always placed a strong moral obligation on the person learning them. If we are teaching someone skills that can potentially injure another person, then we also have a responsibility to teach when those skills should, and should not be used.
That is part of the reason we have our seven tenets displayed prominently in our Dojang. But their value goes well beyond the dojang.
Indomitable spirit is getting back up when life does not go according to plan.
Respect is how we treat people, particularly those who can do nothing for us in return.
Discipline is doing what needs to be done consistently, rather than only when we feel motivated.
Courtesy matters most when we disagree with someone.
Self-control is being able to manage our own emotions and reactions before they manage us.
Honour is doing what we believe is right, even when there is no recognition for doing so.
And courage is not simply physical bravery. It can be speaking up, having a difficult conversation, making an unpopular decision, admitting we were wrong, or continuing when the easier option is to quit.
These principles may have developed within a martial arts context, but they are just as relevant in modern everyday life. They apply at work, at school, within families, in leadership and in the way we deal with other people.
The physical skills are important. But over a lifetime of training, they may not be the most important things we learn.
Thank you Aaron for allowing me to share the ideas behind his original post.
