The Vital Role of Meditation in Tae Kwon Do

by Master Doug Cook
TaeKwonDo Times Magazine November, 2012 
"Traditions" column
(appears in every edition)
  Observing a martial artist seated quietly in a meditative posture bears little resemblance to the skilled defender most assume him to be. Meditation, however, plays a vital role in preparing the taekwondoist, both mentally and spiritually, for the demands of self-defense, the benefits of ki development, and a potential leap in performance through the practice of visualization.
In order to act rapidly in the face of a threat that has escalated beyond verbal mediation, the mind and the body must reactrather than anticipate; this important principle lies at the core of traditional defensive strategy. Making the false assumption that an attacker will execute a punch when, in truth, his intention is to kick, is certain to result in severe injury to the defender. To appreciate the value of meditation as it applies to this component of self-defense, one needs look no further than the stillness of a serene pool of water reflecting the image of a full moon. Because the surface is unbroken by ripples, the image is pure and undistorted.  The mind of the martial artist can be conditioned to act in a similar fashion. Through the sincere and diligent practice of meditation, the taekwondoist will develop an uncanny ability to react to an unprovoked attack rather than anticipate a potential false move. How is this possible? Subscribe to TaeKwonDo Times Magazine to read entire column