The beginning student may ask: “Where does one obtain the power to create the devastating results attributed to Taekwon-Do?” This power is attributed to the utilization of a person’s full potential through the mathematical application of Taekwon-Do techniques.
Encyclopedia vol. 2 page 14
Thus begins the “Theory of Power” in the encyclopedia Taekwon-Do. The author of the theory is the creator of Taekwon-Do Gen. Choi. This theory is the foundation on which Taekwon-Do is built and developed as a modern martial art. “Theory of Power” is studied by all Taekwon-Do practitioners, explained by the Grand Masters at the International Seminar and has become a dogma!
Dogma (from Greek δόγμα, δόγματα – establish, affirm) means the doctrine of belief in a religion or a political system. The literal meaning of dogma in ancient Greek was “something that seems true.” These days, in English, dogma is more absolute. If you believe in a certain religion or philosophy, you believe in its dogma, or core assumptions. Dogma, once adopted, is accepted without question.
To what extent does the “Theory of Power” practically realize its goal: “using all human potential through the mathematical application of Taekwon-Do techniques.”?
To answer this question, we must first question and discuss the “Theory of Power,” which would have been declared as heresy, if Taekwon-Do had been a religion. But Taekwon-Do is a martial art and Gen. Choi was a military man, not a mathematician or physicist, which is a sufficient prerequisite for Theory of Power not to be perfect!
In 1965, Gen. Choi published the book Taekwon-Do. In it, “Theory of Power” contains four factors: Reaction Force, Concentration, Equilibrium, and Breath Control. Published in 1985, the Taekwon-Do Encyclopedia contains two other factors in the Theory of Power: Mass and Speed. Therefore, Taekwon-Do underwent serious development between 1965 and 1985.
The most interesting thing here is that with the “Theory of Power” Gen. Choi creates a paradox in which he plays a leading role! On the one hand, he argues that in order to fully explained, and mastered with understanding Taekwon-Do requires solid knowledge in mathematics and physics. On the other hand, Gen. Choi does not introduce a requirement for international instructors, masters and grandmasters for a level of knowledge in mathematics and physics.
Is Gen. Choi preferred mass practice over “mathematical application of Taekwon-Do techniques”? Time has given an answer to this question and today Taekwon-Do is widespread all over the world.
Taekwon!
