Intercontinental Hapkido Federation Concepts
Intercontinental Hapkido Federation Concepts
1. Honor your country
2. Honor your parents
3. Protect your family
4. Protect the poor, weak and the young
5. Honor your master that has taught you
6. Honor your school
7. Never turn against or back stab your master
8. Never get involved with drugs, gambling or anything that violates the law
9. Promote Hapkido as a healthy lifestyle
10. Father your students like your own children
11. Never accept brides
12. Never issue certificates in exchange for money or favors
13. Never criticized others skills, school or art
14. Never bear grudge against those who turn against you, but congratulate them instead
15. Never bad mouth or use politics against your master for personal gain
16. Forgive those who have bad mouthed or done you wrong
17. Always follow the protocol
18. Promote Hapkido as a form of art and not a form of business
19. Accept and welcome other form of martial arts
20. Guide the lost souls the right way and into the right path
A few words on Respect and Obedience
In every martial art, especially Hapkido, there is knowledge that can be harmful to human life. To assume the responsibility of placing a dangerous weapon in the hands of a stranger - literally to make a lethal weapon of the body - is a sobering experience. One of the most crucial tests of character is whether the Hapkido student is humble enough to subordinate his or her personal ego to the rules of the Dojang and respect the gravity of their new powers. The martial arts are not a store bought item that you are entitled to just because you pay for the lessons. The responsibility is too great; the implication is larger than the individual.
The function of obedience in Hapkido is not subservience. Rather obedience allows one to learn the knowledge that a teacher has to offer. Because the teacher has greater knowledge and experience, his words and actions may sometimes be incomprehensible to the less knowledgeable. The student must practice obedience to his instructors and masters as the means of eventually bridging the gap between his knowledge and that of his master's. Obedience becomes the key to successful learning and smooth progress in Hapkido.
To be a great leader, one must first be able to be a great follower. If we cannot follow Grandmasters instructions how can we ever learn enough to become a leader? Leaders are made not born.