Years ago, I used to partake in the art of Tae-Kwon-Do. I’ve only recently got back in touch with some old sparring partners and reminisced about the old days of training, sparring, grading and generally having a good time. Our old instructor on the whole was a good one though his strictness around payment up-front regardless of whether you trained or not and this coupled with added pressures of work commitments during my days at British Telecom meant that eventually something had to give … what has this to do with CIPSI I hear you ask … well, CIPSI (pronounced SIP-SEE) is the Acronym for the 5 tenets of Tae-Kwon-Do:
– Courtesy
– Integrity
– Perseverance
– Self Control
– Indomitable Spirit
… These came to mind again a couple of weeks ago when I was meeting someone for the first time and in chatting found out he was a TKD coach and that his children also practised TKD. Despite being in a different faction (don’t get me started on this) of TKD they still, almost religiously knew the 5 tenets as laid down by the founders.
In later years, my children too, have practised TKD for a short time though I’m not sure whether they remember the tenets as well as I do (as I’d had them almost drummed into me), however, I do believe that they are guided by these tenets to a certain amount through us as parents as, regardless of whether you practice TKD or not, they are important facets to life in general.
The reason this came to mind and in particular the first 2 tenets, Courtesy and Integrity, was due to recent experiences during my work travels:
– ‘Courtesy’: It still amazes me when I’m on the Tube in London and I get up through ‘courtesy’ to let a lady or older person sit down, the amount of odd looks you get for doing it yet I find this a natural thing to do … is it the way these people have been brought up or is it the ‘London’ way?? … to me, it’s Simple Common Courtesy! ‘Integrity’: has been instilled in me throughout my life i.e. to be honest and up-standing, etc and even through my work life as the firms I’ve worked for have generally seen
– ‘Integrity’: as an important aspect of each employee to the point of ensuring it is part of the company guiding principles … when you over-hear some industry competitors openly talking on a train about their work activities and their clients you need a level of integrity not to use the information you’ve effectively been handed on a plate!! (people really should be careful what they discuss in open areas).
– The other tenets too, have a potent influence though I suspect the TKD teachings were simply bringing home what I already knew and had already been taught by my parents when growing up.
Has the world really changed that much that simple tenets and/or ways of behaving have simply been brushed aside or altered to meet the 21st century or am I just seeing the world in a ‘glass half empty’ way?? I like to think that there are still good people out there and that they’re teaching their children the rights & wrongs and that I’m simply becoming more observant of the world around, therefore, seeing the good the bad and the ugly 🙂
© Trevor Flanagan
Trevor Flanagan - Writer/Author 