This past weekend, I had the privilege of visiting Motorvation Martial Arts Academy in Chesaning, and I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible effort, spirit, and heart that was shown by their students.
Everyone did an amazing job.
There is something special about watching students step onto the floor and give their best. Not perfect. Not fearless. Not without nerves. But with heart. That is what martial arts is built on. It is built on people showing up, trying hard, learning through discomfort, and becoming stronger because of it.
A special shoutout goes to Gavin, who knew his Basic Action in Korean. Well done. That takes study, focus, and pride in the art. Those little details matter because they show respect for the tradition we practice and the effort it takes to grow inside it.
I also want to give a huge shoutout to Kyo Sa Nim Ward. Fantastic job, sir. The instruction, leadership, and heart built into your dojang were very clear. A school reflects its instructor, and what I saw this weekend was a group of students who are being guided with care, discipline, and purpose.
The Roots of Martial Artistry
In Soo Bahk Do & Tang Soo Do: Volume 1 by Hwang Kee and H.C. Hwang, Chapter 1 begins with “The Principles of Martial Artistry.” On the referenced page, the book introduces the Five Doctrines of the Hwa Rang Do, the warrior youth of the Silla Dynasty in Korea.
Those five doctrines are:
1. Be loyal to one’s country.
2. Be obedient to parents and elders.
3. Honor friendship.
4. Face combat only in justice and with honor.
5. Never retreat in battle.
These principles are not just historical footnotes. They are part of the moral foundation that helped shape the martial arts we practice today.
When we talk about Tang Soo Do, we are not just talking about kicks, punches, forms, and self-defense. We are talking about character. We are talking about how we carry ourselves. We are talking about how we treat our families, our friends, our instructors, our students, and our communities.
The Hwa Rang spirit reminds us that martial arts is not simply about becoming dangerous. It is about becoming dependable. It is about learning how to stand firm, act with honor, and live with purpose.
Anxiety, Confidence, and Happiness
One thought that came to mind this weekend is this:
Anxiety is infectious. The cure is confidence and happiness.
When you walk into a room, you can feel anxiety. It has weight. It radiates off people. It can grow quickly when everyone begins to absorb it, feed it, and carry it together.
Testing, performing, competing, or simply being watched can make students feel nervous. That is normal. Everyone feels it. Even black belts. Even instructors.
But martial arts gives us tools to work through it.
Confidence is built through knowledge, experience, and a sense of safety. The more we train, the more prepared we become. The more we practice, the more familiar the challenge feels. The more we trust our instructors, our classmates, and ourselves, the easier it becomes to step forward.
But confidence by itself can be tricky.
Confidence without balance can feel like walking a tightrope. One wrong step, one mistake, one unexpected moment, and it can shake us. That is why confidence needs something deeper beside it.
It needs happiness.
Happiness gives confidence warmth. It gives us inner peace. It reminds us that we are not training just to prove something, but to become something. It helps us enjoy the process, encourage others, and lift the energy of the room.
Just as anxiety can spread, so can happiness.
A smile, a kind word, a cheer from the sidelines, a student helping another student remember a technique — these things matter. They ease the pressure. They remind everyone that we are on this journey together.
That is one of the greatest gifts of a strong dojang. It becomes a place where people can walk in carrying stress, doubt, or nervousness, and leave feeling stronger, lighter, and more capable than when they arrived.
The Heart of a Dojang
A martial arts school is not measured only by how sharp the techniques look. It is measured by the heart of the people inside it.
Do students encourage each other?
Do they show respect?
Do they keep trying when they are nervous?
Do they celebrate the growth of others?
Do they carry themselves with humility and pride?
This weekend at Motorvation, I saw those things.
That is the beauty of Tang Soo Do. We may train in different dojangs, wear different doboks, and stand on different floors, but we are connected through shared principles. We are connected through effort, discipline, tradition, and the desire to become better.
The Hwa Rang values remind us that martial arts has always been about more than physical skill. It is about courage. Loyalty. Honor. Friendship. Perseverance.
And maybe just as importantly, it is about helping others find their courage too.
Final Thoughts
To the students of Motorvation Martial Arts Academy: well done. Keep training. Keep learning. Keep showing heart.
To Gavin: excellent job knowing your Basic Action in Korean. That kind of effort stands out.
To Kyo Sa Nim Ward: fantastic work, sir. The spirit of your students speaks highly of the leadership inside your dojang.
And to all martial artists reading this, remember this:
Confidence helps us stand tall.
Happiness helps us lift others.
Together, they can calm anxiety, strengthen the room, and build the kind of martial artists who make every dojang better.
Tang Soo!
Monday/ Tuesday: Erutrot
Wednesday/ Thursday: Ho Sin Sul
Saturday: Spring Gup Promotion @ Noon at Harmon Patridge Park, Father’s day cookout afterwards.
