Tang Soo Do is not sustained by technique alone. Kicks, strikes, and forms are only the outward expression of a deeper discipline. What gives Tang Soo Do its enduring strength is its Tenets: Integrity, Concentration, Perseverance, Respect and Obedience, Self-Control, and Humility. These principles shape the practitioner not merely into a capable martial artist, but into a person of character—one whose life reflects discipline, restraint, and moral clarity.
For those who walk this path in faith, the Tenets align naturally with Biblical truth. They guide how we train, how we lead, how we endure hardship, and how we conduct ourselves when strength fades and humility must grow.
Integrity
Integrity is the cornerstone of all martial virtue. Without it, technique becomes reckless and rank becomes hollow. Integrity demands honesty in training, sincerity in leadership, and consistency between words and actions.
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” — Proverbs 10:9
In both faith and martial practice, integrity is doing what is right when no recognition follows and remaining truthful when compromise would be easier.
Concentration
Concentration is disciplined focus—mind, body, and spirit unified in purpose. In Tang Soo Do, it is the ability to give full attention to each movement and moment. In life, it is resisting distraction and remaining anchored in what matters most.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” — Isaiah 26:3
True concentration is not tension, but clarity. It reflects a centered life, attentive to instruction and aligned with purpose.
Perseverance
Perseverance is forged through difficulty. Tang Soo Do does not promise ease—it promises growth through endurance. Injuries, setbacks, and aging all test this tenet, revealing whether one trains for ego or for life.
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” — Hebrews 12:1
Faith teaches that perseverance is not wasted effort. It builds wisdom, patience, and depth—qualities that cannot be rushed or replaced.
Respect and Obedience
Respect and obedience preserve the lineage and integrity of Tang Soo Do. Respect honors instructors, elders, and tradition. Obedience cultivates humility, patience, and trust in proper authority.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3
In faith, obedience is not submission to ego, but alignment with wisdom. It teaches that true strength flows from order, not rebellion.
Self-Control
Self-control is the mark of true mastery. Tang Soo Do teaches not how to unleash power, but how to restrain it. Control of temper, emotion, and impulse distinguishes the disciplined from the reckless.
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” — Proverbs 25:28
Self-control reflects maturity—strength governed by principle rather than impulse.
Humility
Humility is the highest of the Tenets. It guards against arrogance and keeps the practitioner teachable, regardless of rank or experience. No matter how long one trains, there is always more to learn.
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” — James 4:6
In both martial arts and faith, humility is not weakness—it is clarity. It acknowledges that all skill, endurance, and opportunity are ultimately gifts, not possessions.
Living the Tenets as a Calling
The Tang Soo Do Tenets were never meant to produce fighters alone. They exist to form individuals of faith, discipline, and character—capable of standing firm in adversity and remaining grounded through every season of life. When physical ability changes, the Tenets remain the same. In many ways, they grow stronger.
To live Tang Soo Do faithfully is to carry these principles beyond the dojang, trusting that integrity, perseverance, self-control, and humility will outlast strength, youth, and rank. This is the true legacy of the art—and the higher calling it demands.