What Ji Do Kwan Is Not

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What Ji Do Kwan Is Not
	The Ji Do Kwan style of Tae Kwon Do does not emphasize tournament competition as either a component of or an end to training. It does not forbid students to enter tournaments if they so desire, but does not spend any class time pursuing that goal.
	Ji Do Kwan training is also not designed to teach the most immediately practical techniques for combat use. The long-term student will develop a formidible base of self-defense skills, but this is not the main focus of classroom time. Until the 20th century, Ji Do Kwan was studied by the Korean aristocracy, who learned this fighting art for spiritual as well as practical ends--similar in some ways to the training of knights in medieval Europe. The school encourages personal growth in many different areas including, but not limited to, means of self-defense.
	In other words, Ji Do Kwan does not offer quick solutions or a direct path to the above goals. Students striving to become barroom brawlers or to accumulate a wall of trophies should probably seek their training elsewhere.
	In fact, this martial art does not offer the easy way to anything. The journey is challenging for anyone, even athletes, dancers, martial artists, or others with a base of physical fitness or movement experience. It is not a casual hobby or a way to cross-train for a sport. Students need not dedicate their lives to Ji Do Kwan, especially at the beginning of their training, but it is impossible to reach advanced levels without a sustained, significant commitment of time and effort.
	But this does not mean that the Way is reserved for physical elites. Many people begin their study with moderate talents but become powerful martial artists through dedicated practice. The only requirement is a sincere willingness to explore one's physical, mental, and spiritual limits while learning vigorous techniques of self-defense.