Moreover,

through the application of the traditional forms, or poom-se,
practitioners learn to defend themselves against opponents
attacking from various directions thus cultivating agility, focus
and strength. In addition, taekwondo has the ability to challenge
the mind while nurturing the spirit through a ritual of disciplined
practice; perseverance and patience are inculcated as the
student moves through the ranks and develops advanced skills.
With the above in mind, it is essential, therefore, that we as
martial artists look beyond the modern, competitive aspects of
taekwondo in an effort to uncover the treasures that await
through a holistic program of comprehensive training. In the past
this has proven difficult at best given the scarcity of written
material relating to the moral and philosophical components of
the martial arts. Having personally authored several books on the
subject, I have endeavored to map out the physical techniques of
taekwondo in conjunction with their philosophical principles.
Both students and colleagues alike have responded well to my
ix
work by finding great value in its pages.