Request for Interview

“A Sharp Blade dulls quickly

A Dull Blade is useless

Sharpening the Blade is a Warrior’s Life”

We only have one life and it cannot be relived. We have one chance to make our lives the best they can be or accept mediocrity.  No one can make us do what we do not want, but first we must know what we want. Our life is not our own. It belongs to humanity, the cosmos and to the Infinite. Whether one believes in a “God” or not, we all agree that we all live and we all die. The greatest gift of power that we have been given is our “freewill”, to choose our destiny and we have been endowed with consciousness, the intellect to use our capacity for rational thought to seek, think, reflect, and meditate in order to discover the Truth and do what is right. It is each individual’s choice to live meaningfully or to live subsequently; to live in harmony or to live in chaos; to live in freedom or to live in fear. 

The choice may be apparent, but difficult to make. To live without regret and blame, to be accountable and righteous one must have enormous courage, strength, and hope. This is why weak individuals cannot be moral as it requires one to stand for what is right even when it is against the status quo, the majority, and under persecution. Only the strong, not only in body but in mind and spirit can be righteous. However, righteousness without humility is conceit and arrogance, filled with folly, foolishness, and self-centeredness. Strength, Righteousness, with Humility through wisdom is Meekness and that is and should be our ultimate aim.

Tae Soo Do^®/Hwa Rang Do^® is only as important and valuable as each individual makes it. To those who accept and commit themselves in the philosophy of harmony of mind, body, and spirit, the reward is great.  To those who are bombarded with everyday trivial tasks that consume all of their life energy and time, they will miss the beauty of life. Thus, the first task at hand is to gain some sense of calmness by triumphing over your fears and doubts, which then you should begin to see reality unveiling before your eyes and with the renewed confidence and power you will transform yourself into a “Flowering Knight,” never retreating back into your shell for the delusions of comfort, but charge ahead with courage and hope to achieve true freedom by discovering the Truth, humbled by the reality that ultimately perfection cannot come from imperfection and something cannot come from nothing. Our life path as a Hwarang is our commitment to striving for perfection, knowing that it is unattainable and to create beauty and meaning from emptiness, although nothing is visible for we cultivate and forge our eternal human spirit.

These are essential questions you must ask before you decide to embark on this journey. Although you cannot know fully what Hwa Rang Do is truly about until you immerse yourself in it, these question has to remain in your forethought always as you travel in your journey of self-betterment and self-discovery. You must be able to say "YES" with conviction.

1. Can I abide by the Hwa Rang Do Meng Sae?
2. Do I want to become a leader who commands his/her own destiny?
3. Do I want to be self-evident, self-reliant and independently strong so that I may help others who are weaker or less fortunate?
4. Am I satisfied with the “status-quo” or do I want to participate in bettering humanity by self-betterment?
5. Are the values of loyalty, respect and honor important to me?
6. Can I self-motivate no matter what obstacles come my way?

For Experienced Martial Artists who want to become a Hwa Rang Do Teacher and/or current instructors of a particular martial art style:

If you desire to become an Instructor of Hwa Rang Do^® professionally, then these are the minimum requirements to get started.

• You must be able to answer the above questions with a resounding "YES"! If all you care is your own personal glory and all that you do is for the aggrandizement of yourself then this is not for you!
• You must be willing to drop all past titles and once you become a Hwa Rang Do Instructor you cannot teach any other styles or mention any other ranks.
• You must start from Tae Soo Do^® White Belt and successfully pass all promotional exams until Hwa Rang Do Black Sash 1^st Dan Degree in order to officially teach Hwa Rang Do. If you have good skills and had much training, then the Tae Soo Do^® program should be easier to advance. You can move ahead as fast as you would like with each promotional exam overseen personally by Grandmaster Taejoon Lee.
• You must first successfully complete the Tae Soo Do^® (TSD) Undergraduate Program before being considered for the Hwa Rang Do Instructor Program (HIP).
• Once the TSD Program is completed and you are accepted into HIP, you must accept and agree to all terms of the “Professional Member Agreement” as well as abide by all Bylaws, Rules, and Regulations of the Hwa Rang Do^® World Headquarters as well as the World Hwa Rang Do^® Association.

Request for Admission Interview:

If you have read and understood everything thus far and you are in agreement, then please write an essay on why you want to learn Hwa Rang Do^® and become a student of Grandmaster Taejoon Lee by answering the questions below. Please send it to this email taekuksa@hwarangdo.com with the subject title "Request for HOGU Admission Interview."

• Why do you want to learn Hwa Rang Do?
• Why do you want to be a student of Grandmaster Taejoon Lee?
• How would you describe yourself?
• What achievements are you most proud of?
• What is your biggest regret?
• What do you like to do in your spare time?
• What are your personal/professional goals?
• Describe your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you feel you can contribute to Hwa Rang Do?
• What do you feel you can contribute to the World?

Once you have successfully sent in all required forms including the Questionnaire and the Essay, you will be personally contacted by Grandmaster Taejoon Lee to set up your interview.

We wish you much success in your quest for self-betterment, Godspeed!

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