The Newman School is proud to offer students the Korean Martial art jidokwan taekwondo: (tae "foot," kwon "hand," do "way/art of") means "the foot-hand art," "the way of the foot and the hand," or--translated more freely--"the art of kicking and punching." Taekwondo has its roots in native Korean subak ("punching and butting") and taekyon ("kicking and punching").
Taekwondo is several things at the same time: it is a system of exercise, a sport, and a system of unarmed defense and counterattack. It is also a way of life, one intended to develop strength and discipline of mind together with strength and discipline of body, and confidence together with speed and grace. From such strength, discipline, and confidence derives better understanding of oneself, and thus greater respect for oneself and for others.
Taekwondo teaches one to make the best use of his or her strengths, and to apply them to best advantage. In practice, this often means to concentrate on applying one's strengths against an opponent's weaknesses, instead of worrying about one's own weaknesses.
A fundamental rule of taekwondo is to use the minimum force necessary to defend oneself from an opponent or assailant: one should do another human being no more physical harm than a situation requires.