Hongik Ingan

Day 1 of Taekwon-Do ITF European Championship. The German national team is well prepared, motivated and ready for the competition.

The location is fantastic and works well for the team's morale and mood.

Performing patterns among ancient Greek statues: this is when two histories so nicely interweave.

When you think about the five tenets of ITF Tae Kwon Do, the image of a strong middle-aged Asian man, hardened by countless battles and years of gruelling training, may come to mind first.

What if I showed you that Perseverance (In Nae), Self-Control (Guk Gi) and Indomitable Spirit (Baekjul Boolgul) can just as well be found in yesterday's teenage girl who had to leave her home four years ago and, instead of getting lost somewhere in the nowhere of the world, made it to the cover page of one of the most widely-read international Taekwondo journals?

Forced immigration is a challenge on a different level entirely. To come out of it not just surviving but excelling takes exactly what the tenets describe: discipline, mental toughness, courage against the odds. In about three years, Nadiia Seliverstova — starting from zero, no prior Taekwondo experience — earned her 1st Dan, became a medalist at international championships, and this month appeared on the cover of Totally TaeKwonDo Magazine, Issue 206. Like so many Ukrainian children, she carried that level of dedication and commitment with her from day one. Looking at them you can better understand how their country is able to keep fighting against military aggression for so long, disproving the predictions of many western military analysts.

She didn't walk this path alone. She met Iurii Golovin — VI Dan ITF, a former Chief Coach of Dnipro region, now a refugee himself — who had to overcome serious injuries, and chose to return to the dojang and support these refugee kids, leading them by example and lived experience.

Iurii once told me: "I just realised it feels like I have a kind of mission here. To help our people and our kids to preserve our nation within them and to survive."

I would gently change one word in that. Not mission — Do. While "mission" implies an external order or assignment, "Do" in Eastern philosophy is an internal imperative: the action itself is the destination, transforming the person walking the path and everyone around them. Iurii is not completing a task. He is walking a Way — one that connects his past, his present struggle, and the future of these kids.

Look again at the image of Nadiia performing a tul and pause here — reflect on what move and tul it might be, and what she feels moving through it.

A possible answer can be found in our article which opens the latest edition of Totally TaeKwonDo.

"The Pattern Beneath the Pattern: Reading ITF Tuls as Personal and Historical Narrative" — by Pavel Tyan, Iurii Golovin and Alexander Hauptfleisch — is available now in Issue 206 at totallytkd.com.

The April issue (No. 206) of everyone's favorite Tae Kwon Do magazine is out now for subscribers (check your in-boxes) 😀

Not a subscriber but want the issue (and 11 more), then subscribe at www.totallytkd.com 😉

This page follows the "Hongik Ingan" project — an ongoing exploration of ITF Taekwondo as cultural heritage, philosophical practice, and a path toward healthy and meaningful living.

Hongik Ingan (홍익인간) is a 3,000-year-old Korean principle meaning “to broadly benefit all mankind.” It is the founding ideal behind this project. You can read about how it all came to life here: https://hongikingan.de/en/hongik-ingan-philosophy/

Here you will find reflections on ITF Taekwon-Do not only as a sport or martial art but also as part of Korean history and cultural legacy, updates on research and publications, and thoughts on Taekwondo as a lifelong practice — alongside broader updates on the Hongik Ingan project as it develops.

Follow if you practice ITF Taekwondo, are curious about Korean culture and philosophy, or simply want to read about what happens when martial arts and history are taken seriously together.

The content here reflects my personal perspective and does not necessarily represent the official position of any sport or cultural organisation.

As this is a private page, it will be actively moderated to keep the conversation focused and constructive. Comments that steer into political, ideological or other disputes unrelated to the spirit of the project will be removed.

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