Shape Up, or Ship Out

by Tammy Parlour, TKD & Korean Martial Arts Magazine, January 1997

Some years ago in Korea, there was a burglar who successfully stole from over 200 households. Eventually he was caught and under interrogation he confessed to the previous thefts.

He was asked how he chose a house. "Not by checking who was home", he commented, "and not by watching for when the family had a holiday". It turns out that he always looked outside to where the family left their shoes. He noticed how they were arranged and if neatly laid out, then he'd pass the house by. But if the shoes were untidy then he knew from experience that the family would sleep through any noise.

Every aspect of our lives mirrors other aspects. A shoddy dobok or sloppily tied belt reveals a student whose mind is cluttered and unable to concentrate. On the other hand, clean and well pressed uniforms reflect an attentive mind - one that will not only improve our hapkido, but also our lives!