The Minnesota Taekwondo Center Logo —
Based on one of the world's oldest mandalas (or symbols), the logo for the Minnesota Taekwondo Center combines several concepts. The circle is one of the most ancient symbols for the universe. The triangle stands for the unification of body, mind and spirit, a major goal when studying the martial arts. In the center is a small circle which represents the mind of humans, and the infinity sign represents our infinite potential. The logo was designed in 1987 for Dr. Haaland when he began Taekwondo Fitness Inc.
Chong Bong —
The characters Chong Bong, or Blue Mountain, have very strong symbolism also. The color blue has traditionaly been the color of Um (or Yin) in the Um/Yang symbol. (This is the symbol that appears in the center of the Korean flag.) In this context it emphasizes the strength of the mind, as opposed to the strength of the body. The word chong also has other meanings in Korean, including "dignity", "fearlessness" and "restraint".* Mountain has traditionally been used to represent a mind that is centered, stable and that understands its relationship to the universe.
Master Jay Hyon, the man who brought taekwondo to Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1965, created his own set of forms called "Chong Bong". He was Dr. Haaland's first taekwondo instructor. Today, we teach these beautiful and unusual forms to preserve our heritage. (An interesting note about the word bong. It's actual meaning is closer to "small mountain" or "mountain top". Dr. Haaland believes that Master Hyon was well aware of the real meaning when he named his forms, but used it to symbolize humility.)
The Korean Flag —
The Korean flag symbolizes much of the thought, philosophy and mysticism of the Orient. The symbol, and sometimes the flag itself, is called Taeguk, and it was first flown in Korean in 1882. Depicted on the flag is a circle divided equally and in perfect balance. The upper (red) section represents the Yang and the lower (blue) the Um, an ancient symbol of the universe. The curve that separates the blue section from the red represents our vital energy, or ki. These two symbols express the dualism of the cosmos: fire and water, day and night, and so on. The central thought in the Taeguk indicates balance and harmony. The three bars at each corner also express the ideas of opposition and balance, and are based on four of the ancient symbols of the I Ching — heaven, earth, fire and water. The meaning of the Korean flag can be simply captured in the word “balance”.
The United States Flag —
Also called the “Stars and Stripes” or sometimes “Old Glory”, our current flag was first raised officially on July 4, 1960, with the addition of Hawaii as our 50th state. The flag originates as the result of a resolution offered by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. It read, “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” The number thirteen represented the number of states in the union at that time. By 1795 it was evident that there would have to be a way to add additional states to the flag as they joined the union. Congress therefore ordered that the flag should have thirteen stripes, which now represent the original thirteen colonies, and that a star should be added to the flag on the July 4th following the admission of a new state. To state it simply, the stripes on the flag stand for the original thirteen colonies, and the stars represent each of our 50 states. Some say that using the color red symbolizes the blood that was spilled in establishing the country. The meaning of the U.S. flag can be captured in the words “freedom with justice”.
* From the United States Taekwondo Union Referee Textbook.
