The goal of sports is winning and outperforming others. The goal of martial arts is internal perfection with a balance between mind, body, and social skills. Martial arts improves oneself and cultivates character. Sports are governed by equipment, place, and age limits while martial arts is not.

Tae Kwon Do has the benefits of a group activity (socialization, fun, friendships, teamwork, ect.), but it is really an individual activity. No one falls behind, because there is no set time schedule. Students are not in competition with anyone. They learn and progress at their own pace. Classes are divided by age, not belt level. And, there is never any pressure to test. Students are first given small goals of earning their tapes, and then a larger goal of belt promotion. The long-term goal is achieving a Black Belt. This way, students are always moving forward and have a sense of accomplishment that keeps them motivated. This motivational approach, along with all of its values, is what makes Tae Kwon Do so different from other sports and activities.