Kaleb Stier
Temporary Black Belt Test
Test 238
June 1, 2013
On August 17, 2010 my brother and I joined Jung’s Taekwondo Grinnell Branch. Mr. Forrest Gibson is my instructor. When we first started taekwondo our dojang was in a small 4-store strip mall. The dojang was relocated to a bigger building with Grinnell Sporting Goods. Some of the students and I helped Mr. Gibson move and set up the new dojang and clean up the old rental space. Later on I helped put in puzzle mat flooring, and I helped put in the new wooden sign that Mr. Gibson made.
The reason I joined taekwondo was, because I wanted to get some exercise, and meet new people. Taekwondo has helped me with self-discipline and self-esteem. It has also taught me to be courteous and respectful to other people. I have become less argumentative with my family, and don’t talk and disrupt my class at school anymore.
I do not consider people in my taekwondo class just classmates, they are my taekwondo family. The strong taekwondo family support is the main reason I stayed in taekwondo. This is very important to me, because I haven’t seen or talked to my father since I was nine. He has come and gone, in and out of my life and has never supported me. I look up to and respect Mr. Gibson for being a positive male role model in my life. He is very quick to offer mental and emotional support. He believes in me and will not let me give up. Mr. Andy Mobley has also been a strong figure in my Taekwondo family, he has offered emotional support and a lot of intelligent advice not only taekwondo issues but everyday life and school problems too. I admire his intelligence and strive to be as strong and caring man as he is.
On October 29, 2012 at the Jung’s Tournament I placed 2nd in forms doing palgwe six. While breaking I broke three boards. The 1st board I broke with a hammer fist. The 2nd board I broke with a front snap kick, and broke my 5th metatarsal in my right foot at the same time. I finished my board breaking after I felt a pop in my foot by not sitting my foot down and breaking the 3rd board with a side kick. I bowed to my holders and my judges and turned around to wait for them to score my break. Sitting down I held foot and waited until rest of the kids were done with their breaking. When they called my name I stood on my left foot and hopped on one foot to receive my 1st place medal. Mr. McDowell asked if I was okay. I told him I thought I broke my foot. He said you are still standing on it I am sure it’s fine. After being dismissed I thought maybe it isn’t broken and limped back to where my mom sat. She asked what I thought I would like to do. I said I wanted to stay and free spar so we iced my foot for a while. It continued to swell and bruised more and looked worse. We decided sparring wasn’t such a good idea and maybe I should go to a hospital to get an X-ray.
We went to the hospital and checked in at the front desk. They took me straight back to an exam room. The nurse came in and looked at my dobok and said so I guess you hurt yourself playing football? I looked down at my dobok. Then he and my mom started laughing. The doctor, physician’s assistant, and the x-ray tech also asked the same question trying to lighten my mood. After figuring out that my foot was broken they put a boot on me and gave me crutches.
We followed up with my podiatrist who told me it was not healing properly and I had to not bear weight on my foot for 2 months and I had to use a knee walker which is kind of like a scooter. When the doctor told me it wasn’t healing anymore and the end of the bone still had a crack in it I was terrified. I had to do physical therapy 3 days a week for 2 months.
When I returned to taekwondo I struggled with major anxiety attacks. I was afraid of jump front snap kick, flying side kick, and most of all I was afraid of breaking boards. I was scared that I would break my foot again. After a few classes I wanted to quit permanently. My mom had a talk with Mr. Gibson and he decided to sit me down and talk with me. He told me how when you have to sit around with your foot up your body gets used to being inactive and you just have to keep doing it. He also said if everyone gave up because they got hurt than they wouldn’t make it very far in life. So I put my dobok on and did class.
I postponed my temporary black belt test for six months, which now I regret. Now I can honestly say I struggled with my anxiety and decisions, but I made the right decisions to stay in taekwondo. This is my taekwondo story so far and it means a lot to me. It has shaped and molded me into the respectful person that I am today. It has been a long journey that has hardly even begun. I hope one day that my journey leads me to become as great of a grand master as Grand Master Jung. That is my life goal
