Martial Arts America
WHAT TAE KWON DO MEANS TO ME
My Tae Kwon Do journey began in May 2006 when I decided to join my husband in the class at the Elkhart branch. I had listened to Russ talk for several months about how much he enjoyed it. After watching his first test in April, I decided to start the following month. I knew that I needed to increase my physical activity and thought that doing so with Russ would be an added bonus. It was also appealing to learn some self-defense techniques.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that Tae Kwon Do would require focus, attention, practice and perseverance. I am not the most coordinated person, so learning hand and foot techniques was (and still is) often a challenge. Physical activities do not come naturally for me. It has also been many years since I have intentionally jumped much less turn around at the same time. It takes me many attempts with new techniques before I am comfortable and confident with them and even then I still may not be doing them correctly. However, I have always been willing to work hard to learn something new and I always strive to do my best at whatever I do.
When I started, Tae Kwon Do class was time that was just for me. For many years I have volunteered in the schools and in my church with youth activities, music activities and others. I often found myself leading activities or being in charge of events. Tae Kwon Do was a different activity for me. I wasn’t in charge of anything except getting myself to class on time. I was more than ready for some “me time.” This feeling continued through the first several sessions as I appreciated and learned from the colored belts and black belts in my branch.
Then one night I realized that I would be asked to work with colored belts someday just like the senior colored belts worked with me. It was exciting to think about but also intimidating. I wondered whether I knew enough to teach others. Sure enough, a few months later I was asked to work with a yellow belt. Since then Tae Kwon Do has evolved into an activity that is both time for me and time to teach and help others. This has been a comfortable and natural transition and one that continues to evolve as my Tae Kwon Do journey progresses. I have also learned that to teach someone something, you must first really understand it yourself. Helping others in class keeps me both humble and honest as I continue to hone and develop my own skills. There is always and will always be something to improve upon.
Perseverance has been the tenet of Tae Kwon Do that has had the most meaning for me. Starting a martial art at 49 years of age after many years of inactivity required considerable perseverance in the early weeks and months of aching muscles and joints. As I continued, I also persevered through the usual assortment of minor injuries and the challenges of learning more complicated hand and foot techniques. Breaking boards has been the most challenging for me and a skill that I continue to develop and strengthen.
Tae Kwon Do has significantly improved my health and my overall physical condition. I have lost over 40 pounds since starting my journey. This weight loss also increased my self-confidence and improved my mood.
Tae Kwon Do helps me deal with stress in my life, especially stress at work. I can still hear Mrs. Warner’s voice telling me in the first few weeks of class that Tae Kwon Do was one place where it was okay for women to kick, punch and yell! There have been many classes since when these opportunities to kick, punch and yell helped me deal with stress in a healthy way. Some nights I have gone to class wondering whether I would be able to focus on Tae Kwon Do instead of the things that were causing stress in my life. In every case, I left class in a better mood, mentally relaxed, physically energized and glad that I had attended.
As Rick Warren, the author of A Purpose Driven Life wrote, “Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.” During the past several sessions, I have learned a similar lesson about Tae Kwon Do. Tae Kwon Do is much more about your character and your spirit than it is about your comfort, your physical skills or self-defense.
For me, Tae Kwon Do also means friends. Through Tae Kwon Do I have many new friends, I have existing friendships that have been strengthened by this new bond, and I have enjoyed renewed friendships with several individuals whose lives and activities had gone in different directions but we now find ourselves involved in a common activity again. Practicing a martial art together is a bonding experience that builds friendships and relationships as it builds people with strong characters.
I have always considered myself to be a polite person, but I believe I am even more respectful of others now. Specifically, I find that I say, “Yes, ma’am” and “Yes, sir” everywhere – not just in the dojang or when I meet classmates in the community. I use these phrases of respect at work, in the stores, and wherever I’m doing business in the community. I have noticed that when I show respect in this way, I receive respect in return. This is evident in the tone of other’s voices and direct eye contact. I also believe that I have received better customer service.
There are many individuals that I want to thank for being part of my Tae Kwon Do journey. My instructors, Mr. and Mrs. Warner, have always been patient and encouraging while also expecting my best efforts. I value their leadership, their friendship and their support. They have offered words of personal concern and support that touched me deeply.
Master Wells and Mrs. Master Wells have been powerful role models during my journey. Their strong standards and high expectations have pushed me to achieve more than I thought possible during my Tae Kwon Do journey. Their technical skills and their teaching styles continue to inspire me and provide valuable examples for my journey. I appreciate their support and their sincerity.
Each and every black belt has taught me something either by their example or by helping me one-on-one. As a group, the black belts have made me feel welcome at brown and black belt classes and offered constructive criticism. I remember being very self-conscious during my first session of brown and black belt classes and was very hesitant to initiate any conversations with a black belt. Getting to know them individually has helped me understand what it truly means to be a black belt. I hope to measure up to the high bars that they have already set for honesty, integrity and respect. My interactions with the black belts have certainly reminded me that actions speak louder than words and that my actions also speak loudly to others.
I also appreciate the help and friendship extended by many of the junior and teenaged black belts including Mr. Stoll, Mr. Appel, Mr. Kleinwort, Mr. Bice, Miss Kleinwort, Mr. Spencer Cory, Mr. Gavin Cory, Mr. Brant, Ms. Stoner, and others. As teenagers, they could have chosen to ignore me — a middle-aged woman. Instead they have become my friends. Their actions are mature beyond their years and a credit to their involvement with Martial Arts America.
Grand Master Jung’s leadership and commitment to Tae Kwon Do made it possible for me to have this opportunity to experience the physical and mental challenges of this martial art and to push myself to improve both physically and as a human being. There are many lessons in life to be learned from Tae Kwon Do and I look forward to learning many more.
I particularly want to thank my classmates in the Elkhart branch – those that are active now and those that have been active at some point during my journey. Their encouragement, their friendship, and their support have contributed much to my progress. Each one has taught me in some way whether by directly teaching me skills, refining forms, or working on my sparring techniques.
I also want to thank my fellow testing classmates who have worked by my side during forms classes and during and after brown and black belt classes. Their nods, smiles and words of encouragement kept me going. I want to extend a special thanks to Jen Mathews for her friendship and her support as we worked together towards this milestone in our Tae Kwon Do journey.
My last thank you goes to my husband and my best friend, Russ. He encouraged me to get involved with Tae Kwon Do when he could have been selfish and kept this activity as his own. Russ encourages me when I am frustrated with myself, he makes me laugh when I take myself too seriously, he shares my aches and pains and the bottle of Advil, and he celebrates my successes with excitement and sometimes even blinks back a few tears of joy. I miss him when he is not in class with me and he says the same when I am on the road with work commitments. I cannot imagine having embarked on this journey without him. It has been a richer journey and a more satisfying one because we have shared it.
One of my co-workers recently asked me if I planned to stop practicing Tae Kwon Do when I became a black belt. I was speechless for a few seconds before I could reply. To the best of my memory, I said something like this, “No, the thought of stopping Tae Kwon Do has never crossed my mind. While the black belt is a goal and a visible sign of my progress, I go to class for much more than that. Tae Kwon Do has become a part of my life because I enjoy the physical exercise; I appreciate the attention and focus that it requires from me, and I value the friends I have made in class. No, I will not stop. Instead, I will continue so that I can get others excited about and involved in Tae Kwon Do so they can experience the many benefits it can bring into their lives.”
