February 8, 2014
TaeKwonDo: Why I Started - Why I Continue
I started TaeKwonDo in May Of 2012. I was pretty nervous at my first class. But I soon found out that everyone was very friendly and I had a ton of fun that first night. I think I had it a little easier than some people because I was not a total stranger to martial arts. For about two years I had studied many different martial arts at home, Karate, Muay Thai, boxing, many styles of Kung Fu, and of course TaeKwonDo. I had never taken a formal class in any of these but the fact that I already knew what a reverse punch and a front kick were helped tremendously. The only disadvantage I had when I started was that I had picked up some “bad” habits. (The correct way to do something in Karate was not the correct way to do it here.)
I started studying martial arts for self defense, but I soon found out they are much more than that. They are good exercise, good for building confidence, discipline, and for learning the values and tenets of TaeKwonDo. I do still practice TaeKwonDo for self defense, but what keeps me coming back week after week is that it is just a ton of fun. My favorite parts are free sparring and step sparring, and I also like to look for the applications to the Hyungs.
What I mean by applications is, instead of a block being a block and a punch being a punch, I like to look for other uses for these same movements. For example, the first two movements of Do San might be used as a block and counter punch. It could be used if your left wrist was grabbed from the side to either open your opponent’s middle up for the punch, or you could lock their wrist and punch, depending on which hand they grabbed you with. The block may also be used to attack the elbow if they were to grab your shoulder. These are just a couple of applications from a couple of movements, but there are multiple uses from every technique and set of techniques in the forms. Everyone has their favorite part of taekwondo and this is the aspect that I like to study.
A black belt is another step along the way, albeit an important one. The black belt itself is not that important, it is what it symbolizes that is important. A black belt stands for hard work, perseverance, indomitable spirit and time spent forging your mind and body through practice. Anyone can go online and buy themselves a black belt, but I think also that anyone will tell you that it is not the same. It doesn’t give you a fit body, doesn’t give you a focused mind, nor does it give you the ability to defend yourself or someone else should the need arise. A real black belt that is earned through hard training will do these things and more.
Whether I am awarded my black belt of not, nothing will change about my practice. I will still come to class and line up, teach lower belts, practice my free sparring and step sparring, and keep looking for more applications to the Hyung movements. But most of all I will just enjoy the practice.
Last but certainly not least I want to thank all of the people who have helped me out during these 21 months I have been practicing. Thanks to Grandmaster Jung for everything he has done; it is too much to list here. Thanks to Master Philips and Master Judy Bruner for being here almost every day, and for making the classes always fun but serious. Thanks to Master Ron Bruner for some spirited free sparring and everything he has taught me. Thanks to Master Ikeda for fine tuning me, and to Master Hager for yelling at me once in a while. I can’t personally thank everyone who has helped me, but I am truly thankful. I practiced for two years at home by myself, but I learned more in the first four months here with all your help.
Pilsung and Komsahamneedah,
