Two Rivers Martial Arts
My Tae Kwon Do Journey
If one would compare Tae Kwon Do to
climbing Mt Everest, this upcoming temporary black belt test is like reaching
the base camp. This test is not the end
of the journey, but the beginning. I look forward to beginning my real
education in the martial arts. Twenty
three years ago I started my training with Master Heintz at the old Black Belt
Academy. An injury followed by life
itself delayed my return to martial arts.
I was lucky enough to find Two Rivers, and it has felt as if I never
left training. Although, I will concede
that waiting 23 years to become eligible for Temporary Black has tested the
tenet of Perseverance on my resolve.
This second time around has had
much more meaning to me. I am able to
enjoy this journey with my family. It
was not long after Jacob and I started classes that Mallory became quite eager
to join us. Jule came along, at first
for the novelty, and now enjoys the experience in her own right. Leading the very busy work life that I do,
having an activity that the entire family enjoys is very special and
unique. Aside from the time at class,
this will give me a bound to my children that I hope they will remember long
after I am gone.
One of the unexpected surprises
from Tae Kwon Do class has been the friends that we have made over the past two
years. We have gotten to know and spend
time with some great and fun people that we probably would have never met. It is great to spend time with our new
friends outside of class, and most of the time now we talk about things other
than TKD and the school.
Many people have been supportive of
my journey to this point. I would like
to thank Mr. Brown and Mr. Siever for taking on the roles of my primary
instructor, first in West Des Moines and then at the Hub. I would like to thank Masters Williams and
Ferguson for all of the extra training, support and encouragement they have
offered over the past three years. Most
of all, I owe a great deal to my wife and kids for going on this journey with
me. They have sacrificed a lot of family
time in the past few months as I increased my training for this test. Having them here with me, makes coming to
class worthwhile.
Tonight is the last night of
Hanukah for 2012. If I make through and
pass then I guess great miracles can happen.
Pil Sung,
