Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Alex Haus--First Degree

Nashua Dojang
First Degree
April 9, 2016



How Tae Kwon Do has helped me.  How I am helping at the Dojang.  What Tae Kwon Do has taught me.

Tae Kwon Do has helped me in so many ways from when I started at the age of five, I couldn’t stand at Chunbee position or concentrate on what I was supposed to do, to not knowing how to throw a punch or even how to fall correctly.  All of the repetitive movements week after week, year after year has taught me to have a better technique.
I am helping at the Dojang when my instructor asks for a volunteer to do some one on one with other color belts to practice on their forms or their one steps, I always jump at the opportunity to help.  I like that because I like helping out and also get to bond with the other members of the dojang.  I have a lot of forms that I have to remember and sometimes people forget their forms but I study hard to remember those forms and help them out when they are stuck. 
I like it when Mr. Schmidt picks one of the higher belts to teach class for the evening at the Nashua Dojang.  I like to teach those classes because the Nashua Branch is smaller in size.  It gives the class something different for the evening and it makes me proud to teach and I have a happy feeling inside knowing I can do something like that. At first, I was scared when I started to teach, but my instructor, Mr. Schmidt talked me through step-by-step what to do through the class. It helps me be a better student in Tae Kwon Do knowing how difficult it is to teach in front of a class of students, I have more respect for the ones up in front teaching and I give more attention to the one teaching.  Overall Tae Kwon Do has taught me to be a good sport win or lose.  I know that I can always improve, so I plan to stick with Tae Kwon Do and I want to work towards my next degree.
My teachers are hard on the temporary black belts because they want the best out of us.  Tae Kwon Do is about self-defense and it has taught me to be self-aware of my surroundings.  My dad has helped emphasize this point by asking me questions when we go to the store.  He’ll ask me what color was the cashiers’ shirt or what was on the name tag, to see if I was observant with my surroundings.  Tae Kwon Do has also taught me to stick up for myself and others and my family.  I feel safer knowing that if anyone tries to attack me, I will know how to defend myself.  It makes me feel good to know Tae Kwon Do has helped me in so many other areas of my life.