Tae Kwon Do has changed my life because I have more confidence, self-control, and courtesy.  This made me stronger and I feel I can help other people with their confidence issues.  When I go to Tae Kwon Do I feel how much better like I can change the world to be a happier place.  As I kept moving up to the next belt I felt like my confidence, self control, and courtesy improved with every belt and now I am getting ready to test for my temporary black belt and it is time for me to improve the most.

How I got here has taken a lot of hard work.  I have learned that I have to give it a 110% all of the time.  What matters the most is studying and learning the forms and memorizing your terminology.  While free sparing you throw punches and kicks that you have to block.  Free sparing has taught me focus and watching.  If you don’t focus you could get kicked or hit.  That is like life.  If you don’t focus then you won’t finish what you have set out to do.  Don’t just give a 110% part of the time; give 110% all the time in all that you do.  I have learned I should always try my best on doing good stances and good forms when I am practicing or testing.  Don’t worry if you miss a step the first try, keeping trying until you get it right.  Practice has helped me to make my forms more perfect

I am also in sports and I know how hard it is to balance Tae Kwon Do class and sports practice. There are times when I have to miss Tae Kwon Do class for my sports practice.  When this happens I know that I need to practice on my own so I can continue to move hard.  Tae Kwon Do has helped me gain more focus and confidence in myself to be involved in more than one activity.  Confidence, self- control, and courtesy are important requirements in everything that I do.

Now that I am getting ready to test for my temporary black belt it feels like a few short months ago that I was starting off as a white belt.  My parents and I feel I have grown during this process.  Initially I was not strong, but Master Bendickson kept pushing me really hard and I thank her for pushing me really hard.  Every time I did not want to work Master Bendickson pushed me harder to focus and learn the new form.  Tae Kwon Do is really fun and I get to learn a lot of new things.  I have learned it is important to now all our stuff then it is easier in life and testing.  Once I have learned my forms or terminology I feel the form and the information flows freely.

Tae Kwon Do has changed my life because know I own the importance of practice and studying.  I feel my confidence has grown and I am in more control of my attitude and situations that I am placed in.  I am also more courteous when around others.  Tae Kwon Do has made me who I am today.

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When you begin your journey in TaeKwonDo, most people do not think about the words Dedication, Commitment and Loyalty. We follow the five tenets of TaeKwonDo, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit; but without dedication, loyalty and commitment to TaeKwonDo you will not achieve them.

According to Webster’s Dictionary these words can be defined as follows: dedication can be defined as the state of being dedicated. Dedicate is to devote wholly and earnestly to some person or purpose.   Commitment can be defined as making a pledge or promise to accomplish something. Loyalty is to be loyal; this is to be faithful to one’s oath, commitments, and/or obligations. When you become a true practitioner of TaeKwonDo these three words are of great importance.

When I think of these words I think of Grand Master Woo Jin Jung. He has dedicated his life to the unification of Korea. He has tried to do this through his commitment to TaeKwonDo. TaeKwonDo being the common denominator between the two sides, GM Jung has used this as a means to begin conversations between the two sides. Each small step is a great stride in the direction of unification. He has also dedicated his life to bringing TaeKwonDo to the world. GM Jung has also shown his loyalty to his country and TaeKwonDo by striving to accomplish what he has set out as goals for himself: The unification of North and South Korea and to bring TaeKwonDo to the world.  Through his many schools and thousands of black belts he is spreading TaeKwonDo and the TaeKwonDo way of life. Though there have been obstacles, he has remained constant in his pursuit of these goals. His loyalty to TaeKwonDo and his TaeKwonDo family are immeasurable; if you need him he is always there to talk on the phone or come to your aid.

GM Jung has been a great inspiration to me and many others. When I first met GM Jung I was scared to death. It was GM Jung, he brought us TaeKwonDo and he is GREAT! Once I met him and spoke with him, he is a real person with goals and struggles just like the rest of us. Through great sacrifice he has become a great man. As I take a look at the path I have chosen to follow with my life, TaeKwonDo has played a huge part. There have been many cross roads where I could have chosen to take a different direction but through my experiences in TaeKwonDo, I chose to persevere through the difficult situations instead of taking the easy way out and I am a better person for this. Since my last test I have had a hip replaced. The doctor told me no more TaeKwonDo, I was devastated to hear this. I did not give up with those words, I asked more questions and did research to find out that as long as I was smart with the things I do I could continue to teach and participate in TaeKwonDo. The big things were no more running or jumping and absolutely no pivoting on that leg. Then the Doctor told me I could try but if there was any pain or discomfort to stop. Listen to what your body is telling you. So here I am today preparing for my 6^th Dan test and scared to death that I may over do it. As long as I maintain good self-control and don’t get carried away during test I will be fine, keeping my kicks to low/middle and very light pivoting on my leg. There have been many times in GM Jung’s life where he could have been swayed to give up but for his commitment and dedication he persevered and has continued to bring us TaeKwonDo.

I have tried to bring that level of dedication, commitment and loyalty to TaeKwonDo in my community and to my TaeKwonDo Family. I try to show my loyalty to GM Jung by attending as many TaeKwonDo functions as I can, helping wherever I can; showing support whenever I can. I try to teach the TaeKwonDo membership pledge, making sure that each student understands its meaning. That TaeKwonDo is a way of life, a choice that you make and it should not be taken lightly. That each one of us uses what we learn in TaeKwonDo; every day in every situation whether we are young or old.

I have found that by stressing these things as well as the physical aspects of TaeKwonDo, each student has a better life and will take what has been learned with them throughout the remainder of their lives. In all choices that are made the student now brings a new level of dedication, and commitment to the decision or goal. Just knowing you have accomplished what you may have thought as impossible through your journey in TaeKwonDo, this gives you the confidence to make the commitment to any goal that you set whether others believe in you or not. You have gained the confidence in yourself through your accomplishments in TaeKwonDo.

Just knowing what GM Jung has done with his life and the obstacles he has overcome and what he as accomplished has given me the confidence to set my goals high and to commit to accomplishing them when others doubt my abilities. My greatest thanks go to GM Jung and the great example he has been for my life.

Respectfully submitted by:

Rita J. Pearson

Candidate for 6^th Dan

10/30/16

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December 3, 2016 Taekwon Do Testing. Judy Anderson-Bruner

Birth date: 12/18/1952

Taekwon Do Birth date: 9/19/1977

My TaeKwon Do journey past, present, and future

Past: Like many young people I became interested in martial arts when I saw fight scenes and kicking on TV shows. When I left home for college in 1971, I was very excited to learn that I could take classes called “judo” and “self-defense” and get college credit for them. I took all of the classes I could and had time for that were related to martial arts during that time. After graduation and starting a new job I did not have the opportunity to continue this until I found out that my older brother was going to Jung’s TaeKwon Do in Cedar Rapids. I watched my brother in class, talked with GM Jung, and was signed up for class. I learned quickly that “real” martial arts and what I had done in college were very different. This was so much more than just learning a few kicks, throws, or hand twists. I learned that the mental part of martial arts was as important, if not more so, than the physical parts.

This class was not only developing me physically and mentally but it had become a family event. Both of my brothers were there, and I met the man who would later become my husband during my first class. I had the goal from the beginning of earning my black belt. This was not easy for me. I have never been very coordinated and it was a challenge to learn to control my body and movements. I watched the students who came before me, my mentors and could not imagine myself being as good a martial artist as they were/are. The mental part also presented a challenge for me. I do not find learning difficult and did well in school, but I was a bit prone to becoming very angry at others. I think this has also improved with practicing TaeKwon Do. Finally the day to test for black belt arrived. GM Jung had told me that I had no excuses. I wasn’t old, ill, or disabled in any way, and if I wasn’t at 100%, I would not pass my test. GM Jung has said this test today is one of the best days of his life, that day was one of mine. 10 months later, one month prior to marrying my husband, he and I tested together for permanent 1st degree. Future Dan testing, while very important to me has not been as meaningful as promoting to the 1st black belt.

Present: TaeKwon Do has continued to help me in many ways in my life with physical health and fitness and clearing my mind of the daily stresses. It has continued to be a family activity with my husband, daughters, grandson and countless nieces, nephews, and other family members. It is very special to me that I have the opportunity to continue to practice, and today to test with some of my seniors.

Future: No matter the outcome of this test, I will continue to practice TaeKwon Do. The number of my rank is not important to me, what is important is that I can come here to practice, to help young students learn, and to try to live up to those who came before me, who are always my senior no matter the number that goes with my belt. I don’t feel that you only earn belt rank one time, you earn it on a daily basis in how you live your life, how you teach your students, and how you treat others. I continue to use TaeKwon Do on a daily basis, when things go well, when they are not going well, and when life gives me challenges. I thank GM Jung and all of my seniors for the skills they have given me to live life in a positive way.

And my husband is always the best thing I got fromTaeKwon Do              

The post Essay – December 3, 2016 Taekwon Do Testing. Judy Anderson-Bruner – My TaeKwon Do journey past, present, and future appeared first on TaeKwonDo Times.