new hobby
In my sophomore year of college, a friend invited my roommate and I to attend Taekwondo classes with him for their free-trial period. We went a few times and I LOVED it. I'm still working out all the reasons why I enjoyed it so much, but one of them was probably when the instructor came by and asked me what kind of martial arts I had done before. When I said I had never done any kind of marital arts before, he replied, "Really? Hmm, your technique looks like you've done this before." I suppose that could have meant a few different things, but I took it to mean that he was saying I was showing a modicum of natural ability. I don't think I've ever shown natural ability in anything athletic. Ever. So, needless to say, I was pretty excited and went a few more times. Unfortunately, I was not able to balance my engineering studies, my commitments to choir, my part-time job, and the relaxation/social time that kept me sane. So I made the choice not to continue after the two or three weeks of free classes.
Fast forward to last month. I had been letting this graduate class offered through my job (a requirement of the training program I was hired into) take over my life. I had stopped exercising for at least four or five months. As sort of a New Years resolution (that didn't really start until the end of January), I joined the gym at work. When I signed up, I noticed that they offer Taekowndo for a vastly reduced rate from the school with which they are affiliated AND they're offered right here at work - at the location I work at now and the location I will be moving to next month - during the work day!
So, at the end of January, I joined the TKD club here at work. For $50/month, I can attend up to three classes per week at work and I can also go to classes at the school we're affiliated with. I've been going 2-3 times per week for the last month and, as before, I LOVE IT. It helps reduce stress, it breaks up the day, it builds confidence, it builds flexibility (oh how painfully it works flexibility), and it teaches valuable self-defense. It promotes, as the five tenets of TKD, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.
I'm currently a white belt (where you begin) and will be testing on Saturday for my first belt: high white (white with a black stripe). To pass the test, I'll need to demonstrate four one-step sparring combinations (blocking a punch and performing one of four different counter moves), two holding techniques (breaking away from someone grabbing your arm and performing one of two counter moves), perform a kicking combination (mine is a jab-cross, front kick, side kick, and reverse punch), perform the Basic I Form (a specific, ordered sequence of punches and blocks with 20 total moves), and break a single board using a side kick.
Yesterday, I got to practice the board break using a plastic rebreakable board. The black belt who was holding for me said my kick would have easily broken two boards, so the psychological barrier of board breaking has been lowered a bit. I'm ready, I just need to focus and do what I've been practicing.
So, to choral music, acting, and video games, add Taekwondo to my list of hobbies. Anybody else around here a student of martial arts?
Fast forward to last month. I had been letting this graduate class offered through my job (a requirement of the training program I was hired into) take over my life. I had stopped exercising for at least four or five months. As sort of a New Years resolution (that didn't really start until the end of January), I joined the gym at work. When I signed up, I noticed that they offer Taekowndo for a vastly reduced rate from the school with which they are affiliated AND they're offered right here at work - at the location I work at now and the location I will be moving to next month - during the work day!
So, at the end of January, I joined the TKD club here at work. For $50/month, I can attend up to three classes per week at work and I can also go to classes at the school we're affiliated with. I've been going 2-3 times per week for the last month and, as before, I LOVE IT. It helps reduce stress, it breaks up the day, it builds confidence, it builds flexibility (oh how painfully it works flexibility), and it teaches valuable self-defense. It promotes, as the five tenets of TKD, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.
I'm currently a white belt (where you begin) and will be testing on Saturday for my first belt: high white (white with a black stripe). To pass the test, I'll need to demonstrate four one-step sparring combinations (blocking a punch and performing one of four different counter moves), two holding techniques (breaking away from someone grabbing your arm and performing one of two counter moves), perform a kicking combination (mine is a jab-cross, front kick, side kick, and reverse punch), perform the Basic I Form (a specific, ordered sequence of punches and blocks with 20 total moves), and break a single board using a side kick.
Yesterday, I got to practice the board break using a plastic rebreakable board. The black belt who was holding for me said my kick would have easily broken two boards, so the psychological barrier of board breaking has been lowered a bit. I'm ready, I just need to focus and do what I've been practicing.
So, to choral music, acting, and video games, add Taekwondo to my list of hobbies. Anybody else around here a student of martial arts?