Training Reflection - 15 May 2024

Taranaki Taekwon-Do logo - White

Thank you for the feedback on the topic I spoke about at the end of class Tuesday night. I appreciate it. I just wanted to expand on it a little if I may. As an instructor I am always looking to re invent myself especially as I get older. It’s fair to say that we have had a good culture in Taranaki Taekwon-Do and that has been seen in its successes over 30 years. As we move into what I would call the second chapter of Taranaki Taekwon-Do I would like , or should I say, I will be developing a culture based on the following principles:

  • DARE TO DREAM
  • BE DEMANDING
  • HAVE A NO EXCUSE POLICY
  • REACH FOR THE STARS

Dare to dream…. We start martial arts and our goal or dream is to achieve Black Belt. Outside of Taekwon-Do this can also be related to family, work and personal life.

Be demanding. Learn what you need to do to make your dream come true. Have a plan and be demanding of yourself to stick to it. If you are in a team environment be demanding of them and expect them to be demanding of you. This could be to an instructor/student relationship. I will be demanding of students and in return I expect students to be demanding of me to be the best instructor I can be.

Have a no excuse policy. Yes things will happen that will throw you off course but do not use this to derail your dreams. It’s only a hiccup on a journey. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back on the saddle.

Reach for the stars. Dreams are never ending. You achieve one and then we set another one. Then another. Then another.

When I look back on my Taekwon-Do history I can relate to the four statements.

Dare to dream… I started Taekwon-Do in 1987. I dreamed of becoming a black belt. I ticked the box. When in Tauranga training with Master Rimmer I dreamed of becoming an instructor and having my own club in New Plymouth. I ticked the box. I dreamed of instructing students to the rank of black belt. I have ticked many boxes here. 60 black belts right up to rank of master. One could say that I have reached the stars here however I am not finished yet as I am now heading towards the sun. For a long time the club was part of a national organisation ITKD. I got to the stage where I was pretty unhappy with the politics and I dreamed of doing my own thing. Going out on my own with no support was not daunting at all because I had a dream.

Be demanding…. I was very demanding of myself and still am. No matter how good I think things may be, my training, my instruction, my organisation skills etc I am never happy with it because I can always look to be better at all times. I also surround myself with good people who lift me up helping me to be the best possible version of myself that I can be.

No excuse policy…. I don’t have time! ….. organise yourself better and make time. There are 24 hours in a day. I feel tired! I have spent most of my Taekwon-do career feeling tired both physically and mentally. Get fit and your energy levels will increase. If you are mentally tired, get your dobok on and escape with a 30 min practice which will probably turn into a 60 minutes plus.

I have a leg injury…. Practice your hand techniques. I have an upper body injury…. Practice your kicking. My whole body is injured… do some stretching, read up on your theory and technical knowledge. Do some instructing.

Reach for the Stars…. it’s good to keep goals realistic to a degree as we all have responsibilities such as family, education and work etc. this is not to say however that we can’t exceed what we think is possible. Anything is possible if we dare to dream, we are demanding and we have a no excuse culture.

I can honestly say that my dreams in Taekwon-Do have been exceeded and I am not finished yet.

The General always said that Taekwon-Do was more than a martial art. It was social tool for the benefit of mankind. I firmly believe that if you take the principles that have been spoken about above and apply them to your everyday life along with the student oath and the tenets of Taekwon-Do you will make your instructor proud as well as your family and friends.

As I sign off thanks again for the feedback I received on this topic in class which prompted me to expand on things. I know that my grammar is not the sharpest but I hope that it’s all understandable. English was never my thing at school. I actually failed it. I have managed to get through this far so all good.

Thank you

MNL