Every year, my TKD association puts out a newsletter, with articles written by members of each class. I asked my senior color belt student to write our article this year, and she sent me this via email this evening. Please remember when you read this that it was written by a 14 year-old girl, who has been in my class for several years, and currently holds the rank of 3rd gup high blue belt.
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I always wonder when we go out to eat or have parties as a group, what people think of us. Here is a large group of people who seem friendly with each other, are of mixed ages, races and genders who call each other “sir and ma’am”.
I associate people who do TaeKwon-Do with super heroes. By day, we assume our secret identities; for instance, I am a 14 year old girl who chatters to her friends about boys and TV shows. Another could be prescribing medicine or putting criminals where they belong.
But then, at night, we suit up and meet in basements and cold gyms to practice and learn. We have some heroes experienced through time who help us go make the world a better place. We promise to do that. “I shall help build a more peaceful world.” I think we do it too. We educate our friends, family or maybe strangers on how they can protect themselves. We must stay humble to prevent ourselves form becoming super villains. We know more about the human body than most people and we can’t take advantage of it.
I’m told at school that knowledge is power. That’s true. I could maybe kill someone if I wanted to but I don’t. Super heroes help. They have great knowledge and in the words of Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
I guess that’s what I wish people understood most about TaeKwon-Do and martial arts in general, it’s not like soccer – an organized group game – and it’s not a quest for a black belt. It’s a responsibility (although it’s fun too). You have the responsibility to get to classes and get there on time. You have the responsibility to learn what your instructor teaches you. You have the responsibility to take what you learned and not use it to show off or most certainly not to hurt anyone. You have the responsibility to help and learn from other people in your class. So, heroes take forth your power and become a champion of freedom and justice but remember – when thanked, a real super hero always says “I’m just doing my job, ma’am.”
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Things like this are why I teach TKD. To my student: thank you. I am humbled to be your instructor. :asian:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I always wonder when we go out to eat or have parties as a group, what people think of us. Here is a large group of people who seem friendly with each other, are of mixed ages, races and genders who call each other “sir and ma’am”.
I associate people who do TaeKwon-Do with super heroes. By day, we assume our secret identities; for instance, I am a 14 year old girl who chatters to her friends about boys and TV shows. Another could be prescribing medicine or putting criminals where they belong.
But then, at night, we suit up and meet in basements and cold gyms to practice and learn. We have some heroes experienced through time who help us go make the world a better place. We promise to do that. “I shall help build a more peaceful world.” I think we do it too. We educate our friends, family or maybe strangers on how they can protect themselves. We must stay humble to prevent ourselves form becoming super villains. We know more about the human body than most people and we can’t take advantage of it.
I’m told at school that knowledge is power. That’s true. I could maybe kill someone if I wanted to but I don’t. Super heroes help. They have great knowledge and in the words of Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
I guess that’s what I wish people understood most about TaeKwon-Do and martial arts in general, it’s not like soccer – an organized group game – and it’s not a quest for a black belt. It’s a responsibility (although it’s fun too). You have the responsibility to get to classes and get there on time. You have the responsibility to learn what your instructor teaches you. You have the responsibility to take what you learned and not use it to show off or most certainly not to hurt anyone. You have the responsibility to help and learn from other people in your class. So, heroes take forth your power and become a champion of freedom and justice but remember – when thanked, a real super hero always says “I’m just doing my job, ma’am.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things like this are why I teach TKD. To my student: thank you. I am humbled to be your instructor. :asian:
