For those who know me, I'm not one to blow my own horn. I'm VERY self critical, and seldom content with my own achievements. But this past Thursday, I even had to tell myself, "you done good, old man".
I just had my 48th birthday. My physical abilities are declining but my progress is still improving. I love to give hope to the young, but this day, I even inspired myself. Please indulge me. I have to talk about it.
We're standing in line while one student holds the paddles and the rest of us, in line, do what ever kick Sabumnim calls out. It gets to be my turn and he stops, tells the holder to get a second paddle, and holds them in two separate levels. I tell myself, it's a naya chagi kick (double roundhouse), no big deal. But he instructs the holder to put the first paddle in position for a roundhouse at about waist level, then the second about six feet in the air and says "Spin kick" All at once. In other words, a 360 double round house, spin, landing in fighting position.
Now I know many do not understand our art and are critical of what is gained by our "flying" kicks. I'm posting this here because I don't want to go into all that.
So, I nail the round house followed by the spin... he calls "higher" for the spin. I hit it 3 times in a row. The holder says "Wow, you're hitting the spin hard! I say, "I know, I have a great view of the target". He looked at me like I have two heads. He says "How can you even see the target? I say because I'm bringing my head round before the kick.
He then raises the target to the highest he can reach, about 7 1/2 feet. Smack! Smack! I nail 'em both with full power! Who'da thunk it? My Sabumnim was watching in complete amazement. He said I was hitting the second target almost completely inverted! I did this about 8 times before my legs turned to complete jelly and couldn't jump anymore.
Anyway, sorry for the story, but I just gotta say "you're never too old until YOU say you are!
My apologies for boring you with this, but I'm so seldom impressed with anything I've done, I had to. Thanks for letting me take a moment with my story.
TAE KWON!!!
I just had my 48th birthday. My physical abilities are declining but my progress is still improving. I love to give hope to the young, but this day, I even inspired myself. Please indulge me. I have to talk about it.
We're standing in line while one student holds the paddles and the rest of us, in line, do what ever kick Sabumnim calls out. It gets to be my turn and he stops, tells the holder to get a second paddle, and holds them in two separate levels. I tell myself, it's a naya chagi kick (double roundhouse), no big deal. But he instructs the holder to put the first paddle in position for a roundhouse at about waist level, then the second about six feet in the air and says "Spin kick" All at once. In other words, a 360 double round house, spin, landing in fighting position.
Now I know many do not understand our art and are critical of what is gained by our "flying" kicks. I'm posting this here because I don't want to go into all that.
So, I nail the round house followed by the spin... he calls "higher" for the spin. I hit it 3 times in a row. The holder says "Wow, you're hitting the spin hard! I say, "I know, I have a great view of the target". He looked at me like I have two heads. He says "How can you even see the target? I say because I'm bringing my head round before the kick.
He then raises the target to the highest he can reach, about 7 1/2 feet. Smack! Smack! I nail 'em both with full power! Who'da thunk it? My Sabumnim was watching in complete amazement. He said I was hitting the second target almost completely inverted! I did this about 8 times before my legs turned to complete jelly and couldn't jump anymore.
Anyway, sorry for the story, but I just gotta say "you're never too old until YOU say you are!
My apologies for boring you with this, but I'm so seldom impressed with anything I've done, I had to. Thanks for letting me take a moment with my story.
TAE KWON!!!
artyon: You're only as old as you think you are - and think about how many people's excuses have just gone down the drain.
