Returning to Taekwondo After 40 Years

 This is exciting tournament, but will require far more preparations for.  I am required to know and compete in four different TaeGeuk forms5-8.   I've already forgotten 5-6, and I presently learning number 7.   I sat down with Master Nam last week, and he told me to relearn 5-6, and learn 7 during the month of October, then learn 8 during the last two months.  This will be my biggest challenge up to this point.  The pressure was big the last two (in person tournaments) but this is going to be huge.  

  This is me, almost 62 years old. I’ve just finished the promotion test for my red belt (4th Keub). I never thought I’d make it even this far at my age, but I’m so glad (by God's grace) I’ve stuck with it!!! Being Red is important because I've now been training for 2 years, brings me into the Advance belts ranks, and marks that I only have three more color belts before my black belt. Note: I had to do a break a one inch board doing a tornado kick. I was bringing my leg up too close to my body, and it took three attempts to break the board. I definitely need to work on this.

 My Latest Competition is an online tournament called the  4th Han Wong Worldwide Open Online Poomsae & Speed Kicking Championship 2024. I only entered the Poomsae Competition doing my TAEGUK OH JANG (5) form. The form has been recorded at my Do Jang, and updated to youtube here ( LINK ) The registration closes on July 24 and the competition is aired live on 07/30/2024. Update:  I won in my division (Under 65, advance, male) since I was the only one in my division.  However I was grateful that I received a 7.8 score - which is quite respectable and gives me a new goal of doing better.  ( link to the final video of competitors - I'm at the very end). 

On June 12, 2024 I was testing for my brown belt test (5th Keub) in the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do. The picture below is with my examiner Grand Master Jae J Kang which is a 9th degree Black Belt. Kukkiwon Certified. Grateful my wife came and witnessed me doing my test.

 I was reminded by my TKD master of the pressure of competition, and that as you compete more and more you are able to deal better with the pressure.   While this is true, there are hacks that may help you from choking under pressure.   Don't just practice under optimal environments.   Practice, under pressure, and various pressures before competition.  1.     Why wait - if you can create a pressured situation in which is expose yourself to stress before the competition, then do it.   This may include - asking for your teachers or students to review your form and asking for criticisms.   You may want to do a form next to someone else that is doing a different form.  Don't limit your audience, practice your form in public before friends, family, or even strangers.   Asking someone to blow an Air Horn while you are doing the form.     2.  Practice the forum with closed eyes (utilizing all safe precautions - don't walk off a cliff).   Basically know your form so you can do it

  Grateful to have competed in the Annual Kukkiwon USA Cup 2024. By the grace of God, I was able to win two 1st place gold medals in board breaking and forms (Color Belt Division). A fun and exhilarating experience!