Returning to Taekwondo After 40 Years

 

Silver today, gold tomorrow. Just received a silver medal for board breaking at this year’s competition—and matched first place in points! A small detail separated me from the top spot, but honestly? That’s just next year’s target. Grateful for the experience, the lessons, and everyone who’s supported the journey. Time to sharpen the edge and come back even stronger. Note: Tomorrow I have two more events!! More updates to come ... --------------------------- What I did: Broke 9 boards: Hammer Fist - 2 boards, Elbow Strike 3 boards, 1 each, Round House, Spinning Back Kick, Tornado Kick & Jumping Side Kick. How did I do: Went perfectly, with the except 2nd attempt on Spinning Back Kick which broke. Lesson's learn: Maximize Board Breaks, Presentation is Important (Kai More), Replace Round House with a jump or spinning kick, like a jumping front kick. Throw in a one leg doing a double kick.

✅ Poomsae Technical Tips 1. Stance Clarity & Transition Tiger Stance: Both knees slightly bent, weight mostly on back leg, heel of front foot lightly touching the ground. Long Stance: Front knee bent firmly, back leg straight with heel down, 4 feet distance between front and back foot. Make transitions clear and deliberate for judge visibility. 2. Knifehand Block (Sonnal Makki) Extend the blocking arm — avoid keeping it too tight or close to your body. Relax shoulder and arm to allow smooth movement. Finish with the block at shoulder height , slightly forward. Opposite hand should stay firmly chambered . 3. Long Stance Punch Mechanics Turn your shoulder into the punch for power and follow-through. Use full-body mechanics (hip and shoulder), not just arm strength. Punch with intent — project confidence and commitment. 4. Taeguk 8: Mountain Block (San Makki) Switch hands between left and right mountain blocks — don’t repeat the same h...

Getting back into TKD after all these years has been a lot tougher than I expected. Honestly, there have been moments where I seriously wondered what I was doing. Stretching has been one of the hardest parts. I’ve been working at it regularly—doing all the right things—but progress has been slow. Really slow. And just when I thought I was starting to improve, I pulled a muscle in my upper thigh (quad). That set me back big time. Not gonna lie, it was discouraging. Then there’s competition. Yeah… I’ve stepped into a few tournaments in my 60s. Most of the people out there are half my age (or less). It’s nerve-wracking. The body doesn’t move like it used to, and sometimes just standing out there feels like a win. But I do it—because I refuse to let fear or age be what holds me back. It’s humbling relearning techniques I used to know. I’m slower than I was. Recovery takes longer. But I’m still here, still moving, still growing. And honestly, the only reason I’ve made it this far is bec...

Tonight, I was honored and deeply grateful to reach a rare milestone—passing my final color belt test (Senior Bo-Dan/1st Keup) and officially becoming a black belt candidate! Lord willing, my black belt test will be this December. It’s been an incredible journey—one filled with challenges, growth, and moments I’ll never forget. I'm excited (and a little nervous) for what lies ahead. Huge thanks to Grandmaster Kang and Master Nam for their guidance, patience, and wisdom throughout the process. I wouldn’t be here without their support. Onward and upward!

The Benefits of Taking Taekwondo Now that I’m in my 60s, I find myself thinking less about just adding years and more about how to make those years worth living. It’s not only about staying alive longer but about staying active, mobile, and strong enough to actually enjoy life. My path into fitness has been gradual. Back in my 50s I started running. At first it was just about building endurance and getting my heart stronger. Over time I noticed real . changes.more energy, better stamina, and even improvements in my VO₂ max, which is a fancy way of saying my aerobic health was improving in a way that’s tied to long-term well-being. But as the years went on, I couldn’t ignore the muscle loss creeping in, especially around my core and shoulders. That’s when I picked up weight training. It gave me back strength I was missing, helped my posture, and gave me the stability I needed for other activities. The biggest shift though didn’t come until my 60s, when I walked into Master Kang’...