I was looking through some old news papers, and found the advertisement for my 1 week Free Tae Kwon Do class - back in 1977-78 (I was 15 year old). I believe that classes back then costed $30.00 per month which allowed you to attend as many classes as you want (and I did). My first school was part of the United Tae Kwon Do Federation which is part of the large International Tae kwon Do Federation. My rank in the UTF was a greenbelt as of June 6th, 1979. I was part of this school until the owner sold the school to another martial arts owner that taught multiple martial art disciplines including Tae Kwon Do. This owner name was Jami Betha Epstein, and claimed the rank of 3rd degree black belt, and a national heavy-weight champion. Here is an ad that was place in the paper during a grace period when the two were merging. At that time I did not know what Tae Kwon Do Style Karate was - but I found out three years later in Sept 1980, ...
There are 12 belts from white belt to black belt. Right now I am white belt - which was not just given to me, but instead I had to pass my first belt test. The white belt meaning is purity, basically an empty canvas which to be written on by the teachers. White it's humbling to be a white belt again for the third time you need to remember the Chinese Proverbs that "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". For me being a white belt is exciting not because it's a first step, but that I have the adventure of the next thousand miles!
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 (utili...
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