Living Taekwondo Becomes a Life Long Journey
By Derek Wyatt
Student at Dragon Brand Taekwondo
Becoming a Black Belt has been a dream of mine since I was a child watching Ralph Macchio star in the Karate Kid. I started taking Karate lessons at Del Saito’s Karate when I was 8 years old in Grants Pass, Oregon. Months into my training I realized that Hollywood didn’t accurately portray martial arts as I was experiencing it. I became quickly discouraged when I realized that tournaments and board breaking was a long ways down the road. It wasn’t until almost 10 years later did I start to show an interest in martial arts again. I was a huge professional wrestling fan and one of my favorite stars happened to be a Judo practitioner. Again even at the age of 17, I saw martial arts portrayed on television and decided to give it a shot. With a good dose of realism this time I started taking Judo classes at Wayne Owens Fighting Arts in Grants Pass, Oregon. This time I enjoyed what I was doing and continued to train there for close to a full year. I started working and was enrolling in college and the mix of all three didn’t fair well with me. The easy way to relieve that, quit Judo. It wasn’t until I met Mr. and Mrs. Buffington in 1999 did I decided to train in martial arts again. This time I made a permanent home at Burke and Betancourt’s Taekwondo. I trained until I attained 1st Grade Red Belt status in the I.T.C. and moved to the Portland area for better career opportunities once again never achieving my dream of becoming a Black Belt. Fast-forward four years and forty pounds later to March 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Buffington moved up to the Portland area and opened a new Taekwondo school just minutes from both work and home. This time there is no excuse! With the Buffington’s being long time best friends and incredible instructors, they have motivated me to once again train in Taekwondo. With May 20, 2006 quickly approaching, I realized that my dream 7 years in the making may soon come true.
Becoming a 1st Degree Black Belt is just the immediate goal. Now a new beginning is closely approaching with new goals down the road. First and foremost my main goal is to continue to train at Dragon Brand Taekwondo, helping the school not only grow in size of students, but quality of student knowledge. I plan on achieving status of Assistant Instructor and passing on what I have learned to future students. I am going to continue my own training and advance further in the ranks of the S.T.O. I also am going to start compiling my own combination of techniques that are effective for me based on what I have learned as a color belt. I also want to expand my knowledge of martial arts beyond Taekwondo, making me a more well rounded martial artist. Most of this extended training can be done at Dragon Brand Taekwondo where the curriculum is expanding itself to also incorporate grappling and a small amount of mixed martial arts. I plan on also furthering my cardio vascular capacity to a point where sparring an entire class without a break in rotation doesn’t render me breathless. My own personal fitness will grow as a result of my continued training.
The primary way to become a better martial artist is to consistently attended classes and also to mentally train outside of the Do Jahng. A sound body must also have a sound mind to accompany it. Books, videos, seminars, and listening to the wisdom of those that came before me will assist in keeping my mind sharp when I am not putting my body to the test in class. It is my belief that you cannot base your entire knowledge of a subject off the teachings of just one person. Various point of views are the much-needed keys that will help the open doors in my mind that would otherwise remain locked. Questioning everything will expand my knowledge of martial arts, because along the journey for the answer, more questions will be uncovered and therefore furthering the learning process.
Physically, my flexibility and agility must improve not only to help make me a better martial artist, but to also allow me to feel more comfortable in demonstrating what I know to others. Cardio vascular conditioning will be key in maintaining the competitive advantage against those who may be evenly matched in skill. Power and timing are strengths of mine that can always continue to improve as my training progresses. I am going to purchase a leg stretcher to better utilize my time spent watching television adding range to my leg flexibility at the same time. I am currently researching different drills and exercises that can better my agility and allow me to change direction or body position quickly and proceed smoothly with another movement. I travel everywhere I go with a jump rope to assist with my cardio training as well as coordination. It’s a simple, yet challenging exercise designed to help keep me fit.
There are many levels of becoming a better person that martial arts can assist with. Ultimately a form of continued education is achieved. Too many adults once they graduate high school choose not to continue on to a form of higher education. Higher education doesn’t necessarily have to entail a 4-year college degree and thousands of dollars of debt. Anything that challenges the mind can be considered a form of continued education. Patience and understanding for others is a key social tool that is honed once a student begins to assist in teaching classes. Not everyone is cut from the same mold. Some are more flexible, some have a slower learning curve, or on the flip side progress at a faster rate than I once did. Having a better understanding for all walks of life will better equip myself with the social skills and understanding needed to cohabitate in various environments.
Time management is a tool that I personally need to learn to make me a better person. Procrastination is a terrible fault of mine that often times interferes with my relationships, career and Taekwondo. I’ve started taking steps in planning out my day, week, month, and year. I currently am using a calendar and a palm pilot for better timeline planning. I need to prioritize my goals and then map out the steps to achieve those goals. Follow up on my progress at various points along the path will help keep me in check with where I need to be. Having a plan of action with deadlines will keep me responsible and have something to look forward to.
As a future Black Belt at Dragon Brand Taekwondo, I plan on testing for my Red/Black collar within 18 months and contributing on a larger scale to the teachings that go on in class. Of course continuing to train for the nex
t level is a goal of mine that will never end. I hope to achieve the status of 3rd Degree Black Belt by the age of 30, I am now 26 which is a huge achievement considering it has taken me 7 years to test for my 1st Degree. By this time next year I have a goal to be ready to test for my 2nd Degree Black Belt, making me 27. Two years from then my next goal is to test for my 3rd Degree Black Belt, turning 30 years old that October.
Once I achieve my Black Belt, I am going back to review all of the belts one-steps, two-steps, and three-steps as well as knowledge of moves, meaning of forms and new strikes. Having this knowledge at hand will further cement my role as assistant instructor, allowing me to test for my Red/Black collar. I look forward to mentoring struggling students as needed to discourage those from giving up too early as I once did at an early age. I have a goal to create my own identity as an instructor at the same time still maintaining the key focus points of the Dragon Brand curriculum. I would like to add my own touch to classes to vary the training every student gets to keep the training fresh and to prevent the predictability of classes.
I plan on picking out one struggling child student and one struggling adult student to mentor on my own before and after classes to further their training bringing them up to speed with the rest of the class. Talking with them and determining what they need to work on to achieve their immediate goals and them helping them to do so. I don’t want anyone to give up because they feel they aren’t physically cut out to do something that they enjoy doing. I once believed that I wasn’t physically cut out to train again. I had ballooned up to 235lbs. from the 195lbs. I was when I first halted training. Getting back into the swing of things seemed harder for me than it was when I was a white belt seven years prior. With determination and hard work, I have molded myself into a healthier 215lbs. and gaining more confidence in the process. Sharing this story and what I have learned from it, will not only help in increasing the student retention rate for the school, but also more importantly give a second chance for people who otherwise would’ve given up on their dream.
I am still not completely comfortable in teaching a full class that has every student actively participating and learning something new. I still have a goal in adding a personal touch to the current curriculum and at the same time keeping in the fundamental values that the Buffingtons hold true to their school. Furthering the training of the mind will help me devise a way that I can mesh the two into one cohesive unit. A few of my goals are to mix in added cardio vascular, agility, and timing training to the current curriculum. These are characteristics that I’ve found useful in Taekwondo, that I would want others to have the advantage of learning as well. There has to be a fairly achievable level of difficulty mixed in with activities and exercises so that everyone may participate.
If I didn’t enjoy martial arts I wouldn’t have continued my training this far and over this many obstacles. Along my journey from the beginning age of interest at 8 years old to today at the age of 26, I have learned a great deal of life forming information from martial arts. Let’s begin with what I have learned from the five tenets of Taekwondo:
Courtesy: Respecting others even during difficult times. Some people call it, “Kill ‘em with kindness.” Some follow the golden rule, “Treat those like you want to be treated.” I agree with the platinum rule, “Treat those like they want to be treated.” Courtesy is simply living this world in a manner that is positive, peaceful, and encourages others to do the same. I try to apply this first tenet at work on a daily basis. Many times do customers and co-workers approach people in a very discourteous nature. When this happens to me, I try my best to remain calm in the situation not trying to match or out perform the levels of anger being displayed. I’m not perfect, but more times than not, I am successful at displaying courtesy.
Integrity: Simply stated means honesty. Honesty not only to others, but also to yourself. Never lead others a stray, and at the same time never lose who you really are. Trust is a fundamental ingredient in all relationships: romantic, business, and friendships. If integrity isn’t in place then courtesy to others isn’t being followed. Take for example the role of a manager at work. If the manager goes around work talking behind other co-workers back, sharing confidential information, or not being straightforward and honest it becomes very difficult for others to respect that manager creating an uncomfortable and hostile work environment.
Perseverance: One I have been tested with all to well recently. This up coming Black Belt testing is 7 years in the making. Moving away for work, stopped training for 4 years, gained forty pounds, breaking my hand in the process all haven’t stopped me from showing up to test for my 1st Degree Black Belt. It boils down to toughing out the hard times knowing that the rewards are waiting right around the corner is what perseverance has taught me. Seven-time Tour de France Champion, Lance Armstrong, once said, “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” After I broke my hand at this past tournament, I didn’t give up training, and in fact trained harder to accommodate my injury.
Self Control: Accepting the reality that the only thing in life that you can successfully change and control is yourself. Self control also keeps in check all of the self-destructive, addictive, obsessive, compulsive, irrational, and unacceptable behaviors. Anger is an ugly side of me that can tend to come out at the most inopportune times. Practicing self-control outside of Taekwondo has helped build a more positive environment at work and home. The quality of one’s life is a direct result of how well they demonstrate self-control in their everyday activities.
Indomitable Spirit: Doesn’t necessarily mean spirituality, but more so a non-denominational guide to assist with getting through the day. Indomitable spirit is that part of a person which makes them unique. It’s the part of a person that provides hope, strength and courage to get up and face each day with a smile no matter what challenges they may face. It is the sum of the four other tenets into one bigger equation that in the end provides the answers to what is right or wrong. It is looking inside your heart for the answer that will provide the most positive outcome to all involved.
Studying martial arts has helped me to realize that everyone has comes from a different background. My reason for practicing martial arts may be different than the next person’s. I’ve learned that some people join because they saw it on television and thought it looked cool. Some people join for self-defense, exercise, or personal growth. I’ve also encountered a few people that have trained in the martial arts for the wrong reason becoming a better fighter. Having all of these different reasons to join, martial arts is unique because it brings all these diverse backgrounds together for one sole purpose, to better themselves and each other. I’ve learned that martial arts can be used as a universal icebreaker. People that I would normally not associate with outside of class have ended up becoming good acquaintances and even friends thanks to martial arts.
After being a student in the ITC, UTA, and now the STO, martial arts has taught me that there is no one right answer. Saeng-Hwal it self means living. Nothing should ever be set in stone, but it should be left open for ada
ptation and modification to adjust to variable circumstances. In a sense Saeng-Hwal Taekwondo is forever living, growing and learning while other styles may soon reach maturity just waiting out time until they have become obsolete. Bruce Lee is famous for using the water analogy in the application to life and martial arts: “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water into cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put water into teapot, it becomes teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.” This was 30 plus years ago, but it still holds true to this day. Martial arts has taught me that when you think you have learned it all, it all changes. There is no one set way to do things. Everyone is unique, it’s those who can adapt that are better prepared than those who can’t. Once someone repeatedly performs a certain technique, it’s only a matter of time until someone comes along and figures out a counter to that specific attack. I believe it’s important to find out what techniques are a persons strength and what techniques are their weaknesses. This way you can display the proper time to know when to perform what maneuvers at what time. Since I broke my hand, sparring class has opened up a new way of thinking for me that normally I wouldn’t have noticed. In sparring class I was always focusing on getting certain moves executed precisely at a certain time. Now that I’ve become a spectator in sparring class, I am now open up to a new perception of sparring. I am now learning the value of proper distance, timing, and watching the balance of someone’s weight in relation to what attack is coming. This information has given me a new outlook on sparring and I plan on implementing it as soon as I am medically cleared to spar.
My planned board breaks are the #3 Side Kick with my left foot, Reverse Elbow Strike, and Step-Jump Side Kick with my right foot. I plan on demonstrating balance in strength with both legs on my board breaks. My alternate breaks are #2 Front Kick, Horizontal Hammer Fist with my left hand, and Back Elbow Strike. With permission, due to my broken hand, I am requesting to do a second kick in place of a hand technique. In order to increase the challenge I plan on alternating which leg I do each kick on. I’ve relearned my elbow strikes on my left elbow, but hand techniques are not as strong on my left as they are with my more dominant right. Generally my success ratio on board breaks is 90% on the first try, During the second attempt I break about 90% of that time and if a third attempt is needed I break my boards 100% of the time at that point.
In preparation of this essay, my perception of the martial arts has changed. I never realized how much Taekwondo and Martial Arts have meant to me until these questions were asked. This new way of thought has sparked a new beginning for me on my journey to become a martial artist. I have looked deep within on what it will take to become a better martial artist and person. I have evaluated what my future goals are as a Black Belt not only as an individual, but also as a student and hopefully instructor at Dragon Brand Taekwondo and the planning of the steps to get there. I have also looked back on what the martial arts have taught me over the years. It wasn’t up until a few months ago when I found my old testing certificates that someone pointed out to me that I had originally tested for my 8th grade orange belt August 28, 1999. It really hasn’t seemed like that long of a time has passed, but in perspective if I had continued to have trained in Taekwondo I would be currently be a 3rd Degree Black Belt. The thought doesn’t really depress me too much anymore. There were many great things that I have achieved as a result of the decision I made to move away from Grants Pass. I met some really great people, found a career that pays a respectable livable wage, and experienced culture rarely found in a small town. Sometimes the path that the majority takes to attain certain accomplishments isn’t always the best path for others. I’m truly happy to be testing for my 1st Degree Black Belt at my current point in life. I look forward to what the future may bring me. I regret nothing! The only thing that regret causes is missed opportunities because the mind is only focused on looking behind in the past.