Tae Kwon Do

To walk in to the building today, you might not think much of it. The red and blue pads that once covered the floor are miles away, along with the targets and rubber knives and punching bags, and the new owners have dressed its rooms in the guise of a pawnshop. I will never forget the first time I walked into that little building, though. It was back when its windows sported a sign reading “Kim’s Academy of Tae Kwon Do” – when Master Choi was in the United States – when I was a child.
The studio smelled of carpeting and sparring pads, the kind of scent that sticks to your clothes after you leave. I loved it.
Master Choi was a rather short, intimidating Korean man, and he loved his job. His eyes sparkled when he shook my hand, and he told me to put on a uniform and join the class in the back room. I was surprised at the offer, but I certainly didn’t reject it. In that first lesson, I fell in love with the elegant movements of the kicks, and the burning in my lungs caused an irresistible endorphin rush. I had discovered my addiction.
As I climbed the ladder of colorful belts in a frenzied dedication to the classes, I sometimes felt my confidence waver. I would refuse to test for the next belt, fearing I was not prepared. Master Choi, eyes radiant with humor and assurance, would tell me over and over that I would never be more prepared than I was at that instant. Each time, he was correct. With his reassurance, I eventually gained the confidence I had struggled to maintain; this led me to receive my first-degree black belt in three years.
One year later, Kim’s Academy has moved to another location, and Master Choi has returned to Korea to comfort his ailing father. The master’s son, Instructor James Choi, has taken over the family business.
Although it is in a different location and in the hands of a different instructor, Kim’s Academy maintains its hold on me. The dedication instilled in me by Master Choi and his instructors has never wavered – and, perhaps more importantly, neither has the confidence. This confidence has given me the poise necessary to become dedicated not only in the martial art, but also in my classes, my friendships, my extracurricular activities, and the innumerable other things that make up the busy life of an American teenager. For these reasons, I consider this martial art the most positive activity of which I have ever been a part.
Tae Kwon Do is not simply about kicks, nor is it simply about doing what you’re told to do. It’s about discipline – about building a strong character that can survive any situation. I have not achieved that character, but I am addicted to the path that leads to that achievement. Every kick, every form, every self-defense maneuver – they add up to something greater than the sum of its parts. The skills taught through these lessons can be translated to life, and that translation has become the most potent force in my reality. It is the bane of my existence, and I am so thankful to be a part of something that I truly love.