My Experience

I began Tae Kwon Do when I was 6years old. At that time I learned it at the Ohio State University Tae Kwon Do club. I practiced it through the first and second grades of the Elementary School. But as I returned to Korea with my family, I could no longer practice it. I was so busy with learning Korean language and all the school subjects. Yet, with the entrance into the middle school, I restarted Tae Kwon Do, joining the Woo Sung Sports Center. At the second grade of Middle School(8th Grade), I got the first dan black belt, and at the third grade(9th Grade) I got the second dan black belt. And at the first grade of High School, I have mastered the third dan black belt course. However, before the third dan test, I came back to the US. So, regretably, I didn't get my third dan black belt yet.

When I was in the Woo Sung Tae Kwon Do club, I was a member of the demonstration team. The training was literally hard training. After you exercise you could realize your body has showered in sweat. The master(Master Lee Jun Suk) didn't really give a moment to rest. Our demonstration team had the biggest focus on sparring. We had a training of all sorts of sparring skills in order to strengthen our speed, power, flexibility, timing, steps, technics, discipline, principle, and temerity. The first basic thing we did for sparring was to strengthen our physical stamina. We did push-ups, pull-ups, jumping jacks, sit ups, short distance running, bridge push ups, jumping over barriers, long distance running, ect. And we trained sparring technics. We did all kinds of kicks in all kinds of situations including the 560 degree kick(few of the students had opportunity to learn it including me), tough hoshinsuls(self-defence technics), one time sparring, free sparring, ect. We also learned the principles of sparring and the phylosophy.

The motivation to restart Tae Kwon Do in my middle school year was to exercise and be in good shape. I wanted some refreshment in my mind and body. I really attained refreshment and good physical and mental condition. Now, I am doing Tae Kwon Do for two main reasons: First, to contribute to my country, Korea. Second, to be a big minded man.

I would like to recommend Tae Kwon Do to all teenagers.