Years ago my best friend handed me a uniform and told me to go put it on. And now I am on my second cycle on my way to testing for my fourth dan.
Along the way my family has heard me wandering what in the world was I thinking. One of my sons talked me out of my doom spirals when I was struggling with any one of many things that I can think of. He also tied my Bocho Dan belt on. My classmates and coworkers became family.
I tested for my first and last then my second and then my third. My husband learned how to attack me for self-defenses or to shout out what random one to do next and my other son is one of the loudest voices to cheer me on. Workout schedules have been rearranged so we can do them together or dinners later because of class. And while doing that I got a Peyton...everyone should have one, you can't have mine though.😁 My best friend tied my belts on, and the family that had welcomed me and mine celebrated with me. They also helped me get there, teaching me and encouraging me and sometimes pushing me along the way.
Masters Natasya and Marcus started a poomsae team and I began competing in poomsae competitions, mainly as a way to get better but also because we should occasionally do something that scares us. It has been humbling and frustrating and very hard, also very gratifying and a ton of fun to train and compete with our team and warching all of us grow in our TKD. I competed at Hamadang last year with my KT LKN family.
And now I will be testing to become a master. You never know where life will take you if you try something...even if it scares you.
Can't wait to see all of us show the results of our dedication, hard work and perseverance in October. Good luck everyone!