Monday, Nov. 07, 2011

Reaching my personal best, one kick at a time

"Sweetie, do you want some M&Ms?"

I nodded for the hundredth time - at least I thought so. But my daddy kept asking me the same question - that is absolutely annoying!

"Yeah, Daddy!" I bent my knees and "nodded" again - with my bottom. That was what I did when I was 2 years old. That funny nodding move surely brought my parents a lot of concern. I am OK with it as I did my best as a 2-year-old.

Did I mention that they also worried about my lack of attention when I was little? Well, let's put the history behind.

Now, I am getting more and more recognition and praise from my parents, teachers, counselors and others. How? My secret: martial arts, more specifically, taekwondo!

"Eye focus, body focus, mind focus," I murmured to myself as I shouted "Hi-Yah!", slid aside, blocked the opponent's snap kick and jumped with a tornado kick aiming for his chest - a point earned!

That is me, practicing in a taekwondo sparring class. My name is Jonathan, and I will be 7 years old this month. When I was 4 years old, my parents brought me to the White Tiger Martial Arts School in Cary. I instantly loved it there and started to learn taekwondo. In each taekwondo class, I have learned how to do meditation, stretching and tumbling, hand and foot techniques, self-defense and sparring (kicking, pouching and blocking), with efficient forms.

The masters were so good at mixing valuable life skills with taekwondo lessons. As I worked hard on my way up to higher rank belts, I found myself not only becoming more and more ready for the challenges of mastering new taekwondo forms and techniques but also managing and handling my daily tasks and other sports with efficiency and good judgment.

I earned silver stars and sashes at camps, and I was also recognized as the student of the month of the bodon belt. Taekwondo broadens my view to a world full of challenges and excitement, as well as self-discipline. Taekwondo teaches me valuable life skills: perseverance, self-discipline, respect, confidence, integrity and motivation. Most rewarding of all, the taekwondo masters coach me to pursue my personal best.

"The more you focus, the more you will enjoy!" That's what I told my little brother, Ethan, who will soon be 4 and is looking forward to joining taekwondo class next year.

"No play (pain), No gain!" my little brother copies after me when he watches my daily practices. I will earn my first black belt this month. It is challenging and hard work, but I am confident that I can do it. After the black belt test, I am planning to join the leadership team and demo team so I can help to pass the values of martial arts to more people!