Master breathes down my neck, twisting and turning my limbs until they were in perfect position. Instructor forces me to do push-ups because of my cowardly complaints. My sparring partner knocks me to the ground with one powerful kick. I run to the bathroom to throw up my breakfast, every morsel of food coming out just the way it came in. A civil war emerges within myself. My body wants to quit and rest, but my mind wants to continue and endure through the physical hardships. In the end, my mind conquers, and my body eventually thanks it in the end as I progress during my Tae Kwon Do career. I ask myself. Why do I have to go through all this pain? Why do I have to abide by my Master’s rules? Simple: Discipline, character, perseverance, determination, and good health among other things. Tae Kwon Do takes me into a whole different dimension where it’s just me and the mat. Growing up, I was unmotivated and lazy. I never wanted to do homework, and just wanted to play video games and sleep. It wasn’t until I joined Tae Kwon Do that I was able to see the potential in myself and realized that the only reason why I was lazy and unmotivated was because I was afraid to fail. My Tae Kwon Do instructor taught me that failing is a vital part of being successful and confident in life. Tae Kwon Do has not just been a hobby to me; it has become who I am.
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