Morning Sun Café - 아침해 카페

                     

            

 

è  Go Back (Return)

Personal Essay for 1^st dan Testing

       By Stephanie Files (May 12, 2012)

            It has been six months since I initially tested for black belt.  The journey recently has focused on strengthening bonds with fellow students, masters, and instructors as I learn new techniques and refine old ones.  I am also becoming more comfortable sharing what I have learned with lower-ranking students. It can be both humbling and eye-opening to struggle to answer their questions that arise during practice.  Yet that struggle gradually builds one’s confidence.

          I wrestled also with some anxiety before sparring at the recent Tae Kwon Do tournament sponsored by Master Yi’s Academy in Topeka, Kansas. I wondered how many black belt women would compete in my division. Would their skills exceed mine?  I certainly did not want to injure anyone or be injured myself.  My masters and instructors told me not to worry.  I discovered a deeper level of focus in sparring at the tournament than I had previously realized. Keeping your eyes fixed upon your opponent’s arms, legs, and your target zone—only altering the gaze to occasionally check the direction of your opponent’s stare, which might foretell their next move.  I tuned out the audience, their noises, and the bulky safety gear to which I was not accustomed. Unfortunately, I also tuned out the instruction Master Yu called out for “more bouncing,” like we hear in sparring practice. It was not until I watched my son’s video of the match the next day that I realized my listening error. This was followed by a prompt apology to our Grand Master Yu!

          Master Sims had spoken of a level of focus in which a virtual mental curtain comes down to block out distractions when you demonstrate a form or technique. The six minutes or so of sparring at the tournament gave me a glimpse of this ability.

          The tournament also gave me the opportunity to take pride in not only the physical skills of my classmates, but also the courtesy and ethics of our Academy. Winning is nice, but it is more important to leave a legacy of respectful behavior, which my classmates, Masters, and Instructors demonstrated. Other clubs notice.  In departing the Expo Center with my family, a Master from another club commented that Grand Master Yu was one of the most exceptional and kind people that he had ever met.

          This leads me to the recent unveiling of Master Yu’s personal website, which is an incredible, diverse collection of photos, videos, history lessons, natural beauty, and wisdom.  My initial impression was that it reminded me of a Yu’s Academy Black Belt Club meeting. The website is a virtual, living scrapbook which people from all over the world have already begun to enjoy. I strongly suggest you visit the Morning Sun Café website. It exceeds your expectations, just like the experience here at Yu’s Academy.

                                                                             Stephanie Files

 

 

 

To be Continued

 

 

è  Go Back (Return)

    

 

 

      

방문하신그대의 모습이 너무나 아름 답읍니다 -향기나는 MSCcafe아침해 카페 에서…