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1-Personal Essay – Gisele McGaughy for 8th
Dan Testing
In 1976, I
was a junior at Missouri Western State College, looking for a class to fulfill
a PE requirement. When I chose beginning
Taekwondo, I had no idea the impact this one hour credit would have on my life. I finished the Taekwondo class at the college
and in the meantime, I signed up for Hapkido at Yu’s
Academy. The more I studied Martial
Arts, the more I loved it. But I still
didn’t realize that it would become a lifelong commitment.
I traveled through the belt ranks
and received my 1st Dan Black Belt on December 22, 1979. As I look back on that achievement, and the
continuation of my training, the thought of stopping was never there. I achieved 2nd Dan on July 11,
1981; 3rd Dan on December 12, 1985; 4th Dan on November
19, 1988, 5th Dan on January 15, 1994, 6th Dan on May 8,
1999 and 7th Dan on my 50th birthday, May 13, 2006. Now as I look forward to 8th Dan
testing, I will also be looking back on the past 36 years.
When I started my classes at Yu’s
Academy, the workout area was where the Nautilus machines are now. We did our fist pushups on the concrete that
surrounded the mat. There was an iron
bar around the mats that kept them in place.
Occasionally, that bar was what was slapped when you thought your were
going to slap the mat during falling.
Some of my fondest memories
are: A tournament in Souix
Falls, South Dakota as a green tip orange belt, where my match started with my opponent throwing a
round house kick that I blocked with my nose!
A team tournament in Ames, Iowa, that a whole van load
of students attended. The renovation of the Academy. Numerous demonstrations in the summer,
outside, with little or no mats to fall on, achieving my 6th Dan at
the Yu’s Academy 25th Anniversary celebration, and my 7th
Dan testing.
My Martial Arts training is based
on Yu’s Academy’s motto, “Sound Mind in a Sound Body” and the tenets of Martial
Arts: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance,
Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit. Most people think of self
defense when they think of martial arts, and that that is the only
reason for training. I have definitely
learned self defense at Yu’s Academy. But there are so many other aspects of
training, as the tenets imply.
Courtesy or respect is first on the
list, the first
thing learned at Yu’s Academy. Although
showing respect is a physical action, it is a result of mental attitude. I have the utmost respect for Grandmaster Yu
and for my fellow Masters and Instructors.
And for all the students at Yu’s Academy. I respect that they have committed themselves
to all that is involved in learning martial arts.
Integrity is also a mental concept, that emphasizes moral values and honesty. Grand Master Yu has told me that after a
certain amount of self defense training is
accomplished, the more important training is that of character. I believe that all of the leaders at Yu’s
Academy have accomplished this aspect of training and are a reflection of
integrity and good character.
Using self control.
There are times when this is kind of hard to do. Grand Master Yu often talks about loosing your temper.
And we all do it, but I think martial arts makes you realize how
important it is to use self control so no one gets
injured. Learning self
control is also very important in my life outside of martial arts. Sometimes my job can be very stressful. Self control is
very necessary when dealing with situations that come up at work or even at
home.
Indomitable spirit is a mental
attitude. I have learned that having
indomitable spirit means that even if things are not looking as favorable as I
would like them to, I want to continue to look forward and strive for the
best. I think this aspect has helped me
a lot in class and in my everyday life.
The definition of perseverance is
never giving up; to persist in spite of other
influences, oppositions or discouragement.
I feel that perseverance is my redeeming quality. I have continued my martial arts training,
even though my work keeps me away from class much more than I would like. Martial arts has
never been easy for me and I think that is a good thing. It makes my accomplishments more
meaningful. As I get older, learning new
techniques and being able to perform them, are even
harder. I plan to continue to perform my
techniques to the best of my abilities for as long as possible.
There are many people to thank for
my lifetime in martial arts. First and foremost, God, for giving me this life.
Grand Master Yu, for living
out his dream of coming to a new country and providing excellence in physical
and mental training. Bill for his constant support. My Mother, who was such a support for me and
always enjoyed coming to watch class, my testings and
demonstrations.
She is gone from this earth, but she is always by my side. Masters Hirtler
and Sims, Instructors Cook and Love, for their friendship, camaraderie and
support. And
for all students of Yu’s Academy, past, present and future.
Thank you and Never Give Up!!!!!
2- Other Life Accomplishments:
Graduated
High School, Pattonsburg, MO: May 23, 1974
BS Music Education, MWSC: May 18,
1978
Certified Respiratory Therapist:
July 19, 1986
Married to Bill McGaughy:
May 5, 1990
Associates Degree, California College
of Health Sciences: July 27, 1995
Registered Respiratory Therapist:
December 7, 1996
Joined St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Catholic Church: March 31, 2002
BS with Emphasis in Respiratory
Care, California College of Health Sciences: October 18, 2005
To be Continued
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