An Unlikely Master

Nine youth students are standing in front of me, each wearing their nice, white uniforms and colored belts. They are standing attentively in a nice, straight line, eagerly waiting for my next instruction.

Just kidding.

It’s actually nine 5-7 year olds. They ARE in white uniforms. The line has more zig and zag than I wish. One newer student rotates her eyes around the room. Another stares blankly forward and doesn’t respond even after saying his name for the fourth time. Another is standing full sideways, apparently staring into the ear canal of the student next to him. Yet another is actually starting to turn around backwards; I think there is an invisible unicorn in the back of the room that only he can see. Continue reading →

A couple of weeks ago, we had a night at the dojang for students to complete their test requirements from their recent color belt promotion testing. In all six cases students had a required board break left to perform which they had not been able to do at their test. In particular, one young student, Nicholas, had the challenge of completing a combination kick break, breaking one board in front of him with one designated kick and then turning and breaking another board behind him with a different designated kick. Continue reading →

Allison was on her back, her face getting red, increasingly contrasted against her golden hair. The problem is that there was another girl underneath her, with her arm wrapped around Allison’s neck. She was getting choked out, on the verge of submission. It was a bit challenging to watch, as there was little I could do to help the eleven-year-old get out of the situation. A small, mild-manner, sweet girl. Getting choked out, struggling, unable to move. She tapped in submission.

A similar scenario played out moments later when another student, Nick, a nice boy of the same age, faced a similar fate. If there was any significant difference, Nick’s face got even more red.  This fate repeated itself another time for each of them that afternoon. Continue reading →

Michaela was aiming, concentrating, brow furrowed, getting ready to once again lift her leg and try to drive her foot through the board. She had tried several times already, unsuccessful each time. She was surely nervous and frustrated. I was holding the board and was also focusing, offering her the occasional tip or encouragement, nervous for her, wanting her to succeed, to figure it out, to learn.

“CAN I OFFER A SUGGESTION? MAYBE BECAUSE YOUR LEGS ARE SHORT YOU SHOULD MOVE CLOSER. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU AREN’T QUITE REACHING THE BOARD.”

That comment didn’t come from me. It came from Continue reading →

He walked into our school as a 3rd grader. He was hiding alongside his aunt, his guardian. “I’m afraid.” “There’s nothing to be afraid of. See, those kids in there are doing it. Some of those kids look like you. They’re having fun.” “I’m afraid. They’re not me.” “You wanted to come try this. I think you’ll like it.” “It kinda looks good, but I’m afraid. I’m scared.”

Thus went the conversation between Daniel, his aunt and I as they considered whether or not he wanted to start Taekwondo training.

Daniel is autistic. He is afraid of new experiences, and even still feels afraid of his usual experiences at times. He can get fixated on things, mostly things that would somehow disturb him, particularly touch sensations. But it can be anything. We make some accommodations for him. Continue reading →

I’ve been involved in a sticky organizational matter that boils down to communication. Actually, it boils down to relationship, but how communication factors into that seems key. More specifically, it has to do with communication models and expectations.

As a Taekwondo master in a traditional system, there are certain expected communication and behavioral protocols that are rooted even deeper than the rank or status per se; they are rooted in Korean culture with it’s particular regard for hierarchy and it’s higher Power-Distance Index. Rank, position, age, authority and other factors are all part of the interaction and communication equation, Continue reading →

The image is clear in my head: an eleven year old Taekwondo student performing his pattern, his head swiveling and his eyes darting left, right and behind. Not because it’s part of his pattern, but rather because he is working so hard to watch other kids doing their patterns.

He’s not doing this to admire their form. He’s not doing it to try and learn from them or get hints as to how he can become better. He’s watching to try and be sure that they aren’t performing their pattern better than he is performing his. The irony is that because he is focusing on others, his own pattern greatly suffers. The further irony is that if he does his pattern with self-focus, he can do it rather well. I also know that he is probably hoping that they somehow stumble, so that he looks better. Continue reading →