Sunday, August 24, 2008

My Journey to Date - - Chief Instructor's Blog August 24, 2008

I thought I would take an opportunity to share with you my 14 plus year journey to date in leaning Han Moo Kwan – where it has taken me and what I have learned.

I started with the Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do club in January 1994 after I started working at Lockheed Martin. I worked with both Norio Tominaga and Sam Nazzal at the time and they both encouraged me to try the club out. I did sign up, based on their encouragement and for other reasons. First, I have always been interested in martial arts and this was an opportunity to learn more about it. Second, I was female, living alone and learning techniques to defend myself were important to me. (if not to mention I had two brothers who wanted me to buy a gun for protection, and opted for learning self-defense instead, which satisfied them). Third, being athletic, I felt it would be a good workout environment. Lastly, I was new to the Bay Area, and it was an opportunity to meet new people.

I have learned more from studying and teaching Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do that I ever imagined when I first joined the club. I have been exposed and learned new concepts and ideas regarding energy and have gained confidence through my accomplishments in the club.

I earned my first-degree black belt in December 1997. The road to achieving it had its challenges. During those years I faced uphill battles trying to balance my commitment to the art form and other commitments in my personal life. Many times I almost gave up the art form. The encouragement from members of the Club including Brian Rainie, Bob Ramirez, and Wayland Louie helped me stay on the course and work through my challenges both in the art form and in my personal life.

I have been instructing classes for both the Lockheed Martin club and other clubs since 1999. My other major promotions to date are as follows:
· Reached Second Degree Black Belt in July 2002
· Reached Certified Instructor status in December 2005
· Promoted to Interim Chief Instructor in January 2007
· Promoted to Chief Instructor in December 2008

Instructing the art form has assisted me in improving my techniques and gaining a better understanding of the applications of the techniques themselves. It has also been an opportunity to give back to the club and the community. I have found extreme satisfaction in continuing to improve not only my performance of the art form, but in researching and learning more about martial arts, the history of tae kwon do, improving my instructional ability, and assisting others and providing an environment for students to grow and improve physically as well as mentally and emotionally.

I could not imagine what my life would be like had I not continued with studying and teaching Han Moo Kwan. I have grown and continue to grow in many areas I might not have otherwise. And in the process, I have made many invaluable friendships and found my soul mate and kindred spirit in Brian Rainie.

In addition, what I have learned as part of my journey, I have been able to take into my personal and professional life. I have been able to use my experience and training in martial arts to improve my other athletic activities: hiking, softball, weight lifting, cycling through my improvement in focus, breathing, balance. I have been able to use my understanding of energy to help me in the professional world – in reading and understanding energy, deflecting energy and not taking it on. Being an instructor has helped me in my professional life by having another venue for presenting as well as learning and adapting teaching styles for different learners and understanding motivation methods for various personalities.

Every person’s martial arts journey is different, but every one that makes martial arts a part of their life has an amazing journey – discovering who they are and who they can be; growing spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically in ways they might never have been able to do through other activities.

I hope your journey has been as amazing and rewarding to date as mine has.

Regards,
Kelly

“Seek not to follow in the footsteps of men of old; seek what they sought” ~ Matsu Basho (1644- 1694), famous poet of the Edo period in Japan