Gaining Second Degree At Taekwondo

If obtaining first degree black belt in TaeKwonDo is like graduating from college, obtaining second degree would be the equivalent of getting a Master’s Degree. Training for first degree means intense physical workouts, memorization of form movements, trying to understand one’s body, and learning the relationship between your mind and body. Training for second degree continues with these experiences and strengthens them, while also teaching you how to hand down your new found knowledge to others. When I first started teaching some of the classes it would mostly be warm-ups and exercises. I concentrated on trying to remember which exercises to do and in which order to do them. After awhile the monotony of doing the same exercises in the same

Leaders, not only in TaeKwonDo, but also in real-life situations, possess a quality that makes them stand out from the masses. This quality varies depending on the leader and may be positive or negative. The leader in a basketball team may have a very high shooting percentage and play a great defense. Or the leader of a chess team may have great instincts and predict what his or her opponent may do next. Whatever the situation may be, a leader creates a desire in others to bring out the best in

When we look before we do our next movement in a form we are really learning to survey a situation in real life before we react. When we push ourselves to do five extra pushups with each belt level we are pushing ourselves to be more productive at work or have a greater capacity for every day stresses. When we learn and try to master a new technique or form we are learning to expand our mind and deal with change. The list can go on and on but the fact remains that the discipline and respect and strength we gain from TaeKwonDo can be related to all aspects of our life. Leaders must teach others and convey the messages learned at TaeKwonDo class as real-life teachings. These teachings and lessons should not be for just advancing belts in TaeKwonDo, but rather enhancing one’s own life and learning how to live life to the fullest and deal with any situation that may arise. Most importantly, leaders must strive to influence people to try their hardest and make the most out of their