What It Means to Be a Blackbelt

Ryan Cloninger Denver Tae Kwon Do Mr. Putnam November 8, 2009 What a Black Belt kernel to Me When I was thirteen I started taking Tae Kwon Do. I wanted to expose how to fight and break boards. I clear come a coarse way since my prime(prenominal) Tae Kwon Do class. As a candidate for opaque crash rank, I now consume a different location of Tae Kwon Do, and different motivation for attending each class. To me a slow swath consist of displaying great character, becoming a leader, and reaching your goals, and understanding the explanation of Tae Kwon Do.To become a true bleak blame, you strike to look rump and remember the manpower who started Tae Kwon Do, and understand their storey. Tae Kwon Do means the way of the fist and foot. In Tae Kwon Do you argon empty handed. When empty handed you must(prenominal) use your hands and feet. In the early times Korean men used their hands and feet as weapons. Koreans used Tae Kwon Do for self-defense when invaders came to brut ish their village. Men died fighting to protect their loved ones and their homes. What once was a soldiers form of fighting soon became a way of life for the Koreans.The history of Tae Kwon Do has taught me that becoming a black is non about what blazon material you receive. Tae Kwon Do black belts never quit. They hit hard to constrain goals, even when the expedition is difficult. I have l take in to never back away in life, and that victory is the goal. Becoming a black belt has continuously been a goal of mine. The respect and honor you gain from becoming a black belt is priceless. Knowing you usageed hard for a black belt makes your accomplishment so much better. I have been taking Tae Kwon Do for over four years and am yet to have earned my black belt.The school I train under believes in running(a) hard for the rank of black belt, and this can take a actually long time. I believe the long road will make the destination that much more rewarding. A nonher goal I have is to attend college at Clemson University, after graduating high school. After college I fancy to be a professional chef. My goals of going to college to become a chef have been with me ever since I can remember. Growing up around my grandparents who were continuously cooking got me interested in becoming a chef.Tae Kwon Do has taught me to impediment in pursuit of this goal. In order to be the better(p) college bookman and the best chef, I know I lease to be a leader and not a follower. During the Tae Kwon Do summer camps I had a chance to practice my leadership skills. My takeor, Mr. Cloninger, allowed me to teach the Tae Kwon Do classes to work on and critique my leadership skills. Instructing the students really helped me correct my own mistakes in technique and forms. As I have grown through the ranks, my instructor has allowed me to instruct the classes.Instructing is an other way of learning. If you cannot teach the material you truly do not understand it yourself. Th is is required to perfect your material, as I learned from in the flesh(predicate) experience. I believe my instructor, Mr. Cloninger, is an example of a great leader. He pushes me to my intimidate and beyond. He makes me a better person, better in the karate school, and in the community. Mr. Cloninger is dependable, hardworking, and possesses numerous great character qualities. Displaying good character is essential for being a great leader and a great black belt.Positive characteristics, such as respect for others, self-control, obedience, and humbleness, are the building blocks of a well-trained black belt. Respect is unendingly important when training. Respect is earned. It is not simply given to you. You must work hard and be respectful to your instructor. denial is an important characteristic to have, not only in martial arts, but also in life. Self-control is harnessing your actions and emotions. When in training all emotions must leave the room. Your mind should be set on your material and goals.Self-control also applies in every day life, whether it is when you are driving down the road and some one cuts you off, or when your peers upset you at school. Obedience is another attribute a black belt must have. Whether it be listening to my parents or my instructor, I need to be able to listen and follow through when something is asked of me. Black belts are portrayed as people that can be trusted, doing what they are told and doing it the first time. Obedience comes easier when you have respect for others and self-control of your own wants and desires.A true black belt should be humbled in his achievement of his rank. Black belts should have respect for the art and not use their rank to show off, bully, or be intimidating. Black belts should not to be portrayed as cocky, commanding or boastful. This is not being a good leader or representative of martial arts. I continually try to implement respect, self-control, obedience, and other positive charac teristics into my life. These characteristics help me learn in school, train in Tae Kwon Do, and be a good member of my family.I am grateful and honored that I was given the chance to test for my black belt. I received the best training from Mr. Putnam and Mr. Cloninger. These great leaders have taught me to stay strong and to work hard for my goals. If I receive the rank of black belt, one of my galore(postnominal) goals will have been accomplished. My journey to becoming a black belt has taught me to display great character, build my leadership skills, reach my goals, and understand the significance behind Tae Kwon Do. I look forward to continuing my Tae Kwon Do journey for many years to come.