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Rachael Raymond

Mr. Neuburger

Eng Comp 101-129

10 February 2011

Narrative Essay

Way of the Hand and Foot

Remember watching those intensive, action packed movies where men are doing jump

360 spin kicks and explosive hand techniques to wipe out any enemy standing in their way? As

you are watching this, you sit there thinking, “I wish I could do that!” After each movie you go

home with this feeling that you are some incredible martial artist and try to replicate those exact

Taekwondo moves, in which all you end up doing is getting hurt.

Beginning Taekwondo as a twelve year old, my goal was to work my way from a white

belt to a black belt and learn those awesome moves. Turns out, Taekwondo is harder than it

looks. My first classes started off awkward because I had no idea what a front, round, crescent,

hook and side kick were. We also had to learn the three basic stances: front, back, and middle

stance. This would all come into use in sparring, patterns, and board breaking. Plus, there were

weird kihaps to go along. Kihaps are words signaling what the instructor wants you to do. For a

young beginner, this was more than I could comprehend.

Going through the belt ranks, I met some incredible people. This woman we named Legs,

stood six feet tall and could kick a board behind her head. She was extremely flexible and all leg,

hence the nickname. This person you avoided when sparring because she could get her leg

wrapped around your neck. My fifth degree black belt Master David is another person people

admire and inspire to be. He helps us improve in the martial art and nothing gets past him.

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Testing for my 2nd

degree black, I accidently mixed two patterns together without even realizing

it. He was the only judge who realized my mistake and called me out on it. Although I messed

up, we all had a good chuckle. Besides being an exceptional instructor, he is also ridiculously

fast despite his age. One moment he is in a fighting stance and next, there is a foot heading

straight for your face. Needless to say, I would not want to be in a dark alley with him.

There are two tournaments held every year: Regional and National. With my second

tournament quickly approaching, my instructor prepared me for any competition. This is the

place where I could put all of my training to use. I signed up in the pattern, board breaking, and

sparring divisions. My major concern was in the board breaking division because I was not used

to a metal board machine. The board breaking machine is a metal object that can hold boards

steadily, not requiring holders or risking injuries. Usually, I practiced with people holding my

boards, so there was give. With this machine, you have to hit exactly in the middle or else you

will make contact with the metal. I had put my body through stress, long and sweaty hours in

preparation for this moment. I could not fail.

As the day progressed, I earned two gold medals in the patterns and sparring division.

With my growing confidence, I made my way over to board breaking. I needed to get this gold

metal to win the National award. Walking near the board machine, my hands and legs started to

tremble. With each step, my confidence slowly drifted away. I chose the black and blue board as

my target. This was the make it or break it point.

As many people know life does not always go as planned. I began the kick by twisting

my foot backwards, so my knee was cocked toward my chest with my foot levitating in front of

my target. I pulled my knee tighter to my chest, as if trying to compress a spring. Once that

spring was released, my foot struck the metal structure. Strike one. Completely missing the board

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and hitting the metal bars, pain shot up my foot. Soon after the pain vanished, I set up for my

second chance. Strike two. With my last attempt I struck out. My hopes of receiving that

National award diminished after hours upon hours of practicing for this moment. At the end of

the night, I received second place.

It is often said that practice makes perfect. Maybe something did not quite go as planned

in the beginning, but you turn right back around and try again. A few months later I returned and

won a gold medal in board breaking. I not only broke the black and blue board, but a

combination of a black and brown board, and then two black boards. No one could compete with

the high goal I set. That year I also received a plaque in the female black division for winning the

National Award in all three divisions (patterns, sparring and board breaking). I am able to

showcase my honor and recognize how much effort it took to finally be on top.

Looking back on those Taekwondo movies, I know it takes dedication to be where I am

today. Starting off as a white belt you think it is impossible to make it to the black belt. As you

make it through the ranks though, you start to learn more techniques that become useful not only

in competitions, but in self defense situations. After all the hard work I have put in Taekwondo, I

am finally able to do those jump 360 spin kicks and various moves the people in those martial

artist movies do. Even if you do not succeed at first, keep trying again.