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Why do I want to be a Black Belt? Karunyah Nimallan

Why do I want to be a Black Belt?
My name is Karunyah Nimallan and I am 10 years old.
I am excited to get my promotional black belt and having a lot of thoughts in my mind on the path that I came all the way here and the reasons why it lead me to the next level.
Looking a few years back, I was three years old when my parents gave me different choices to explore my strength. I started off with Ballet dancing at the beginning for a few weeks but gladly I ended up in Taekwondo that I love to follow.  Well, it is all started with the friendly environment provided by Mr Strickland and Mr Drew. The Taekwondo forms prepared my brain to remember the steps and execute in sequence.  It was difficult at the beginning but with time, I got used to do this as routine. As an accomplishment, I never repeated a belt.The exercises that were given to me made me a stronger person. I could be able to break one-inch board when I was nine. Sparring sessions were really helped me to build my confident to the next level. I feel I can protect myself from others who may intend to hurt me physically. Of course the above mentioned facts show how my self-confident level is that I gained throughout this journey.
Then the disciplines come to my mind. The key words of curtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit influence me largely.
With all these experience that I gain, still the slogan “Discover the champion within” really motivates me to explore my strengths and beyond. As Taekwondo has become a significant part of my life, I wanted to achieve several goals. I am sure they will lead me to be a good citizen with excellent morale.
I learnt to be humble and show respect to elders and others.  I would like to continue be very helpful to my parents appreciating the effort they are making to build a good future for myself. Showing greater respect continually for them and other elders towards learning through their experiences.
I will continue to focus on this to be a leader and a good example for my little sister to follow me as a model character. She got interested in Taekwondo following my foot-steps. I feel I have more responsibility to guide and make her successful in her life.
I leant to be honest and to live with moral principles. I will continue this in my life believing that it will give me good friends around me. This will also make me a better person who is trustworthy. I see how my little sister builds her trust on me when I be honest.
I leant to deal with difficulties with perseverance without giving up. I couldn’t break the boards recently during the practice even after several tries. I tried and tried but later my dad figured out that perhaps the board got harden for some reasons. I was confident and tried the new boards where I managed to break them in one shot. This lessons is a good example on how I am committed to be a person with perseverance and to try harder and harder until I reach my goals.

I am learning to control myself without getting emotional.  This is one hard thing for a small girl like me but I want to be really better at this with time.
Another area that I really wanted to focus as commitment to my back belt is speed. Not only in executing the form and sparring, but also in my daily activities I wanted to do things faster and with consistence performance.
I also take this opportunity to thank Mr. Strickland, Mr. Drew and other instructors who really helped and motivated me to sail thorough this exciting journey with a lot of fun.  Of course my gratitude goes to my parents and my little sister for their continued support.
Yes, I want to be a black belt that I dreamed about. It is not just a belt but I believe it is a part of my life emphasizing my priorities to reach in the future. I am certain that one of the success factors for me to be a good citizen would be my black belt in Taekwondo.

Why I Want To Be A Black Belt: By Victor Mitranca

Why I Want To Be A Black Belt

I  am testing  for my  First  Degree  Black  Belt.  This  is  how  my  story began. I was seven years old when I wanted to do a sport. I watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and told myself I wanted to be just  like them. I told my Mom  and Dad I wanted to  start taking  karate  or taekwondo.  We began to look for  a place where classes were offered. One day,  my Dad was taking my sister to her dance class, and a building caught his eyes. The name on the building was Strickland's  Taekwondo! My Dad talked to my Mom,  and they agreed to  let  me take  classes. At  my first  class, I  felt  a  little nervous,  but when  it  started  I  said,  "This  is  the  place  for  me!"  When  I  first  started taekwondo,  there  were many ups  and downs. I took  classes twice  a week, Monday and Wednesday.

One of the obstacles I faced was my first class. Learning my form was difficult  because  I  would  confuse  my  rights  and  lefts.  Eventually,  I  was ready for my first testing, but I was so nervous that I forgot my form. This made me very scared, but my family and instructors boosted my confidence. I  passed  my  first  testing  and  received  my  Yellow  Belt!  It  was  a  smoothjourney.  Starting  with  Orange Belt  I  had  to  begin  sparring. Right  away, I was very frightened!  Back then, I was not as strong. At first, I was kicked in the head a couple of times. Testing for my Senior Orange Belt was different. The testing involved sparring.
Once I became a Brown Belt, it was time to break plastic boards. The breaking technique was an elbow strike and a side kick. I broke the plastic boards and before I knew it, I had tested for my Senior Red Belt. The time finally came when I became a Probationary Black Belt.
During this testing, I had to break wooden boards. I stood up in front of the  board  nervously;  I  picked  up  my  foot  and  broke the  board  in half. SMASH! I had just broken my first wooden board as a Probationary Black Belt.  Next  came  Recommended Black  Belt.  Although  I  did  my  form  and sparring  excellently,  I  was  unable  to  break  my  boards.  It  took  me  four attempts to gain the right motivation and strength I needed to earn my First Degree  Black  Belt.  Not  being  able  to  pass  my  testing  has  taught  me perseverance and the importance of never giving up.  It made me a stronger person and gave me a good life lesson.
Through   Taekwondo,   I  was  able  to  learn  5  words  that  have  changed my  attitude.  Courtesy,  to  me,  means  to  respect  myself  and  the  others  around me.  Integrity  means  to  be  loyal  to  the  people  who  sacrifice  so much  for  me. Perseverance,   to me,  means  to never  stop  trying  no  matter  how  bard  it might get.  Self-control   means   to  have  discipline   and  take  control   of  my  actions. Indomitable   spirit,  to me,  means  to have  faith  in myself  along  with  all  of the above.

During   these  past  years,   I  have  learned  that  Taekwondo   is  for  self• defense  only.  Taekwondo   has  taught  me  self-discipline  and  what  it means  to have  an  indomitable   spirit.  There  have  been  fin  games  and  activities   added in order  to teach  technique.


Throughout   this journey,   my  family  has  been  supporting  me,  each  and every   step  of  the  way.   They  have  taught   me  that   in  order  to  achieve   my dream  I  need  to  go  out  and  strive  to  be  the  best.  My  instructors   have  also played  an  important  role  in this journey   for me.  Mr.  Strickland  and  Mr.  Cain have  taught  me  valuable  lessons  that  I  can  use  for  the  rest  of my  life.  They have  taught   me  everything   I  needed   to  know   from  kicks   and  combos   to sparring    and    breaking    boards.    I   will    always    remember    my   time    at Strickland's   Taekwondo   as an important  part  of my  life.

October 2015 Tiger Tracks

2015 #TUDisneyNationals Ring Assignments

September 2015 Tiger Tracks

Why do I want to become a black belt? William (Will) Mize

William (Will) MizeWhy do I want to become a black belt?

I first started doing martial arts at the age of 8, at Turners Karate School. From that point I knew that I wanted to be a black belt. But alas, at the young age, I lacked the focus, control and discipline to do so. I quit very early, never making it past orange belt. Years went by and I never considered doing martial arts again, until I met Hunter Bushnell. I saw the control and discipline he seemed to posses, which is something most 7th graders didn’t have. He then explained how he had been doing Taekwondo for years, and was a first-degree black belt. From that moment I realized I wanted the same skill and discipline that he possessed.

I talked my parents into letting me join Taekwondo at the beginning of my second semester 8^th grade year. Immediately I loved going to class and looked forward to it every single day. Everything about class was enjoyable, from the atmosphere provided by the people, to the exhausting exercise we received. I felt at home around everyone, and knew I wanted to continue working towards my black belt and further for as long as I could.

After earning my back belt, I wish to eventually become an instructor and continue to do Taekwondo for as long as I can. There I an innate respect for those who are well versed enough in a martial art to be able to teach it. I hope earning my black belt and eventually becoming an instructor will help me achieve that respect from my peers and others around me.

Texas A&M University has their own Taekwondo team that I wish to join as freshmen my first year attending. I hope to compete to better both myself and my teammates, while supporting the school's name.

Taekwondo is phenomenal in the sense that it is something you can do at almost any age throughout all of your life. Furthermore, as you better yourself physically you also do so mentally. This is apparent in the way all students and instructors treat one another. No matter what your age you are either sir or ma’am, and are treated with respect. To me, a black belt student not only has this respect, but has proven they deserve it.

I have worked for two and a half years toward this testing, and have been determined to get to this point from the very beginning. I want to become a black belt so I can further better myself both physically and mentally, while helping my peers along the way. To me a black belt represents the tenants of Taekwondo; Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit. These are tenants I’ve been working to improve for within myself, and earning my black belt is a representation of that work.

August 2015 Tiger Tracks

July 2015 Tiger Tracks