November 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.

Why I Want to Become a Black Belt - Peter Sheng

Why I Want to Become a Black Belt

A reason why I want to become a black belt is because it is a life accomplishment and a milestone. My mom said I should stick with karate and after trying it, I enjoyed it and continue to do karate. My friend from school was actually the one who recommended me to this place. Karate taught me to keep trying and not to give up. So far I have stuck with karate and I am glad I did. My goal was to become a black belt. Becoming a black belt means you are no longer an amateur and are experienced. People would not bully me if they knew I was a black belt. Becoming a black belt would make me feel accomplished and feel like I have something that I am good at. Karate is a sport that you can continue to do as you grow older. It helps protect you and your friends and makes you stronger physically and mentally. I have grown more disciplined doing the karate program and I have grown stronger physically. If I ever was having a bad day, after going to karate, my day would become 10 times better. I am not offended anymore when people call me names because the instructors playfully called me names. My temper was more controlled because I learned self-control during sparring. My respect for others has been shown a lot more now because in karate you must say yes sir, no sir, yes ma’am, and no ma’am. I used to not be very respectful but after coming to karate I even say yes sir, no sir, yes ma’am, and no ma’am at school now. Becoming a black belt means I can help teach the younger students and help them with anything. I used to not like to spar and would hope to not spar that day because I was sometimes put against really tough people but one day I realized I would have to do it if I wanted to be a black belt so I tried to have fun with it. I started laughing with friends during sparring and trying to make it more fun. I have learned that brute strength is not useful without skill and technique. Technique is very important when board breaking. During testing I have always been nervous about board breaking and got the butterflies, but it has turned out to be not that bad. The sparring has always worn me out the most, while the form has been the most nerve-racking since it is the beginning of testing. During testing week I would usually come for often than usual. This helped me prepare for testing. I have made many close friends from attending karate. Karate has made my life full of happiness and I enjoy every day. I have discovered more about myself like that I used to not be respectful. I wish that I had started karate earlier so I could have enjoyed this earlier.

By: Peter Sheng

Erika Henderson - Confidence Essay

Erika Henderson

June 6, 2015

            From move-in day to the last final exam, confidence became something I had to obtain to prove to myself that I am strong enough to be who I really am in college. My name is Erika Henderson and I am a second degree decided black belt at Strickland’s Taekwondo. I have just finished my first year in college and I am proud to say that I had a successful year. I’m a two-sport collegiate athlete at the University of the Ozarks in small town Clarksville, AR. I was recruited to play softball, as well as offered to

run cross-country. It has always been my dream as a little girl to play softball at the big college level. People tell me that I look strong and confident up at bat or when I make that play in the outfield. But really, I’m not exactly the most confident person in my head. Outside of softball, taekwondo, or cross-country, I’m really just that shy girl that tries so hard to fit in and be successful. I’m too afraid of making mistakes and that is one of my biggest problems. I was put in an environment where I had to make sudden or difficult choices, and where confidence in myself had to

be put to the test. Unfortunately, I have been in situations during my first year where I have made bad decisions, decisions I regret and I can’t take them back. There have also been situations I’ve been in where I did not have control and was not strong enough in myself to overcome the situation. I was never warned that anything can happen to anyone in college. I learned that the hard way. In college, you don’t have your mom’s shoulder to cry on, you don’t have your dad’s hand to hold, but what you do have is your confidence to achieve the difficult. The point is that college is a scary place, or at least you can make it that way. Confidence does not happen overnight, it is a constant build of ups and downs throughout life. Sports are a great example of life. I’ve been through

the heart ache of sitting the bench, tears, and being yelled at because I “wasn’t good enough”. I realize now that my problem wasn’t the fact that I wasn’t good enough, my confidence was just hidden. My dad always told me that I have the athletic ability to be an amazing softball player, but confidence is the true key to show that inner beast inside. I brought those words into my college career and with those words I started every game and had the second highest RBI record of my team at Ozarks. Sports are just one of many examples of how confidence can be hidden the most or the most shown. That fact of it all, a growing adult can lose their focus of who they really are because their confidence was lost. There were times I forgot who I was in my first year. I forgot that I was a second degree black belt, a great softball player and cross-country runner who have been through years and years of blood, sweat, and a lot of tears. With my first year under me, I’ve seen it all, heard

it all, and been through it all. I’m ready now with what lies ahead of my future and ready to learn more on how to become a confident adult. With confidence, you can dig deep and find that inner strength in you, that inner beast that’s wanting to come out. When you feel like giving up is the only option, force yourself to keep fighting because that is truly who are. When you look at yourself in the mirror, who do you see? How do others want to see you? Whatever you tell yourself, that is who you will really become. It all starts with you and what you say in your head. In just eight months of being at the University of the Ozarks, I have grown into a stronger woman, a woman who has gained her confidence, and a woman who is not afraid anymore to become her true self. 

Of course, I could have never found myself or learned how to be a stronger person without the help of my incredible Taekwondo instructor, Mr. Strickland. I couldn’t be more thankful to learn from the best. Most of my taekwondo experience has been a series of ups and downs, but the words that come from Mr. Strickland are beyond helpful in any life experiences. I give my hugest thank you to Mr. Strickland. I don’t think I would be any stronger, physically and mentally, if I have never met him. It is a privilege to learn from him and I am so thankful to be a part of Strickland’s Taekwondo.      

Why I Want To Become A Black Belt by Corey Stoltz

Why I Want To Become A Black Belt

April 18, 2015

By: Corey Stoltz

​            I have a lot of reasons, big and small, for wanting to become a Black Belt. My reasons have even evolved during my journey taking Taekwondo. I knew that I wanted to do something that would stick with me. It all began two years ago when my parents sat down with me and talked about options. Those options were becoming an Eagle Scout, playing basketball, or taking Taekwondo. I thought for a moment, “What should I pick?” I weighed my options and thought that Taekwondo was the best choice for me. I knew that it might be tough, but I wanted to do it even more to prove that I was up for the challenge. When I took my first Taekwondo class, I knew I was on my way. I remember thinking it would be awesome. Boy, it wasn't awesome; it was ​better​ than awesome!

After my first class, I knew I wanted to come back. I loved every second of the class. After I got my Yellow Belt, I realized I wanted that Black Belt. No matter what, I promised my parents and myself that I was going to get that Black Belt. Once I had made it to the Orange Belt, I started feeling as if I got the hang of things. Then I started sparring. This was a game changer for sure. Now I had to prepare to spar and fight my classmates in basically a friendly duel. At first sparring was the worst! Then later, by the time I became a Blue Belt, I had gotten the hang of it. Shortly after that, I moved into the adult classes. That was terrible at first. I was really scared, and I was definitely not doing as good. But that class changed me. It made me feel better because I knew I had overcome a challenge, and now I am in the best set of classes. I felt my desire continuing to grow for that Black Belt.

Once I was at the Brown Belt rank I began to break plastic boards. Once I started breaking my boards, I found it to be a little difficult at first. Thankfully, I finally got the hang of it. At Brown Belt I thought on what I had done. I have spent 2 years here , and I am almost there. It made me feel so good. As I approached the Red Belt ranking, I was filled with excitement. I knew I was getting closer. Now here I am, a Red Belt Senior, and only 1 final step away. All of this work is another reason why I want a Black Belt.

I started out only wanting a Black Belt to prove that I had the confidence and skill to be able to defend myself, but more importantly, to show that I could actually achieve this goal. Now my reasons are also tied to my future plans and goals. I am seriously considering joining the Military and becoming a Naval Officer one day. I know that this achievement would be an asset and look good on my resume. It would show that I stayed the course and didn’t quit. I think it would be awesome to tell a recruiter that I have a Black Belt in Taekwondo.

Thank you for reading this. I am very thankful for your studio, and especially for having the opportunity to be a part of something where I know people care about me and want me to succeed. While I realize it has been a long journey up to this point, I know it will be worth it in the end.

Week 6- 2015 Fitness Challenge 02/10/15 Final Results and Percentage of Change!!

Not enough Time? "Excuses and Reasons - Volume 1" - Mr V.

Not enough Time?  "Excuses and Reasons  - Volume 1"

Over the course of 20 years of teaching TKD, I have seen many students come and go.  I am always happy to have had the opportunity to interact with them for a little bit of time.  Mainly, I do understand that not everyone is going to continue with an activity for 20 years.  Many marriages do not even last 20 years!

But the "reasons" for quitting usually me shake my head ...

The most popular one we hear in one of the schools where I teach is "he/she needs more time to focus on grades, standardized testing preparation, etc".

Just for me personally, I'm not buying it.  With one son graduated from the Air Force Academy, another at a major university, and with hundreds of TKD students who have gone on to college, here's the one recurring theme that I hear.

 
  "These kids have to come into the school with some balance.  Too many of them show up with nothing but academics behind them, without any athletic experience, with no sports, no community involvement, and no "escape" from academics.  When something goes wrong for these kids - and college is hard, regardless of your test scores - they can just fall to pieces".

This came from an admissions provost at one of our 4 year Universities here in the area.

  I had 3 TKD students in the HS class of 2010 who were awarded full scholarships at area universities.  All trained at and were instructors for the Highland Village school until going off to college.  Two were highly, highly ranked within their high school class, but their blackbelts and dedication to training set them apart.  There are hundreds of kids with high gpa's and test scores every year, but not too many who can also do a flying sidekick through 3 boards and defend themselves against attackers.  Where else do they get the experience of leading 20-30 people in a classroom before college if they do not have the opportunity to instruct.

Personally, my eldest applied to the top 2 aeronautical engineering schools in the country.  His academic standing was good, but he was barely in the top 10%.  He was not a National Merit Scholar.  He got in to both Georgia Tech and accepted his appointment at the Air Foce Academy.  Without his martial arts background, and particularly the fact that he stuck it out with all of his other activities, that simply would not have happened.

With his Aeronautical Engineering degree in his pocket, Cameron finishes flight training this month.  Every time he is in town - he makes it a point to come do some kicking and punching and forms.  Success grows best on a strong foundation, and it is dangerous to build on a narrow one.

Mr. V

Week 5- 2015 Fitness Challenge 02/02/15 Snapshot!!!