Monday, March 30, 2015
Thursday, March 26, 2015
John Rhoads - Black Belt Essay
Black Belt Essay John Rhoads
When I started this journey over two years ago, getting a black belt was the furthest thing from my mind. In fact, I actually began as one of those parents who sits on the “other side of the glass” watching my boys, telling them to “get fit” and “stay active” while I fell more and more out of shape. Then one morning, while I was watching my boys in class, I overheard Alesia Dick (then a green belt) tell her story to another parent. It was so compelling to hear how enrolling and committing had literally changed her life. I have only recently told her about the role she played in my decision, but I did enroll that following month.
My first class (in fact, first month) was more than intimidating. To see these kids, (most of them one-third my age) and the things they could do only reinforced that I needed a change. I had become so busy with work and other commitments, that I neglected one of my largest ones – to stay healthy and around for my wife, and to set an example for my kids that staying active is a whole life commitment that doesn’t end when you “grow up”.
In the more than two years that I have been at enrolled I have noticed a dramatic difference in my health, stamina and mental toughness. The first time I sparred, I was reminded that my mind still thought I could do things that my body reassured me were no longer possible. But with the patience of instructors like Mr. Strickland, Mr. Cain, and also Mr. Emerson and Mr. Woodard (who were probably more helpful than they know), I started to get better. My body began to catch up to my mind.
Another really cool thing began to happen – this began to be my community – a place where people like Rick, Ken, Bill, Alesia, Dan and Lloyd knew me, knew about my family and goals. And we encouraged each other, working hard to get just a little better every day. And when we went through things like heart surgery on my 11-year-old son, the kind words, prayers and understanding of my TKD community was great encouragement to my entire family.
Please do not misunderstand; it has been hard work. Sometimes the biggest victory was just getting to class. My work schedule requires a lot of out-of-town travel. And my wife and I have found so many other parents in the same situation as ours. But I always find a team there that supports each other, laughs together, works together, struggles together, and succeeds together.
I still get nervous whenever I have to spar or test. But I know that the person on the other side of the ring is helping me get better. Whether it is to say “great kick” – when I catch them in the chest with a jumping twist-kick (my favorite), or “nice try” when I miss them altogether. This is my team. This is my community. I am proud to soon be a Strickland’s Black Belt.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
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
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
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)