Kicking Over the Mountains
By Mr. Drew Cain:
I was once a young boy, and just like many young boys, I was energetic and short minded; however, I was also diagnosed with ADHD, which made it difficult for my parents and teachers to control me. Throughout my elementary school years, my grades were less than standard due to my lack of discipline. It was suggested by a teacher that I start Taekwondo, a disciplined martial art that had successfully help many others like me. Starting my adventure in Taekwondo taught me self- confidence, self-discipline and self- determination; guiding me over the mountains I have faced through my life.
The consideration to put me into Martial Arts had been on my parents mind for several months during my fifth grade year. I had been slipping up and acting out in class throughout that year. My teacher, Ms. McCormick, had had enough of my unruly behavior, and requested a parent-teacher conference. During that conference, Ms. McCormick, told my parents that she had dealt with this behavior before, and she went on to tell them Taekwondo was an extracurricular activity that would help me become more disciplined. She had suggested this to several other parents that had been in the same predicament as my parents. That conference was a blessing in disguise for me, and it was the start of my Taekwondo journey with Mr. Strickland.
Several years after I started my Martial Arts journey, one of the biggest obstacles I ever faced came up. I was testing for my Third Degree Black Belt. The test would consist of: a sequence of movements called a form, four two-minute bouts with black belts of the same rank or higher and finally board breaks of a special wood designed to simulate bone. This would not only challenge me physically, but mentally as well. The rank of “Third Degree Black Belt” is not designed to come easily. Several other martial artists have reached this obstacle before, some had the courage to overcome and succeed, and others have failed. I had trained vigorously for several months for the upcoming testing. I thought I was ready; physically I was in the best shape of my life, mentally, Taekwondo had chiseled away the rough layer of fear that covered courage. I was ready. I succeeded and overcame my first real obstacle in my Taekwondo journey, however there were more to come.
I was ecstatic about receiving my third degree; but, I did not stop there. In addition to being a high ranking black belt, it is common for a martial artist to become an instructor. I tested for and earned my certified instructor collar. The next challenged I faced was becoming a Senior Certified Instructor, which requires tremendous dedication to one’s school and art. This was not an easy task to accomplish, I had to master every previous form and perform them flawlessly in front of a panel of several Master Instructors. I thought I was ready; again, physically and mentally I was prepared as the Martial Arts had chiseled away the rough layer of fear that covered my courage. Unfortunately, it was not enough; I failed my testing and did not reach my goal. Upon hearing the unfortunate news, my heart pounded, nearly bursting through my chest. That was the first time I failed at anything in at Mr. Strickland’s school, I was emotionally crushed and I dropped to the ground. I had put my blood, sweat, and tears into training for that testing. However, that failure gave me a burning drive to test again, and this time I would not take failure as an option. The perseverance paid off, and I passed my second testing and was awarded the rank of “Senior Certified Instructor.” That perseverance came from the years spent at the school on that Martial Arts floor, and from the time and dedication I put forth to become the person I am today. Overall, Martial Arts have changed my life. Starting with Mr. Strickland helped me overcome obstacles that I would not have had the courage or the perseverance to face. To this day, the lessons learned through his teaching of Martial Arts have guided me through the decisions I make, and have pushed me over the mountains I face.
