Why I Want to be a Black Belt: Logan Lindemyer

I started learning taekwondo from Master Payne in Byron, Georgia, when I was four and a half years old.  I was the youngest white belt in the class.  I tested for yellow belt and made it my first try.  I was just about to test for the next belt (which was green at that school) and my family moved to Houston, Texas.  I didn’t do taekwondo again until we moved to Flower Mound, Texas in the summer of 2015. I started as a yellow belt, but I had to quickly learn the white belt form at Strickland’s Taekwondo, because it was a little different than Master Payne’s taekwondo where I started.  Plus, it had been at a long time since I had done taekwondo.  I was kind of scared to start at Strickland’s Taekwondo. I didn’t know anybody.  Mr. Cain and Miss Anderson really helped me to feel comfortable.  I really liked Mr. Cain’s joking around.

Once I became an orange belt, then I was able to get my sparring gear and bag.  I thought I was big time then.  I immediately wanted to be a junior instructor.  My mom asked one of the junior instructors how I could become a junior instructor, and he told her that I had to be a black belt first.  The November after I was able to spar, I competed in my very first competition.  I just so happened to have sparred the 1stand 2ndplace sparring contenders and my name was the first one called. I did not do well in that competition.  The kids I were up against were kicking way over my head they were so much taller and bigger than me.  I was definitely scared to do any other competition.  I got a 4thplace medal for sparring in that competition though.

I wanted to do more competitions because I wanted to use my skills and get more medals.   Some I have done well at, and others I have not so much. I have competed in the weapons portion of the competitions, but I haven’t done the board breaking section yet.  Maybe next competition I will try it.  I started learning weapons and coming to those classes about a year into my taekwondo journey.  I started with Bo Staff.  I was not very good at it at first, and I wanted to quit weapons altogether. Once I heard my brother wanting to join in on the Bo class, I decided to keep going with every Bo class I could.  I tested that next cycle and got my first patch for Bo.  I have since continued with Bo, Nunchaku, and Escrima continuously and I have decided I really like weapons now.

There was a time I tested and couldn’t break my boards.  I felt very defeated because I didn’t make the next rank with the rest of my friends. I kept going to taekwondo though, with my perseverance I kept learning and doing better and now I am finally so close to black belt.

I have learned a lot since I started at Strickland’s Taekwondo in August of 2015. I have learned how to defend myself, how to focus and have better self control, and how giving it my all in taekwondo can really help me even in school and with behavior.  I try to get all three stars on my belt; sometimes I get all three, and sometimes I need to do better.

I want to be a black belt because I think it will show how much hard work I have put in.  I also want to be a black belt because I would like to start instructing some of the younger kids. My littlest brother just started as a white belt and I would like to help teach him what I’ve learned from Strickland’s Taekwondo. I also can’t wait to get a blue jacket embroidered with my name on it, and the black belt with my name on it. It makes me proud with a big smile when I think about it.  I have belt racks in my room with all of my belts, weapons and medals on it just like Mr. Strickland does in the dojang.  I am looking forward to adding my black belt to the rack!

I am very thankful to my parents for bringing me to class and to Mr. Strickland, Mr. Cain, Miss Anderson, Mr. Hollon, and all of the other instructors for helping me along on my taekwondo journey.