Yesterday I had the opportunity to train with Master Rhee, the UKTA’s newest Master, and I am exicited about the progress my Taekwon-do felt as a result. I will be honest and echo one of my fellow black belts and say; ‘I don’t even know how to punch properly!’ It’s weird as a 1st Dan I would not have admitted something like that, but as a 4th Dan who wants to learn and continually improve I am happy to say I learnt how to punch better yesterday - now I have to just keep doing it the way I learnt it yesterday, no mean feat given I have been punching in Taekwon-do for 16 years! However I know that the minute I think I have cracked it and don’t look to improve my fundamental moves, like punching, I know I may as well give up Taekwon-do. To repeat Master Rhee; without the initial grounding I have in punching I would not have learnt how to improve it in the way I did yesterday, so those 16 years of punching have built a foundation that has led to me going ‘ah I see how that would given me more equilibrium in my punching, therefore giving me an all round better punch’. It also reminded me why having an Instructor is so important and why you should look after those that are willing to teach you. I am pleased to say that Master Rhee must have felt looked after because he is coming back on the 12th June to teach the 1st Kup and above in the morning and has agreed to teach all grades in the afternoon. I am no fortune teller but I can see some more ‘ah I see’ moments!
