Testimonials

Chris Buck

"I was disappointed how each of the studios I observed conducted classes. No forms were taught and instructors didn't have the enthusiasm that I was looking forward to in Tae Kwon Do. Finally, I came to TK Tae Kwon Do and found what I was looking for. Tk Tae Kwo Do teaches not only tae kwon do but also respect to elders, elevates school grades and raises self confidence."

John and Sharon McMahon

Our children have been involved in every type of sport, but they've never been happier. Our boys are learning discipline, respect, self-control, and having a great time doing it. They are getting over their fears and becoming more focused. They love going to TK Tae Kwon Do and never want to miss class."

Brent Corbin

When I first entered the T.K. Tae Kwon Do do jang, about four years ago, it was to bring my son to his white belt lessons. It was fun watching the kids practice, and every now-and-then, I imagined trying this technique or that - but really, I had no intention of ever signing up for a class, what, with my busy schedule and all.

Ok. My busy schedule, sure. That was part of the story. I was in no shape to go out on the mat. I'll blame it on the fact that the artificial aortic valve that keeps me ticking, literally, is largely incompatible with contact sports, but the truth is, I was well into my `middle' years, and a lifetime devoted to the cerebral, without regard to the physical, was beginning to show around my middle. Physical exercise was never my thing, and I was resigned to the inevitability of living in the body that I, by my own passivity, had created.

Now my wife has never been one to shy away from the truth, and for her, there is no inevitability you can't work your way out of. She told me straight-out that I needed to start working out, and threatened to buy me a gym membership (which I think we both knew would wind up going to waste). I needed another option.

About this time, perhaps under duress, I began to pay more attention to what was going on in the do jang. I teach, so I enjoy watching when other people teach; it's an art - when it's done right, teaching can be an incredible inspiration. Master Park was a lot of fun to observe. He had a knack for what he was doing - stern, but forgiving, focused and disciplined tempered by patience, perspective and a healthy sense of humor, he was a master communicator, language issues notwithstanding. Ok, maybe I could do this. If it killed me, the end was likely to come soon and at least I wouldn't suffer for too long. If I survived, it looked like it might just be a heck of a lot of fun. I certainly wasn't going to get this kind of experience in a gym.

When I first joined, my belly was big, my posture was poor and every technique I tried to learn was a challenge, to say the least. I was the proverbial fish-out-of-water, and there was no lack of irony in the fact that my role had swapped from omniscient professor to completely clueless student. But I was having fun, and the instructors and my classmates were all incredibly patient and understanding. I'm not going to say nobody ever laughed at me - I know for a fact they did - but it was all in fun, we were (and are) a family. I would not be here today if it weren't for their support. [And, yes, I still have and cherish the medal I received for most dramatic crash-and-burn while breaking boards at a belt test.

I lost something, though, when I started - about 30 pounds, almost immediately. Former students went into shock when they came back to say hi. I took a look at some old photos... wow! That does a lot for one's confidence. And my physical shape began to improve - I could feel it as I walked across campus, when I went on hikes. I hopped on a bike for the first time in almost thirty years and started to do 20-mile and 30-mile rides with my son. That would not have happened had I not started Tae Kwon Do.

I was once content to sit back and let entropy do its thing - not any more. I know now, where I was and where I was headed before Tae Kwon Do. It's sad to say, but I can't go anywhere now and not see far too many examples of what I might have become. This has made me very protective of the gains I've made. I think about what I eat, and I consider the consequences before I go back for thirds. I use the stairs when I can, I don't need a parking spot anywhere near the front. Every chance I get, I hit my bike and go out for a mental defrag. I've realized that it doesn't do much good to build your brain if you don't tend to the infrastructure that supports it.

I would be remiss if I didn't take this last section to thank those who have stuck with me and supported me on this adventure: My wife and son, Master Park and his family, my fellow students past and present, and a certain cardiologist who, perhaps against his better judgment, didn't say no.