Masters of Perseverence - The World Tang Soo Do Association

Milestones in Tang Soo DoLife is full of milestones. Somepeople use age as a milestone;6 years old, 13 years old, 16,18, 21, 30, 40, 50, 65 … and ofcourse, the final day of your life isyour last milestone. Some people markthe passage of time through events,the day of your birth, first day ofschool/high school/college, firstdrink, first driving experience, firstboy/girlfriend/wife/husband, etc.Even in martial arts we work on amilestone system, typically interpretedas a belt system. While the belt systemis definitely a symbol of progress, I’dlike to submit a different milestonesystem based on my five years of onand off training in Tang Soo Do.There are key moments in TangSoo where certain principles andtechniques simply happen. Sure, weare taught these things from thebeginning, but it isn’t until certainmilestones that we actually experiencethem and go “WHOA! I *GET IT*now!”I like to explain it to people likethose 3D stereo-optic pictures …where you stare at them, kind of crossyour eyes, and a shape appears in it.For years, people told me how cool itwas – how there was a picture in there.I could never see it, not because Iwasn’t doing what I was told butbecause I wasn’t given the properoutcome. When you told me that thepicture was in 3D, I expected thepicture to come “out” at me. Inreality, those 3D pictures actuallyappear INSIDE the page, not comingout. This is a very good reminder thatwithout proper expectations, wecannot expect the student to learn.The first time you actually SEEone of these things, you freak outgoing “YES! I SEE IT!” It is likeyou’ve been let into some secret club.The milestones in Tang Soo Doare very much like that. Most aretaught early, but not realized untilmuch later. Let’s look at some of themnow.BREATHINGWe’re taught early to breathe andThere are key moments inTang Soo where certainprinciples and techniquessimply happen. Sure, we aretaught these things from thebeginning, but it isn’t untilcertain milestones that weactually experience them andgo “WHOA! I GET IT now!to not hold your breath. Yet, while weas beginners believe we AREbreathing, we really are just goingthrough the motions; making thesounds but we really don’t get how toget the flow of air into the rhythm ofour technique. I’m still trying to getcontrol of my breathing at this stage inmy Tang Soo career.WAIST/HIP SNAPPINGNo matter how great theinstructor is, this is something thatmost students (including myself) don’t“get” until later on in their practice. Iwas a green belt before it finallyclicked. It was something that mybody had to learn on it’s own. Likeriding a bicycle, once you have it younever forget how to do it.STRETCHING YOUR STANCESSometimes even black belts have aproblem maintaining depth of theirstances consistently throughout thehigher hyungs. I imagine it is aconstant struggle throughout yourTang Soo Do Career.In summary, it is easy to lose sight– in life, Tang Soo Do or other longtime commitments – of our next goal.We resolve ourselves to always strivingto reach the unobtainable, comingdown on ourselves when we don’tsucceed. Instead, we should be simplyheading for the next milestone. Take abreather and reflect on the positiveaspects of our accomplishments. Afterall, um and yang dictate balance in allthings, our progress in our art shouldreflect that.Submitted byShane R. Monroe, 1st GupArrowhead Tang Soo DoGlendale, AZRegion #8 Eastern Championshipscontinued from page 8Those who came out to serve or tocompete will never regret doing a gooddeed for others and stretching theircompetitive level to a higher standard.It was a day where leaps and boundsof learning took place in a shortamount of time – it was not for onebut for all! Tang Soo.Congratulations to the cupwinners: Laura Myers of KMAI, SamDan, won the Adult Dan Female;James Brenner of Lititz World TSD,Sam Dan, won the Adult Dan Male;Brenna McPheron of D.J. Studios, 1stgup, won the Adult Gup Female;Dylan Alpaugh of KMAI Stanton,CDB, won the Adult Gup Male; BrianaTassone of KMAI, E-Dan, won theYouth Dan Female; Jamel Karamali ofKMAI, E-Dan, won the Youth DanMale, Sarah Freisleben of OxfordKarate Inst., 4th gup, won the YouthGup Female; Peter Cavallaro of KMAI, CDB, won the Youth Gup Male.Submitted byKoreen Kupetsky, Cho DanEagle Star of BordentownBordentown, NJJanuary 2007 WTSDA News 11