9/12/07 - 6th Dan Thesis Continued

My Beginning

The conqueror of men is powerful
The master of himself is strong
Lao Tzu

Pray not for lighter loads, but for stronger shoulders.
St Augustine


My own story starts as a boy who was small, hotheaded, and not very coordinated. I was in constant fights, losing most of them at every school I attended. Then came martial arts training when I was a twelve years old. I was given an outlet for my aggression and guidelines on how to use it.

I was passionate about taekwondo. It gave me a way to harness my energy and help me succeed at life where it had been very difficult before. How was it possible to attribute taekwondo for helping me to become less angry, more focused in school, a better soccer player, and more confident in relationships?


At twelve I was mostly in the “it looks cool stage.” My first teacher was a 2nd Dan and current national lightweight team member. He showed me how cool it would be to kick high and also how taekwondo kicking would make me a better soccer kicker. I started August 30th, 1980 and immediately loved it! I not only became a much better soccer player, because I developed better focus, kicking strength, and less fear to go after the ball, I became calmer and more focused everywhere!

The martial arts helped me develop a strong center by integrating my energy through the exercises themselves, building my confidence through the promotions, giving connection and purpose through the camaraderie that we built at our school and by teaching others.