Me and Taekwon-Do

Taekwon-DO is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. It is the world's most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioner s. This kind of sport is knows as most popular sport with the largest number practitioners. Since 2000, Taekwon-Do is among the sport that involved in competition such as Olympic.

In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way" or "method"; so "taekwondo" is loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist" or "the way of kicking and punching"

Taekwondo's popularity has resulted in the varied development of the martial art into several domains: as with many other arts, it combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, meditation and philosophy. Taekwondo is also used by the South Korean military as part of its training.

Actually, we can find that there are three different of federation of the Taekwon-Do present in world. Different federations consist of different technique and culture. The most popular in our country is WTF (World Taekwon-Do federation). This federation is more focus in sport which is speed and competition which is now an event at the summer Olympic Games. For another two type federation of Taekwon-Do, it more focus on emphasizes power and self-defense. There are GTF (Global Taekwon-Do federation) and ITF (International Taekwon-Do federation).

In Taekwon-Do, it typically separated to junior and senior belt or student and instructor. Different colour of belt, it determines the different status of practitioners. Any beginner must start from the white colour belt and know as tenth geup. The test which knows as grading test is conducted to test how far the practitioner can handled the technique and knowledge which teach. The test conducted by instructor or master. If the practitioner can pass the test, it will upgrade it colour belt from white to yellow and follow by green, blue, red and black.

For the Taekwon-Do, black belt practitioner is known as the final stage of the colour belt. For black belt, it also divide it stage of technique based on the “dan” which the practitioner present. In black belt, it divided it degree by “dan” which from first “dan” to ninth “dan”. It takes several years to upgrade from first “dan” to follow level of “dan”. Grading of black belt require different technique such as breaking, free-sparing and pattern based on the syllabus from the federation.

First time that I know about the Taekwon-Do, when I was still in primary school on years four. When assembly in school, our headmaster was announced that our school will having the club of Taekwon-Do and will conduct by instructor from state Taekwon-Do club. And finally we know that instructor is his daughter that ever represents state to tournament. His daughter was joined Taekwon-Do when she was nine years old in her hometown before.

She have a youngest brother that also I my good friend. He invited me to join the Taekwon-Do class with him, but I refused it. On that time, my parents no allowed me to join Taekwon-Do because they worried that something bad will happen to me. By the way, they also want me spend more time to focus in my study. But I really interested in this kind of sport. In my primary school, I was school athlete’s representative. When every times I finish my athlete training session, I went to Taekwon-Do training field to watch them training.

I finish my primary school by never join the Taekwon-Do club in my school. I continue my study in secondary school until form three is my second time knows more about the Taekwon-Do sport. When I doing my form three study, it was years to prepare for PMR examinations that conduct by government. My parents’ advice me to focus on my study for PMR so they no encouraged me to join Taekwon-Do club. I understand the reasons why they are doing so just because want me to get the best result to continue my study in science stream and they promise will support me after I finish my PMR examination.

I joined the Taekwon-Do club in my secondary school when I finish my PMR examination. I spend around two months for practice in Taekwon-Do class. The class is having on Sunday afternoon around 3pm to 5.30 pm. After two months of practice, my instructor recommends me to having a grading test in my school with other club members.

I and others club members is having a grading test together and all of us pass the test with a good result. Our instructor is proud of us all. But it was my last times that attend the test and last times attend the class.

On the holiday time, I always work with my uncle in his hardware just skimpily looking for pocket money for next school life is started. No any free time on Sunday that allow me to join the training Taekwon-Do. When I finish my work is already 5.30pm and the class already dismissed. I realized I need to work for extra income to reduce my parent’s burden and support my family economics. My siblings all were working on the school holiday and since we are young, we were teaching to live independently. It was the way my parents trained us to live independently and realize the difficult to earn money for life.

When my new school life is started, I was noticed that I need to move another school if I want continue my study in science stream. My previous school no offers any science stream just only art stream for art student. When I moved to my new school, that school just a finish build five months before we move. On that time, only got form three students and automatically we group be a senior student. We people were the first base graduate in that school.

New school has a new environment. Not many clubs can be found in this school cause by not so much of student present in that school the year before we come. On that time, the school just got several simple clubs but no Taekwon-Do club is organizing by school. So in my form three was my last time to join the Taekwon-Do club.

I was leaved Taekwon-Do for around five years before I continue in my university life. After I finish my study in STPM, I further my study to universiti at Shah Alam here. I choose biomedicine course to study because I really like to study about human and want to become a researcher one day. That is my dream. I no dare enough to further study in physician and any more advance field. I prefer study for research purpose and is my ambition to become scientist one day.

I was entry that university on August 2007, but I start joined Taekwon-Do club on April 2008. When I first come here, I was stay far away from my campus. Every day I need taking bus from my hostel to my campus and it takes around 30 minutes journey. Taekwon-Do club was having their class on 8.30 nights until 10.30 nights on every Monday and Thursday. Last trip bus from college to my hostel is 10.00 nights and sometimes the bus will cancel suddenly without any announcement from college.

This makes a trouble for me if want really attend the class. If suddenly the last trip bas was cancel I need to take cab for go back. It cost me RM 20.00 and it really expensive for me. For solve the problem, I discuss with my housemate to move away from the hostel and looking for any unit that near our campus that just can reach the campus by walking or taking cab also no so expensive.

Lastly, we decided to move to the Brunsfield Apartment that no so far away from campus and just taking around 30 minutes from campus to my apartment. And the renter is also cheaper than we pay renter for our hostel. We successfully move on January 2008 to that apartment.

It gives me the chance to join the Taekwon-Do class on Monday and Thursday nights. Most of the time after attend the Taekwon-Do class, got my friend sent me home. But I start joined the class on April 2008. On January 2008, after we move to new house, may stuff that need to done or to manage. So on that time, I can’t go for Taekwon-Do class. I prefer do all things by me without help from others. I need to learn live independently without depend to others. Even my housemates want to help me but I refuse them to do so.

On February 2008, I was celebrating Chinese New Years celebration at Kelatan with my friend’s family. I spent around 10 days in there for the celebration. When I was reach here, I starting busy for final exam preparation which having on the March 2008.

After the final exam, our college have one month holiday. One month holiday was start after the final exam and end on middle on April 2008. On middle of April 2008 was a new semester begin. On that time is my second time I join the Taekwon-Do class again. The Taekwon-Do class was having in the basketball court which located in the back of Blok Management of college.

For this Taekwon-Do club, our Head Coach is Sir Eizam Eizani B. Arbak. He is a fifth “dan” in black belt practitioner. Most of the time, the class conductor is his assistant that is Sir Awang Daik B Mohd. Nor that was representing him to conduct the class. In the Taekwon-Do class, many of them is my senior. They even represent for their state or take part in the National Champion of Taekwon-Do. Most of them practice Taekwon-Do since they childhood. They share their experience in Taekwon-Do with me and give me the advice about stuff related with the Taekwon-Do.

On 16^th June 2008, that was during our semester break, our club organized a fire camping in Port Dickson. College provides transport to the activity. Around 20 of Taekwon-Do club member take part in this activity. We spent two days one night at Port Dickson. Felt very nice experience that can sleep in the camp on the beach with my other club members. We reach there on the 16^th June morning and having our lunch in the beach. After that, we start to build our own camp. We take a rest and having our activity which is playing beach volleyball among the members. Some of us went for swimming and some of us prepare food for our diner. We were having BBQ for our diner with chicken wing, fish ball, meat ball and hotdog. After BBQ, among of us make a joke. Some of them is very good in make a joke and some of them no funny at all about their joke. But everyone was enjoyed on that BBQ and of the joke. I am with another two guys be a night guard and change our shift with other after 3 morning.

On 17^th June 2008 morning, we prepare our breakfast together. Before having our breakfast, we having a light training in the beach with the cold wind blow from the sea. Felt fresh and nice from the blow of the wind. Our mind was so relaxed and any tension is blow away by the wind. Our seniors also show us how to do meditation in there and really can felt the way to relax our mind and sour. After that, we have our breakfast together. Finish breakfast, we enjoy played beach volleyball again and some of us go for swimming. We enjoy the fun until afternoon and after that we start packing for going back.

Some go for take bath and some waiting at the camp and take care of the belongings. When all of us finish take bath, we having our lunch by eating mi Maggi together. Our bus comes around 4.30 when all of us already packing all the things and clean the venue. We reach Shah Alam around 6.30 pm.

On July 2008, we start our new semester which is long semester for our college. Taekwon-Do class is having on as usual like previous semester. Training for this semester is different than previous semester. For this semester, we prepared for the incoming tournament which organized by GTF of University Technologies Malaysia (UTM) which located in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

On 23^rd and 24^th July 2008, we attend the tournament at UTM. There are 23 of us, 11 of boys and 12 of girls which take place in that tournament. Among of the 11 of boys, 3 of them take part in black belt competitions and other was colour belt which take place in color belt competition. There are 5 black belt and other is colur belt practitioner.

This tournament is my first tournament before taking grading test. Actually, I was no allowed to take place in any competition without any grading test. Any beginner which allow take place in any competition which need having any grading test and at least get the 8^th”geup” to join the tournament. But my senior recommends me that just getting experience through the tournament. So I take part in that tournament which competitive in individual pattern and sparring and team pattern and sparring.

In this tournament, it starts with the colour belt individual pattern and followed with the individual sparring. For this two individual event, I got third place. I felt surprise and can’t believable that I can get the good result. After that, there were team pattern and team sparring. For this two event, we won the 2^nd place in team pattern and 3^rd place in team sparring. The result really make me can’t believe that I can done so good for my first time tournament. For our team, we got six gold, nine silver, and fourteen browsers and we got third place form overall. KULIM from kedah was the overall champion.

After the tournament of UTM, we still continue of our training for next tournament that having on UPSI in Tanjung Malim. This tournament is slightly different than previous tournament in UTM. This tournament is organise by Taekwon-Do club of UPSI under ITF. The tournament is held on 2^nd and 3^rd August 2008 at UPSI.

Because of the tournament is start of 8am morning, we decided reach there the night before tournament and also for registration purposes. We reach UPSI around 8.30 at the night and do the registration for tournament. After that, we go check in to the hostel of UPSI with all our belongings. Before got have a meal, we got meeting for next day tournament. We all assembly to our president’s room and discuss the formation and arrangement for next day.

After dismiss the meeting, we went for a meal around 11somethng. We were having our meal in a restaurant near the hostel. We finish around 12 mid night and went back rest at hostel. The next day, we woke up early and prepare to assemble at the bus stop and using the bus to the tournament venue.

This tournament is divide the entire participant based on the body weight. Three of us were dividing into the light weight categories and all number of this category is 13 people. All of us is fight for three rounds sparring and meet each others. When I meet my friends, I surrender for that round. I no scare to sparring with him but we just don’t want hurt and injured each other and can’t spar in team sparring after that. After individual sparring, it continues with individual pattern but I no perform well on both events.

Team pattern and team sparring is continue after two individual event finish. Our team pattern is no performing well but in team sparring, we got 3^rd place. For this time, our college black belt teams perform very well and help our college to collect the much number of the gold. This result help our college become overall champion in UPSI.

After the tournament, we focus in grading test that on 25^th August 2008 in our college. This test will examine by our head coach, Sir Eizam Eizani B. Arbak. He is a fifth “dan” in black belt. He ever represent Malaysia the World Champion and win in that competition. Our test was start with the white belt categories and follow up other junior to higher lever.

All the test is finish on 10.30night and the result is announced by our head coach after all complete the test. All the practitioner was pass the test with different result. Among of us, got two person got double and I’m the only one which got triple is mean from 10 “geup”, I got 7 “geup”. Our head coach said my pattern and my technique consists soft and hard element. There are important elements in practice of Taekwon-Do.

The next incoming tournament is on 29^th, 30^th and 31^st August 2008. This tournament was knows as National Champion Tournament MGTF and open for any of black belt practitioner in GTF, or ITF and WTF also allowed taking part for this tournament. Our college has sent nine representatives to represent the Wilayah Persekutuan Team A. The entire representatives who take part are from all the state in Malaysia. In the tournament, our college representatives collect two medal of gold and three medals of silver and three medals of browsers.

The another important event happened between me and Taekwon-Do was demonstration of self-defense with my head coach on 6^th September 2008 at our college which is program under Student Career And Development. The purpose of this program is to teach the students about how to protect themselves when something risk happen to them. My head coach show many kind of technique by asking me to attack him and him show the way to defense himself.

Besides that, we also encourage the students to join Taekwon-Do club for enrich their knowledge and experience about the self defense to protect them. We remind them about how important practice in self defense and exercise regularly.

Our next activity after the demonstration of self defense is the “Majlis berbuka puasa bersama ahli kelab” on Ramandan Month 2008. This function is done to celebrate the fasting month with among the member of the club and with the head coach and his family member. We have the function at Ali’s corner restaurant and just a simple buffer style.

Raya is celebrating the week before our final exam. Our head coach ever inviting us to his house when he does “open house” ceremony. We went there with all of our Taekwon-Do club member by cars.

After exam is semester break. Our class for Taekwon-Do is postponed and those who stay at Shah Alam, we having class with student UITM, Shah Alam because they also are my head coach student. He also got class with the UITM student

New semester was started on November 2008 and our class for Taekwon-Do also starts again. The time for training and the day, venue still same like before. For this semester, our club no any invitation from any club for tournament but we still have a class as usual to keep ourselves fits enough. For this semester, I quite busy with my study and need spend more time for doing further reading when class with Dr.

Even for this semester, we don’t have any tournament, but we have invitation from our college for demonstration for “Gala Night Diner”. This diner is organised by SCD and MPP of college. The purpose to have this diner is for the student and President of college can have a diner together. Taekwon-Do club and other martial art club have performed the demonstration together. In this diner, we won a award of the high achievement in the year of 2008 which our club ever represent the Wilayah Persekutuan in the National Champion Tournament MGTF.

On 31^st January 2009, SCD organised a carnival for all the club and club uniform. Taekwon-Do club also not be forgotten by SCD to invite for demonstration performance. We wait for arriving of our honor President to visit our booth and perform the demonstration of self defense. Our President advice that we must regularly training to improve ourselves and can perform with higher achievement than before.

On 4^th and 5^th April 2009, our club has received invitation from C.W.YEOW TRADITIONAL TAEKWON-DO ACADEMY to take part in the 22ND TRADITIONAL TAEKWON-DO ACADEMY CHAMPIONSHIP (OPEN) 2009 which take place at The SUMMIT SUBANG USJ. This tournament is divided into two categories which for two days. One of the categories is under 18 years old which take place on 4^th April and upper 18 years old is take place on 5^th April 2009.

There are 25 of our club members which take part in this tournament. Our member take part in all the categories which competitive. For me, i took part in partern and sparring for individual and team. For this tournament, we achive 6 gold, 4 silver and 4 browsers. I got 1 browsers for team sparring. For team sparring, our oppenent is from Pahang representative and my oppenent is senior belt and the size of body is bigger and taller than me. But i can spar with him and win that round to help my team to achive the 3^rd place.

Now, i am the President of the Taekwon-Do club of MSU. I put more effort to maintain the performance of the club and make sure our members is attend for regular training on Monday and Thursday night on 8.30- 10.30. We always meeting to increase and improve our performance with assistant of our Head Coach. We also always meet with our Head Coach because he spent his time to monitor our training at the night.

As a Taekwon-Do practitioner, we need always regularly to practice to make sure that the muscle strength are maintain in the same level and can achieve more higher than now by practice. When we lost concentrate in our practice, our stamina will decrease and the ability to defense our self also not as good as before. Learn about Taekwon-Do not only enrich yourself with self defense, it also a good sport that can increase our sweating to regulate our blood circulation.