Tae Kwon Do

If you've known me for a while, you may be familiar with my mad skills (riiiiight) in the martial art form Tae Kwon Do. I started at Lee's Martial Arts in West Seattle many years ago, primarily for self-defense training but also for the physical conditioning, agility, flexibility, etc. By the time I made the big move back East I had achieved the "High-Green" belt:
White (comes with the outfit)

Yellow

Orange

Green -- High-Green

Blue -- High-Blue

yadda

yadda

yadda

Black

There were several of us late-twenty/early-thirty somethings in the class starting from scratch, and we had a blast together (laughing at each other and with ourselves). We'd practice our forms together (think: "wax on, wax off"), study for our belt tests and practice our poses for picture day :-) After our first belt-test, a few of us went together and gave our main instructor a thank-you gift...signed, "The Martial Artists Formerly Known as White Belts". Ahhh, good times, good times. I had every intention of joining a school when I moved back East, but it didn't happen. Maybe I was apprehensive. At that level, we were just starting to spar (hand-to-hand fighting)...and being non-confrontational, I hated that part! I'd just weave, bob and cover my face and head with my arms. Admittedly, it was a pretty funny sight! Then there was the weapons training they were starting us on. You got it:

Nunchuku: Two shorten sticks connected with rope or chain.
Kama: Small sickle, wooden handle with a curved blade.
Bo: A staff of approximately 6 feet in length, typically made of wood.
Escrima: Two short sticks approximately 2 feet in length, typically made of wood.
Sais: Forklike object with 3 prongs, made of metal. Typically the center prong in longer than the other.

WHY!? I never really understood why they would equip suburban yuppies with skills to use the Sais. Other self-defense techniques were indeed useful: how to use a writing implement as a weapon, how to use a shirt-filled-with-rocks or your shoe as a weapon, how to target certain pressure points (like Spock!), etc. But Nunchuks?? Here I am on a dark sidewalk facing an assailant...I've been out with friends, have my hot jeans on and a clutch purse...Do I say "wait for just one moment Mr. BadScaryMan, while I run back to my car and grab my nunchuks!" ? Or "you wouldn't happen to have a long wooden staff with which I could beat you, would you Mr. BadScaryMan?" ? Aside from that, I nearly knocked a tooth out the first day of nunchuk training...those things could really hurt someone...ME!

So here I am, 6 years later (and 6 years older) starting up again! I'm going to get a piece of flair that says: "Ask me to demonstrate my mad TaeKwonDo skills!" Wish me luck with the sparring--and watch out Mr. BadScaryMan...I kick yo a** ;-)