My Taekwondo . .

In the Fall of 1991, I began my study of Taekwondo with my older brother and younger brother at Kim's Karate of Montgomeryville in the Five Point's Plaza. For the next year or so, I progressed up through green belt during which time this school closed down so I had to attend the Kim's Karate of Plymouth Meeting. Unfortunately, after that school shut down as well, I had to take a two year hiatus. In Fall of 1994, I began learning again at Kwak's Taekwondo of Blue Bell. Luckily, I seem to have unusual flexibility along with my younger brother so I managed to stay limber during my long break. I also had my growth spurt and ran track for a year giving me the health and leanness to excel in Taekwondo. During my first year, I trained long and hard. I would attend class five days a week, sometimes taking two classes in one day. On top of formal practices, I would train an extra hour or two in my basement working my heavy bag over, practicing my kicks, or doing my forms. Additionally, I would lift daily for an hour and half with my best friend, Tony DellaPietra, in his basement. (Just for fun, I used to do 600 sit-ups every night after practice! If only I could do that now . . )

During second and third years, my junior and senior years of high school, I defintely relaxed quite a bit. I eased back to taking only three or four classes a week. I also did not train nearly as hard on my own. If I was diligent, I would lift a few times a week while putting in an extra few hours a week in Taekwondo. Of course, I also did not progress as quickly. Before leaving for Korea after my sophomore year, I had plowed ahead to receiving my blue belt in nine months. Afterwards, due to school activities, injuries, and summers away from home, I didn't test for my black belt until the Fall of 1997. When I moved to school in New Haven, I began training with our school's team. I had to convert from my traditional ITF-ish (formally, we were in the WTF but learned the ITF forms as well as traditional techniques.) style to the tournament sparring oriented WTF style of Taekwondo. I trained very diligently for two years to learn this new style . . how to turn my hips faster, how to stay lighter, how to move my feet, etc. I unfortunately did not convert well since I still cannot do a double kick properly but I tried :-) . For the last three years, I have been training off and on due to location and injuries but I still love the art and sport. I still appreciate the sharpness and control of the traditional style yet love the rush of the aggression and grace in the sparring style.

To the left is the Yale Taekwondo Team in the Fall of 1998. I would just like to thank our coach, Master Bobby Hwang, because he taught me so much about tournament Taekwondo. Additionally, I should also thank a Lucas Britanico for training with my slow self during my sophomore year and helping me convert into the WTF style. As to where I will go now in Taekwondo now that I am graduating college, I do not know. But I have learned much and enjoyed every minute of it.