TaeKwon Do
Again, you ask… “Julie, why did you feel you need a website? Are you really that big of a geek? ”
My answer to that? “Well, Yah! Duh!”
You see, as I said before, I’ve been told I’m pretty eclectic. Simply put, I love lots of different things, and I’m pretty widespread in my interests.
One of my biggest loves, though, is the Korean Martial Art of TaeKwon Do. I’m passionate about it. (just ask my partner… she can’t shut me up most of the time! 
I’ve been involved in TKD for 9 years now. I began in January of 1995 when I felt a need to find new ways to keep in shape over the winter months for the upcoming softball season.
I started looking into the local YMCA. A great organization with much to offer in physical fitness, but it’s main flaw for me… nobody to PUSH me. You see, I’m inherently lazy. Yes… I admit it… I’m a slug. If you let me, I’d sleep til noon and plant my hind end on the couch watching Bionic Woman reruns on the SciFi channel and eating popcorn till the cows came home (and since I don’t HAVE cows, that would be a long time.)
So… I started looking into other sources of fitness. I decided to check out the local TKD schools.
Flashback: I had ALWAYS been fascinated by the Martial Arts. I always daydreamed of myself being the ‘hero’ saving the day, beating up the bad guys and riding off into the sunset. I was also the playground protector in gradeschool… defending the little guy from the playground bullies. When I got to middle school I asked my Mom if I could take Karate. Her answer? “No. I don’t want you going around beating people up.” *sigh* Rats.
Back to the search…
Now I was old enough that Mom couldn’t tell me “No.” SO I check out the schools. The benefits I saw in TKD were these: excellent cardio workout; increase balance and flexibility; learning self-defense; learn discipline; increase strength and coordination; most importantly, have tough instructors who won’t let me slack off!
I found my new workout! And, grew more and more passionate about it every day.
Today, I’m an instructor at Fox Valley TaeKwon Do which is part of the Neenah-Menasha YMCA, not far from where I live. I work with great people. I enjoy working with students, both young and older. And, I thrive on continuously learning new things (and coming home with new bruises from doing so
So… now you know how I got started in TaeKwon Do. There’s much more to it, but this portion has already rambled on quite long enough.
Please stop back as I post more information about my TaeKwon Do experiences (like the time I was dragged across the floor by my hair by the 16 yr old girl). I will have links for my students, associates and friends. And, I’ll eventually be adding a forum page for all Association members to access, meet and post questions.
Come back soon!Pilsung!
(Korean term meaning ‘Faith in Certain Victory’)
