I am going to repeat a story here that I mentioned in class today
When I originally join the NLTKD under Mr Albert Williamson-Taylor, I vividly remember one lesson where I (a yellow or green belt) had to spar a guy called Anthony Harris (Black belt). I was not sparring him but getting a thorough beating. After about a third of the sparring bout, I wanted to walk out of the hall, by two thirds of the way though, I was totally demoralised but Anthony Harris shouted at me to “keep fighting”. I wanted to rush him and wrestle him to the ground, but he was too good and glad the beating was over.
I wanted to stop training Taekwondo, but did not want to give up either. Anthony Harris told me in the middle of the beating to “keep fighting” so I decided to dig deep and train harder and better. I learnt a very important lesson from Anthony Harris. Anyone can beat up a weaker opponent, but the real test is fighting some better than you.
You need to prepare to fight someone better than you. If you are a current student and you are demoralised and upset at getting beat up by another student in class, I know how you feel. Dig deep, get in the trenches, and hang in there. Train harder to be fitter, stronger, more flexible and get more experienced.
Now, outside of Taekwondo, there will be times you feel beaten by school, work or just life in general, and want to give up. Again you grit your teeth and keep fighting on. I have won numerous tournaments but have always learnt more from defeat than victory.
In time, you may not be the best fighter or win, but you will have “no fear”. And that is the main criteria for being a NLTKD black belt.
2017 GTI British Open Taekwondo Championship
The NLTKD strongly encourages all student, regardless or whether they win or loose to enter tournaments particularly GTI event. This tournament is on Sunday 5 November at 9:00–17:00 at Leisure at Cheltenham Tommy Taylors Lane GL50 4RN Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Enter online at www.gti.wiredma.com