A big ask

A big ask indeed. I remember turning from 17 to 18. It's a time of many wonderful freedoms, but for the Taekwon-Do competitor, it means the big step from the junior ranks to the seniors. The senior ranks can be a scary place to be. It's where the big boys hang out, and for the new kid on the block, it can be very intimidating when you now have to mix it up with the lads that you only enjoyed watching in the past.

I've come across many black belts who have stepped across the Rubicon to senior level, and who unfortunately, decided to pack their bags and leave. That's their decision of course.

One of the lads from the club made the big change over this year. If you follow our website, you'll know who it is. I admire this young lad. His first tournament at senior level wasn't only the Leinster championships, nor was it the Dublin open, it was an international fight night. To stand on the mat for the first time as a senior and against what could be the best another country has to offer takes steel.

I admire him, not only for his guts, but he has a good way about him. He's always ready to help, always ready to train. I've never heard an excuse from him not to train, or to compete. He'll go along way in life. Maybe it's his eastern European upbringing, tough times in the old bloc no doubt. New kid on the block? Maybe new kid from the bloc? who knows, either way, his performance last night at the international fight night warrants a mention within these ramblings of mine.

Back to my own training, another trip to the gym today went well enough as the cardio improves. The treadmill is now on incline runs. I prefer it that way for some reason, tough and all as it is.

Funny watching the fights last night, or any fights for that matter, you always get the urge to put the gear back on and compete. It's all about finding the time though, the training is demanding for that level. Maybe I'm just making excuses. I did say to hell with it a few months ago after a let down regarding my position on the senior team. Unfortunately, the many miles between my home and the training hall in Cork stood in the way. Such is life and it goes on.

My mind is focused on coaching at the moment. The IMAC sports council recognised coaching courses were a big help in this regard. Unfortunately, no matter how much knowledge or experience you have, nothing matters a care if you're not the right degree for coaching in Taekwon-Do. Not that you have to be of any particular degree, fact is, as long as there are degree holders higher than you, they automatically assume these positions, irregardless of experience. Such things like this represent one of the many contradictions of a military martial art, now being practiced by civilians. Experience, past record, success, means náid, nada.

Either way, ours is not to wonder why.

The real coaching for me is done in the dojang. That's where it all happens, and that's where it will continue to happen.

I think my own club now is in a very strong position. The young lads and lassies training with me at the moment have all huge potential, this is what keeps me going, thoughts of future titles are inspiring. What makes it harder for these bunch of kids is the times they are in. They're all in the teenage years. So many demands, so many problems (perceived of course!), so many challenges and so many distractions. Sure weren't we all there in the past.

Getting through these years, remaining focused and dedicated to your dreams is what it's all about.

It's easy to get distracted, there's no challenge in that, you just float down river pulled along by a peer current, you don't have to move, you just follow. There's no challenge in smoking, until your in your 40's of course, when the challenge is to breath easy. There's no challenge in binge drinking, until your liver challenges you to a life or death duel. There's no challenge in stealing some one's bike, or maybe their car. That's easy, any idiot can do that. Any idiot who wants to waste their time and cause distress to others.

There is challenge however, in staying fit, staying healthy and most of all staying focused. Avoiding the current is probably the biggest challenge of all for teenagers. To all those young people out there who independently decide to live by their own guidelines, and not by some other punks, I admire you. You will ultimately be what you want to be, a world champion or even better.

Anyway, enough rambling, this is meant to be about MY grading.
Bloody teenagers!