It’s important to keep setting goals once you get your black belt, but sometimes it’s hard to come up with one. Here are some suggestions to keep you focused on your training. -Attend every regional (or national) event next year. -Test for instructor. One-steps are hardest for most people so focus on learning one belt’s worth every two weeks. -Attend 25 classes every testing cycle (that’s 300 for the year). -Work your way up to doing 100 push-ups without taking a break. -Pick out an impressive board break at the next demonstration you see and learn how to do it. -Re-learn all the old forms. -Learn the meanings of all the forms. -Start jumping rope. Work your way up to ten minutes a day. -Travel to a nearby school and train once every two weeks. You’ll be amazed the difference it will make! These are just a few ideas to help get you started. If you still need help setting a goal ask your instructor.

Anyone who saw Mrs. Peck receive her 7th degree this weekend couldn’t help but be inspired.  Don’t let that momentum go to waste!  While you are on the road to black belt, you may discover that the road ban be tough to travel and it might have a few obstacles on it that could slow you down.  Just like Mr. Lacy says, if earning a black belt were simple then everyone would have one.  The most important thing to remember is that when that road gets a bit bumpy or you start to take a wrong turn, smooth out the bumps and ask for directions to help get back on track.  The journey we take to black belt teaches us to set goals, be persistent, overcome obstacles, and follow through in the taekwondo school as well as in life.  Set a goal, then S.T.R.I.V.E. for it!

S is for Start Small – Set a serious of short-term goals that will add up to a bigger once, such as passing each testing leading up to black belt.

T is for Think Tall – Set a goal that is worthwhile, and dream bigger than life.  If nothing could stop you, what would you like to accomplish?

R is for Reach Over the Wall – Choose a goal that will require you to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

I is for Invest Your All – Give it your best shot.  Keep working towards your goal and don’t give up.  Don’t let yourself slack off.

V is for Visualize – Take the time to see yourself achieving your black belt or other goals you have set.  What are the rewards of sticking with your goal?   How will your life be different?  See yourself at the big celebration that will happen after you reach your goal.

E is for Expect to Stall – Distractions and obstacles may come up on your road to black belt or any other worthwhile goals.  Know that with high peaks, where everything is going as planned,come valleys.  Be prepared to take action to overcome roadblocks and distractions and get back on track.

The world is full of great starters.  It takes a special person to “strive” towards excellence and finish what they start.

Reaching your potential means breaking through your comfort zone to discover your true abilities.  Your comfort zone is what you can achieve with your average effort and determination.  Here are five strategies you can implement today to help reach your full potential.

1) Cross Train – Taekwondo is excellent exercise.  However, make a commitment to supplement your taekwondo classes with biking, jogging, weight training, cardio kickboxing, yoga, etc.  You can even alternate your cross training activity each week.  By exercising muscles used less in taekwondo you will become a stronger and faster martial artist.

2) Stretch – Make a habit of warming and stretching your muscles every day.  Flexibility plays a critical role to the responsiveness of your muscles.  the bottom line is stretching will make you a better martial artist.

3) Practice – Martial artists believe that there is always room for improvement.  While it may not be true that “practice makes perfect”, practice does make better (especially when you practice with EFFORT).

4) Take care of yourself – Be healthy.  Pay attention to what you eat.  Food is the fuel your body uses to perform.  If you feed it junk you will not perform your best.  Find out what your ideal body weight should be and set a goal to reach it.  Care for yourself and you are sure to be a good martial artist.

5) Train Your Brain – Develop the mental aspect of your training by reviewing all your techniques in your mind’s eye.  Many scientific studies have shown that “thinking” about an activity can help you improve your performance.  Visualize yourself doing the perfect form, then get up and do it exactly like you saw it.

You don’t need to make a major change to produce dramatic results.  The above five strategies will allow you to make several subtle changes to break through your comfort zone and reach your full potential.

It is easier to achieve your Taekwondo goals with a little help from AAA – Attendance, Action, and Attitude.

Attendance

Good attendance seems obvious at first.  All you have to do is go to class, right? WRONG! To achieve real results you must attend class regularly.  That doesn’t mean you go everyday, but at least three times a week.  It is more effective to train three times a week than to train daily for a week or two then stop for ten days.  Experts suggest that it takes an equal amount of time to regain your skill level when you miss class.  For example, if you take two weeks off you’ll need two weeks to regain your previous skill level before you can start improving.

Action

Consistent action is the second key to achieving your goals.  As you workout, both your mind and your muscles are recording standards of performance.  Consistent action means that you practice how you want to perform.  For maximum performance always practice with 100% effort.  If you consistently train with intensity your mind and body will become equal to the task.  So remember, don’t just say “I wish that I could kick really high/fast/strong”.  Workout to make it happen!

Attitude

Attitude is the most powerful key to reaching your goals.  The Black Belt Attitude is one of personal excellence and achievement.  Black belts maintain winning attitudes through self discipline and self control.  They develop high levels of self confidence in their ability to follow through and get the job done despite any obstacles.  Ask any black belt if achieving their rank was easy and every one of them will tell you no.  There were a lot of roadblocks, dedication, and hard work along the way but because of their positive attitude they were able to succeed where most others have failed.

Consistence in attitude, action, and attendance, combined with setting specific goals will give you the foundation to meet and exceed your Taekwondo goals.

It’s one of the tenets of Taekwondo, but what does it mean?  According to the dictionary, it means a will that is too strong to be defeated or discouraged. But what does that mean in Taekwondo? Or in your life?

Mr. Lacy failed four testings in a row at one point.  He could have gotten too discouraged and given up before he even got his black belt, but he didn’t.  Now he’s been training over thirty years, inspired seven other students to go open schools themselves, and is the highest rank in the organization.  His will was so strong, so contagious, that it inspired the four people closest to him in the world this was a sport worth doing together – his wife and three children.  When he got to the point where the organization he was a part of became so financially driven that it began to lose sight of what was so great about taekwondo, he could have thrown in the towel and got a desk job.  Or, even worse, he could have compromised his principles and fallen in with the party line.  Instead, he jumped ship, determined to swim or drown trying with a handful of other indomitable men and women and founded Taekwondo America, an organization which now boasts over fifty schools.

Another testing has come and gone and as always, some students didn’t pass.  It happens every time.  If everyone passed then the belts wouldn’t mean anything. Everyone thinks no changes are a bad thing, but in a lot of cases it’s the best thing that could happen to you.  It will make you want it more.  It will make you work harder.  It will make it mean more once you actually achieve the rank you’re working toward.  Ask Sebastian Schnurman-Crook, who finally passed his testing for 1st Degree Decided Black Belt after failing the last four testings, what that belt means to him.  I guarantee it’s a lot more special than it is to someone who has never failed a testing.

Whether you passed, or whether you didn’t, now is the time to decide: how good do you want to be?  How strong is your will?  How indomitable is your spirit?  Black belt is not the end of a journey.  There is no such thing as perfect in Taekwondo.  EVERYONE has room to improve.  Even instructors forget forms from time to time.  Set a goal for yourself and keep working towards it, no matter what.  I’ve often heard that a team is only as strong as its weakest player.  Taekwondo is an individual sport, so you are only as good as your will, your spirit.  If it in indomitable, you will persevere.  It may take some time, but anyone who’s ever faced a setback, a hurdle, a no change, will tell you that just makes the eventual success so much sweeter.

Do you know what all the different stripes on a black belt’s uniform mean?

If a student has his or her name embroidered on their uniform it means they are at least the rank of probationary black belt.

A 1″ red stripe around the collar of a student’s uniform indicates that he or she is an Instructor Trainee.

A 1″ black trim around the collar of a student’s uniform indicates that he or she is a Certified Instructor.

The requirements for both the Instructor Trainee and Certified Instructor are the same, except a Certified Instructor must also be CPR and First Aid certified.  Other than that the main difference is that Instructor Trainees are between the ages of 7-17 and Certified Instructors are over the age of 18.  In order to test for Instructor Trainee or Certified Instructor a student must be at least a 1st Degree Decided Black Belt and demonstrate every form up to and including his or her own.  Additionally, Trainees must demonstrate White, Yellow, and Orange Belt one-steps or sparring combinations #1-3; Certifieds must demonstrate White, Yellow, and Orange Belt one-steps or sparring combinations #1-5.

Once you receive your Instructor Trainee or Certified Instructor you must teach a minimum of 2 hours per week, attend all testings and regional tournaments, and attend at least one National Tournament a year.  You must also take at least 2 classes a week and attend monthly Instructor Workouts.

A 1″ red stripe beside a 1″ black stripe (with the red stripe being closest to the body) on a student’s collar means that he or she is a Junior Certified Instructor.

A 1-1/2″ black stripe on a student’s collar means he or she is a Senior Certified Instructor.

Junior Certified Instructors are between the ages of 13-17, and Senior Certified Instructors are over the age of 18.  In order to become a Junior or Senior Certified Instructor a student must be either an Instructor Trainee or Certified Instructor for a minimum of 12 months in addition to teaching at least 150 hours worth of classes, demonstrating all forms up to and including his or her own, demonstrating all one-steps and sparring combinations, passing a written test (juniors must receive an 80% or better, adults a 90% or better), maintaining CPR and First Aid certification, attend at least one National and one Regional tournament as an instructor, attend at least one Black Belt Camp, and participate in the Certification Seminar series at the annual Black Belt Conference.

Once you receive you Junior or Senior Certified Instructor status you must teach two hours a week, attend a re-certification seminar every five years, attend one Regional Tournament  a year, maintain current CPR and First Aid certification, attend all local testings, attend at least one National Tournament a year, and attend black belt camp at least once every two years.  You must also take at least 2 classes a week and attend monthly Instructor Workouts.

Black stripes down the pant legs mean a student has achieved at least the rank of 4^th Degree Black Belt.

Black stripes down the sleeves mean the student is at least a 6^th Degree Black Belt.