My Tae-Kwon-Do Journey  

During my early school years I was bullied considerably, as I was quite a large boy. I got very emotional about it and, after some thought I decided to do something about it. For many weeks I badgered my Mum to find me a Tae Kwon-Do school, so I could ‘learn to fight’. After some time I finally found a class in St Austell to join. The class was lead by Mr Shields who, at first, seemed very strict, disciplined and unapproachable. During my first class it was split and I was taught by an assistant instructor, Mrs Julie Shields. I enjoyed the class until the stretching which I found incredibly difficult and got very tearful. At this point my opinion of Mr Shields changed as he came over to me and spoke to me, asking what was wrong and giving some comforting words. (Even to this day I dislike the hurdle stretch!)

The next class I attended I found more enjoyable, as it was a more active class as opposed to static stretching. After the class I felt refreshed and much happier (apart from the aches and stiffness the next day). So that was it, my Tae Kwon-Do journey had begun.

When it came to the first grading and I was studying the theory behind it all, I realised that a martial art was not all about fighting. It trains your mind, body and spirit to work as one which was something I could not understand at the time. My self discipline and self respect grew tremendously as I trained and each new belt drove me on further to achieve more. Tae Kwon-Do increased my determination and still does to this day.

As well as the mental training, I also began to see physical changes. My body was changing, rapidly. I lost a lot of body fat and muscle tone developed which made me more confident in myself.

I started to attend the other TTA classes in Cornwall and found that everyone was very friendly and made you feel welcome, which helped my training as I felt more comfortable in what I was doing.

The feeling of getting a new grade is, I feel, unmatched by any other (especially if you know you have worked for it) and the new syllabus that comes with it keeps a level of excitement there as you always have something new to do.

At first I was very afraid of Grandmaster T.K. Loh but I soon learned that he was a very pleasant man, with lots of experience and new training methods to share with everyone. His methods of training and ways of explaining things are so effective you wouldn’t believe.

The competitions are also a completely new experience to training, as you get more of an adrenaline rush from fighting a stranger. But, the Tae-Kwon-Do atmosphere is still there and the friendliness of it all remains (seems strange but its true).

Since I first started training in August 2003 when I was 10 I have lost weight, developed more muscle tone than I ever imagined, become 100 times fitter, become more confident, disciplined and dedicated, and I have also made friends with not only the other students, but Mr Shields as well. Now I have achieved the grade of junior black belt and I am still not yet fourteen.

I am really glad I joined the Traditional Tae Kwon Do Association Cornwall, as after watching other clubs I believe that this is the best in Cornwall by far.

If anyone is interested in joining a Tae Kwon-Do club, I STRONGLY recommend the TTA. You would have to experience its effects first hand as it is indescribable.

Toby Fleming