NEVER THINK YOU CAN’T

Hi some of you in the TTA will probably recognise me as you read this, I was asked if I would like to write something about Tae Kwon Do, what it means to me and how I’ve benefited since taking it up.

Well I started in April 2001, with my two boys, then aged 7 and 9, they were the ones who wanted to do it, and I thought why wait in the car, when I could get fit myself.

All three of us are asthmatics and I’ve suffered with bad knees for 27 years since the age of 5, which I’ve had physiotherapy for. I also had an ankle that I couldn’t rotate in any direction after nearly breaking it 7 years ago, which I also had physiotherapy on. Since starting Tae Kwon Do, I can now move my ankle with ease, something the physiotherapy never done for me, and I’m able to lift and bend my knees higher now than when I was at school!! 

Although I’m still overweight, I have lost several inches all over, which I’ve started to notice myself. 

None of us have used our asthma inhalers within 3 months of starting Tae Kwon Do because we have been shown how to breathe and exhale properly.

All three of us are really enjoying Tae Kwon Do and in October we passed our green belt grading, something we were very pleased about, especially me, as I’d just finished a 11hour night shift 1 ½ hours before the grading.

Anybody wanting to take up self-defence classes and get some exercise, I would strongly recommend you get in touch with Mr. Shields it’s hard work but very well worth it.

We wouldn’t give up now for anything but medical reasons, so anybody out there who thinks, “hey I would like to do that, but I can’t”, if an over weight asthmatic with dodgy knees can do it and keep it up for over 18 months then anyone can. Go on give it a go and see how you can benefit by it.

Tracey 32, Corey 10 and Josh 8.