Martial Arts builds character

The journey to black belt is about developing life skills. I would like you to consider taking this journey with me.

My journey begins at White Tiger Taekwondo in Cary. I always thought I would like Martial Arts training, and was invited to a birthday party at White Tiger. I am home-schooled and my parents wanted my training to be during the daytime.

On this journey, some of the life skills I am learning are; concentration, cooperation, self-control and confidence.

Concentration is something I need to do the forms (the punches, kicks and blocks in the right form, for each belt along the way). Concentration is used in life too, getting homework done and other tasks my parents give me to do.

Cooperation is working together as a team. We do this in our classes and in black belt practice. My parents think that getting better at cooperating at home is good too.

Self-control means not letting anger or excitement get the better of you. In Martial Arts that could be dangerous! Self-control means not letting anything get the better of you, in the training area(doe-jahng) or with your sister!

Confidence is something that comes from doing something hard and reaching your goal. Starting with the White Belt, there are 10 more belts to earn before getting to Black Belt. Each one has its own challenges. The confidence I have earned in Martial Arts goes with me everywhere, even End of Grade testing or lines in a church play.

I am still learning these life skills, and others. The journey is hard, but fun. And it isn’t over with Black Belt, this is only a 1st degree black belt and there are ten!

Training for Black Belt is a challenge, it is fun, and you will learn life skills too if you take this journey.

Christopher Arnold

Clayton