In eighth grade I convinced my parents that it would be worth the time and money to learn to protect myself. I was tired of the Indian classical dance, Odissi, that my mother mandated I train in, and far more interested in no longer being helpless should anything happen when I walk around alone. I began this martial arts journey at True Martial Arts in Bel-Red, and trained in both Taekwondo and Arnis.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial arts style while Arnis is a Filipino martial arts style which incorporates weapons. On my first day at the school I took two classes, one for each style, and found myself extremely interested in learning to use my body to defend myself efficiently and effectively. Over the next few years I put more and more time into the art and moved into the advanced class. By senior year of high school I was an assistant instructor, a provisional black belt in both styles, and generally took five or six hours of classes a week and taught for two hours. Martial arts was probably the first thing I began for myself rather than my parents or school or college applications, and I loved it. However, once I began college it became difficult for me to go back and train. Taking a full courseload, working 15 hours a week at Suzzallo library, researching 15 hours a week, and completing homework on time became impossible to balance with the hour long round-trip bus ride to Bel-Red and the hour and half class twice a week. During freshman year I barely trained at all. During the summer I did my best but it wasn't enough. In sophomore year I took private lessons on Fridays when I could and this summer (2019) I am once again regularly attending classes, although I am not teaching. It is my goal next year to continue to do so, or to at least take classes once a week. My inability to train during the school year is one of my greatest regrets for the first two years of college and I hope to figure out a way that I no longer am absent from training during junior year. |