Taekwon-Do the way of life
I have two sports, and I am trying to get back on track in both.
I have been writing a lot about hammer throw, but somehow almost nothing about my other sports ITF Taekwon-Do (I will shorten it later as TKD). And the fact, that I have not been writing about it, is a bit weird, as after all, sometimes I feel like Taekwon-Do is the one I want more than hammer throw.
My hammer throw coach often tells me, that at some point, I have to make the decision of which one I want to do more. I know his opinion, I know what he thinks about me doing TKD, as it is martial arts and generally speaking involves higher injury risk than hammer throw. Even insurance companies have the "This insurance is not valid in these high-risk sports", and then there are martial arts.
So I understand his point of view, but so far my injuries are all from hammer throw. Which means, that injuries I have (had) has not only affected hammer throw seasons but also my TKD training - often even more affecting TKD than hammer throw.
Earlier during my injuries, I often did something in hammer throw training but had to take a break from TKD, now it has a bit turned around.
So maybe I have not been writing about Taekwon-Do much, because I have not been ready to admit (to myself), that if I had to choose between hammer throw and Taekwon-Do, I would choose Taekwon-Do. I would choose it any day, any time. Always. It would be my number one decision. Even though I have always wanted to get back to hammer throw as well. But if I would have to make the decision, it would be Taekwon-Do. This might surprise some people. ;)
Sometimes I even think what if I would make the decision now. Would it make any difference in the rehabilitation process? Would it make it easier, or even harder?
Sometimes I feel like making the decision now would be much easier - to only have one sport to get back to.
But then again, I realize how much I miss hammer throw. How much it still is part of my life.
So making that decision is not that easy.
Because I still want to get back to hammer throw. I have some kind of need to prove to myself, and to the world, to the people who have ever doubted, who have told me I will never become anything in the hammer throw, that after so long break, it is possible to get up, rise and shine again.
And because I want to see if I still love that sport as much as I think I do. I want to see if I still have the potential in that sport to become something bigger.
I have had several coaches saying to me over years, that I have huge potential to become the "real thrower." That my body is made for the hammer throw. But the only problem is, that I need injury free training season(s), which I have not had for years. If I would have even one injury free season, I could show my potential.
It is in my blood, it is part of my life. It is my lifestyle.
Most people do not understand how some sport can be so huge part of someone's life. And I will not try to explain it because, over the years, I have realized it does not matter. If someone does not understand, they usually are not even trying to. Explaining does not make the difference, because most are not even ready to understand it.
But those who know what it is, know, that it can be part of own lifestyle.
I see in my everyday life some parts which I have learned through Taekwon-Do.
I see how the five tenets of Taekwon-Do are part of my life all the time. The courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit, are all part of my everyday life. Part of my way of thinking and acting.
The never give up, always be kind to everyone, are all part of Taekwon-Do.
I have a lot of dreams related to TKD. I want to get back so much, because I have so many dreams, and because it is my lifestyle. I want to get back to training so that I can start competing, and so that one day I may have the black belt.
But when during the critical times, when a person should learn the basics, and there comes injury and surgery, it automatically means a break from training. Imagine having 2 surgeries within 2 years. I might have started Taekwon-Do in 2011, but in the same year, I had my ankle surgery. Then I got back on track and had my shoulder surgery in 2013.
So, I could say that I have been doing TKD since 2011, which is 7 years.
But then again, because of my injuries and stops in development, I prefer saying, that I started in 2011, but have not had a single injury free training MONTH since I started. -- Also I usually add, that my injuries have nothing to do with Taekwon-Do because I do not want, that people get afraid, and will not join because of that. As it is the truth, my injuries have nothing to do with TKD.
Basically, I have had more training breaks, than actually doing training. And yes, it sucks.
I have had a lot of doubts during my Taekwon-Do journey (during my breaks).
I have hated sparring training and literally avoided going to sparring classes because I was afraid.
Then moved to another city, started training there, and fell in love with sparring.
I have been participating in training camps, a weekend (2 days) with up to 7 training sessions.
I have been watching competitions - never had the courage to participate by myself yet.
I have felt like a failure and been afraid (and ashamed) of getting back on training after a long break, because of knowing that people who started at the same time might already have the black belt.
But the most important thing is, that I have been always getting back. With help of the amazing people in the huge Taekwon-Do family around Finland, and even around the world.
The sportsmanship is amazing, and it is very hard to explain, it should be experienced.
Even in competitions sparring is not about fighting, it is not about hurting another person.
Winning is not only winning, and losing is not only losing.
After all, everyone in Taekwon-Do is part of the same big family. Where ever we go, we can go to the local TKD class.
I think it is not hard to guess, that I already have searched some local Taekwon-Do classes here in Brisbane. I have found a few potential ones, and the good thing is, that the one is located within 2km from my home. For a month or so, I have already been thinking to send an email there, because I really have the want to get back on Dojang.
The problem is, that I still have my back pain, and I have the promise to myself (and few others) that I will not start training before my back is definitely strong enough to handle everything.
I want to avoid all further injuries, and really give time to my back to get stronger and better.
That way, I might have a much better future ahead in both of my sports.
Keeping myself away from hammer throw is easier.
One of the obvious reason is, that I do not have my equipment with me. No hammer, no shoes, and finding local training class is much harder. There is not similar sportsmanship - even though I did hammer throw training in Singapore, and it was amazing!
The other reason is, that I have already now had 10 months break from training, and 2 years break from competing - so I have the "being in break" flow going on.
But maybe one reason is also the fact, that I do not know if I truly believe I want to get back, and not sure if I believe that I would have future in the hammer throw.
On the other hand, being away from Taekwon-Do is way much harder.
First of all, because I have my dobok with me. It is in my closet, and I always see it when I open my closet.
It is there reminding how much I want to get back. But also reminds me, that I do not know how long I am able to keep myself away from training... :D
And obviously, because I know how much I want to get back and fulfill my dreams.
In the end, I want to say, that when I started Taekwon-Do, I could have never imagined how important that sport would become. It was meant to be my so-called second sport, but over time it has started to feel more like my first sport, and hammer throw as the second one.
I did not have a plan to fell in love with TKD, I did not plan, that it would become my lifestyle, but it did.
I never started Taekwon-Do with friends, I got friends there, felt sad, that most of them quit at some point, but then realized, that I am not doing it for my friends. I am doing it for myself.
And when I realized, that I am doing it for myself, I also realized, that it does not matter how long it takes to get black belt. It does not matter what belt I have, and what others have. Some people have an easier journey, some have harder. I did not choose to have a harder one, but I would never change anything from my journey.
I hope to be back on track, in Taekwon-Do and hammer throw some day. There is no need to hurry because sometimes slower is better. :)
I have been writing a lot about hammer throw, but somehow almost nothing about my other sports ITF Taekwon-Do (I will shorten it later as TKD). And the fact, that I have not been writing about it, is a bit weird, as after all, sometimes I feel like Taekwon-Do is the one I want more than hammer throw.
My hammer throw coach often tells me, that at some point, I have to make the decision of which one I want to do more. I know his opinion, I know what he thinks about me doing TKD, as it is martial arts and generally speaking involves higher injury risk than hammer throw. Even insurance companies have the "This insurance is not valid in these high-risk sports", and then there are martial arts.
So I understand his point of view, but so far my injuries are all from hammer throw. Which means, that injuries I have (had) has not only affected hammer throw seasons but also my TKD training - often even more affecting TKD than hammer throw.
Earlier during my injuries, I often did something in hammer throw training but had to take a break from TKD, now it has a bit turned around.
 |
| Yes, this is from Taekwon-Do. But I always tell everyone, that it is just a bruise. There is not bigger injury. And it does look worse, than it felt. |
So maybe I have not been writing about Taekwon-Do much, because I have not been ready to admit (to myself), that if I had to choose between hammer throw and Taekwon-Do, I would choose Taekwon-Do. I would choose it any day, any time. Always. It would be my number one decision. Even though I have always wanted to get back to hammer throw as well. But if I would have to make the decision, it would be Taekwon-Do. This might surprise some people. ;)
Sometimes I even think what if I would make the decision now. Would it make any difference in the rehabilitation process? Would it make it easier, or even harder?
Sometimes I feel like making the decision now would be much easier - to only have one sport to get back to.
But then again, I realize how much I miss hammer throw. How much it still is part of my life.
So making that decision is not that easy.
Because I still want to get back to hammer throw. I have some kind of need to prove to myself, and to the world, to the people who have ever doubted, who have told me I will never become anything in the hammer throw, that after so long break, it is possible to get up, rise and shine again.
And because I want to see if I still love that sport as much as I think I do. I want to see if I still have the potential in that sport to become something bigger.
I have had several coaches saying to me over years, that I have huge potential to become the "real thrower." That my body is made for the hammer throw. But the only problem is, that I need injury free training season(s), which I have not had for years. If I would have even one injury free season, I could show my potential.
Taekwon-Do the sport I belong to
But TKD is something I do not need to try to know if I still love it.It is in my blood, it is part of my life. It is my lifestyle.
Most people do not understand how some sport can be so huge part of someone's life. And I will not try to explain it because, over the years, I have realized it does not matter. If someone does not understand, they usually are not even trying to. Explaining does not make the difference, because most are not even ready to understand it.
But those who know what it is, know, that it can be part of own lifestyle.
I see in my everyday life some parts which I have learned through Taekwon-Do.
I see how the five tenets of Taekwon-Do are part of my life all the time. The courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit, are all part of my everyday life. Part of my way of thinking and acting.
The never give up, always be kind to everyone, are all part of Taekwon-Do.
I have a lot of dreams related to TKD. I want to get back so much, because I have so many dreams, and because it is my lifestyle. I want to get back to training so that I can start competing, and so that one day I may have the black belt.
My journey in Taekwon-Do
My whole journey from white belt to the point I am now (green belt) has not been easy. Whilst most TKD students get green belt within a year, for me, it took 6 years in total. 6 years is the time many people get the black belt.But when during the critical times, when a person should learn the basics, and there comes injury and surgery, it automatically means a break from training. Imagine having 2 surgeries within 2 years. I might have started Taekwon-Do in 2011, but in the same year, I had my ankle surgery. Then I got back on track and had my shoulder surgery in 2013.
So, I could say that I have been doing TKD since 2011, which is 7 years.
But then again, because of my injuries and stops in development, I prefer saying, that I started in 2011, but have not had a single injury free training MONTH since I started. -- Also I usually add, that my injuries have nothing to do with Taekwon-Do because I do not want, that people get afraid, and will not join because of that. As it is the truth, my injuries have nothing to do with TKD.
Basically, I have had more training breaks, than actually doing training. And yes, it sucks.
I have had a lot of doubts during my Taekwon-Do journey (during my breaks).
I have hated sparring training and literally avoided going to sparring classes because I was afraid.
Then moved to another city, started training there, and fell in love with sparring.
I have been participating in training camps, a weekend (2 days) with up to 7 training sessions.
I have been watching competitions - never had the courage to participate by myself yet.
I have felt like a failure and been afraid (and ashamed) of getting back on training after a long break, because of knowing that people who started at the same time might already have the black belt.
But the most important thing is, that I have been always getting back. With help of the amazing people in the huge Taekwon-Do family around Finland, and even around the world.
The sportsmanship is amazing, and it is very hard to explain, it should be experienced.
Even in competitions sparring is not about fighting, it is not about hurting another person.
Winning is not only winning, and losing is not only losing.
After all, everyone in Taekwon-Do is part of the same big family. Where ever we go, we can go to the local TKD class.
I think it is not hard to guess, that I already have searched some local Taekwon-Do classes here in Brisbane. I have found a few potential ones, and the good thing is, that the one is located within 2km from my home. For a month or so, I have already been thinking to send an email there, because I really have the want to get back on Dojang.
The problem is, that I still have my back pain, and I have the promise to myself (and few others) that I will not start training before my back is definitely strong enough to handle everything.
I want to avoid all further injuries, and really give time to my back to get stronger and better.
That way, I might have a much better future ahead in both of my sports.
 |
| At least I can do some training while I am not yet able to do TKD and throwing. :) |
Keeping myself away from hammer throw is easier.
One of the obvious reason is, that I do not have my equipment with me. No hammer, no shoes, and finding local training class is much harder. There is not similar sportsmanship - even though I did hammer throw training in Singapore, and it was amazing!
The other reason is, that I have already now had 10 months break from training, and 2 years break from competing - so I have the "being in break" flow going on.
But maybe one reason is also the fact, that I do not know if I truly believe I want to get back, and not sure if I believe that I would have future in the hammer throw.
On the other hand, being away from Taekwon-Do is way much harder.
First of all, because I have my dobok with me. It is in my closet, and I always see it when I open my closet.
It is there reminding how much I want to get back. But also reminds me, that I do not know how long I am able to keep myself away from training... :D
And obviously, because I know how much I want to get back and fulfill my dreams.
In the end, I want to say, that when I started Taekwon-Do, I could have never imagined how important that sport would become. It was meant to be my so-called second sport, but over time it has started to feel more like my first sport, and hammer throw as the second one.
I did not have a plan to fell in love with TKD, I did not plan, that it would become my lifestyle, but it did.
I never started Taekwon-Do with friends, I got friends there, felt sad, that most of them quit at some point, but then realized, that I am not doing it for my friends. I am doing it for myself.
And when I realized, that I am doing it for myself, I also realized, that it does not matter how long it takes to get black belt. It does not matter what belt I have, and what others have. Some people have an easier journey, some have harder. I did not choose to have a harder one, but I would never change anything from my journey.
I hope to be back on track, in Taekwon-Do and hammer throw some day. There is no need to hurry because sometimes slower is better. :)
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