What an inspiring weekend! I have recently had an operation so couldn’t compete in the Taekwondo Nationals here. So I just got to go and watch. I hate going to competitions and not being able to compete, but it is the best thing for me as far as inspiration goes. Watching the people I train with going through their process and performing, whether winning or losing, is so inspiring for me.

Seeing people that you are sure are so tired they can hardly move, suddenly get that look in their eyes an come back from ten points down to win in the last minute of the last round can’t help but fill you with awe. Seeing people looking to each other for inspiration, whatever their respective ages, is amazing.

I guess that it’s only through shared hardships that truly amazing  friendships are born.

There’s the age old question of whether sport and competition is good for martial arts. I love all sides of Taekwondo, and one of the best things is that there are so many sides of it that people can be interested in. I think that this is the secret of its success.

There are clubs around that don’t compete. And I’m sure that if I’d joined one of those I’d be adamant that competition is frivolous and unnecessary. And I’d be right, because for that me I’d be speaking the truth.

But for this me, that has experienced the stresses involved in one-on-one competition, that has seen people lift and do amazing things, or fail but stand up and use their failure as a platform to improve for next time, I’m proud that I and the people that I respect compete, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I really love Taekwondo!