The Change Taekwondo Made In My Life

by Sevastian Campos
(Carlsbad, NM, USA)

Hello, my name is Sevastian. I am here to tell you my taekwondo story.

I joined TKD back in 2005 when I was in the 7th grade. My cousins ran the local dojang here and it looked pretty fun to try out. So I went by and tried it...and I loved it. I loved the kicks. I loved the forms. The sparring...not so much, but I have become much better at it. :) I even occasionally kick when I spar now!

Unfortunately, in early 2007 I got out of TKD due to financial problems. Thankfully, in 2008 I joined back up again and I am glad I did. I was surprised to see that I could still do my kicks decently and after a crash course through poomse I remembered all my forms again. I even taught myself taegeuks 6-8. (Thank you YouTube!)

My sparring has improved greatly, though I mostly run around the ring, much to the agitation of my opponent and Master both. :) Since joining again I have moved up 6 belts, from orange w/ stripe to blue. I have learned some new kicks, like crescent kick and swing hook kick. I don't particularly like them but I can do them decently.

Unfortunately, lately I have been in a rut that I am barely beginning to get out of. A few months ago I became filled with jealousy because of another student. He joined much later than I did and yet he has already become much better than I am. What took me years to learn only took him months. I felt cheated, useless, and pathetic. I felt like a failure because it took me so long to learn what he learned in months. This severely hindered my progress and my confidence in myself has decreased dramatically.

My Master and Senior Instructor noticed and they tried to help me feel better. But their efforts were in vain. This site has helped me though. Just from browsing around here and reading I have realized that TKD is not about learning faster than others. Or being better than others. But is about becoming a better you. I have improved greatly in TKD since I have rejoined and that is all that matters.

I have become better than I was before and although there will always be other people that are better than me or learn faster than me I will always know one thing...I have improved myself in TKD.

Self improvement is always more important than the improvement of others and one should never compare themselves to others because if you do, you will not always be happy with the comparison. Just be happy with the way that you are and know that as long as you have personally improved from something you are never EVER going to be pathetic.

This is what I have learned from my Taekwondo journey...

Deb's Reply

Wow! Wow! Wow! This is a brilliant story Sevastian.

Firstly because you have been honest about your feelings. This is a brave but incredibly positive thing to do. I absolutely know that many, many people out there will be able to relate to your struggle because they have felt similar feelings to you (I know I have).

And secondly you have found a way through and past your difficulties. In martial arts (and life) the toughest battle you face is with yourself. You have battled with yourself and come through it. You have realized what the taekwondo journey is all about(self-improvement) and now you can relax and enjoy your journey.

Well done! You have achieved great things and if you keep going more good is coming.

Deb :-)