1st Degree Black Belt Thesis

by newly promoted to 1st Degree black belt, Shaambhavi Shree

As a fifth grader, joining taekwondo was unplanned. I only knew martial arts from the action-packed Jackie Chan movies I would watch. I had no clue about the intentional and structured art form behind every technique. Stepping into the dojang for the first time, I noticed how organized every class was. From the crispy white uniforms to the serene focus in the air, I was astonished by this art.

When I sat down to watch the higher ranks demonstrate patterns, I was left in awe. This was nothing like the martial arts I had seen before. Every technique was backed up with intention and power, and performed so naturally as if it was second nature to them. I wondered how I could be like them one day. However, patterns proved to be way harder for me than they seemed. My stances were undistinguishable, and my hands moved faster than my feet. I learned quickly that in order to master a pattern, there were other factors that came into play. I observed the students I looked up to. I realized patterns weren't just movements to memorize. Ultimately, what separated me from the higher ranks wasn’t just skill, it was also discipline. Their every technique came from hours of dedicated practice and intense focus. Taekwondo suddenly wasn’t just about physical ability, but also about building a disciplined mindset.

My first goal was to get better at patterns. Throughout my middle school years, I continued to climb the ranks and learn new patterns. I treated each rank as an opportunity to learn new techniques and perfect them. During my first patterns tournament, despite my sweaty palms and nervous bow to the judges, my hours of practice carried me through. I felt intense pride when I was awarded first place, not in just winning, but in knowing that my discipline carried me further than my skills could have alone.

When I reached high school, I was a red stripe. While I felt confident in my patterns and taekwondo abilities, high school wasn’t the same case. New clubs, new friends, and the hard classes made me doubt my academic abilities. With so many other extracurriculars taking up my spare time, I was forced to realign my focus and took a break from taekwondo when I was really struggling in school. At that moment, I recalled learning my patterns and how I took things step by step. I applied that disciplined mindset to my life outside of taekwondo. When I faced difficulties in school, I would take it step by step to relearn and reform my thinking. Just within a few months, I regained confidence in my academic abilities. Now, my goal was to graduate high school with this disciplined approach, and excel in all aspects of my life.

Coming back to taekwondo this summer after graduating was not easy. I wasn’t as agile as I used to be, and struggled to keep up with class sometimes. The patterns I once spent hours on were faded in my memory. However, this only served as a crucial reminder of how important discipline is. I could’ve given up, but I wanted to see this through. My final goal became to get my black belt, not to prove my abilities to anyone else, but to prove to myself that I have what it takes to be disciplined and work hard. I started off slow, by stretching daily to regain my flexibility and relearning the techniques I had forgotten. Whenever I stumbled, I motivated myself, fully believing in my goal of becoming a black belt. To me, earning a black belt isn’t just a promotion, but a reminder that the truest growth comes from discipline, perseverance, andovercoming struggle. Getting my black belt will be a milestone in my life, symbolizing my growth as a person over these last 7 years.

Heading into college, my perseverance and discipline are my best tools. I’m beyond terrified to start this new chapter of my life, but I know I will do just fine if I take things day by day and decision by decision, disciplining myself to stay focused when needed and keep myself safe when I’m alone.

While patterns taught me discipline, sparring taught me perseverance and breaking taught me to overcome my fears. Even if I’m unsure of when I will step into the dojang again, I’ll carry these lessons everywhere I go. With this mindset, I am confident that I will excel in life and keep growing. I am eternally grateful to the fifth grader who was eager to learn this art, and I hope Taekwondo inspires others as it has inspired me.