Mr. Brian Yi - Witnessing an assult leads me to Taekwon-Do

1st Dan Thesis
By Brian Yi - My Story and the Path

I have been doing Taekwon-Do for almost 6 years. My interest in Taekwon-Do grew back in Korea. I knew that this was the path that I wanted to take, going through incidents. But it all started like this...

Back in Korea when I started Taekwon-Do when I was 6 (4 in US), I was walking home from preschool. Then I saw something that I could never forget. I saw 3 tall boys ganging up against another. There was blood dripping on the concrete floor, choking, kicking, etc. For me, a six-year-old, this was too much. I sprinted home until I was sure I was safe. I told my mom about this, and we got to search right away for a place that I can train and take care of myself. My family did not want the fighng situaon to get involved with me. Sometimes I was very bored at learning skillsets, but for some reason, I saw an image flash by of me fighng someone. I paid more aenon when this happened so I don’t get hurt like that boy I saw! I also wanted to help others that are in trouble like that person. And this memory will not disappear and will remind me to keep connuing the path to a black belt. Unl then, I will never stop training.

My teacher back in Korea was a very thoughul and kind person. He taught me things that helped me understand more about responsibility, integrity, and perseverance. He was the role model of me at that me, and always will be. This is why I want to grow up like him and be the person like him. I think earning the black belt using the skills I have learned is the first step in getting closer to his examples.

I grew older to be a reckless 9-year-old boy in 1st grade(7 in US). I started for home with my group of friends that I had goen. We headed to my house to do homework and play. When we were chatting, I noticed BB gun bullets. I was in my yellow sign when I am careful. Then I saw 3 boys...the same people who beat up that poor boy. They had BB-guns in their hands. They were looking right at us. I looked around for someone. No one around. Uh oh. They started walking towards us saying “come here, we have money. You can choose a toy you want. Come come!” My friends were horrified. I wanted to disarm them, but they were much bigger and I was scared also. So I told my friends to grab what they don’t need and through it at them and run. We ran and ran all the way back to our school as we got BB bullets in our backpacks and hair. But we were safe in the end. I was disappointed that I could no disarm them. One of the reasons I am training in Jue’s Taekwon-Do is that I saw Master Jue disarm a man with a real gun in the video outside the dojang. But I figured out that I needed to be advanced and this is one of my reason to become a black belt. To survive a warning of people holding guns. (the 3 boys were on the news and reported that they had shot lile kids in a park)

In third grade (In US), I learned to adapt to the new American culture. I learned fast and soon was a normal kid among hundreds. I gained many friendships and was popular. I never expected this to happen though. I was out in the lunch tables when I was suddenly thrown down. I recovered quickly with the helpful squat-thrust (It is hard, but very useful {thank you Master Jue}). But I didn’t get a chance to see the reason for my fall as I was put into a headlock. I used my rank requirement and got out of it. The opponent was a boy in my class! He charged at me. I knew I would be in trouble but I had to fight back. The fight wasn’t that long (But I was tardy for class) but hard since the boy was a karate learner. But in the end, I had goen him in my control. I told him not to do this ever again and sprinted back to my class. As I thought of this, I realized that it was the same fight as the images that had flashed in my mind back in Korea. But I have won the fight this me, thanks to my instructors. This fight will be remembered and the reason why I will pursue my dream of becoming a black belt.

I know that I can accomplish my goal of that black belt. I know I can save my friends and disarm weapons. I know I can be a good person like my teacher. I know I can protect myself and others. I know I can achieve what I set out to do. But until then, no stopping at any point!