T is for Teacher, and Taekwondo

T is for Teacher, and Taekwondo

     Thump! I slammed my heel against the board like a missle. No dice, it still didn't break. This was my last board break attempt before the dreaded taekwondo testing this Saturday and I still failed to obliterate the wood. If I couldn't break on Saturday, I would be stuck as a red belt for another two months, eons!

     "That was your final attempt" my instructer grumbled shaking his head, "Come on Mukherjee, I know your potential. Don't let yourself stoop."

     At taekwondo, it is mandatory that we certify each other by their last names in black belt class. We do it so many times that ample of us have forgotten each other's first name! Anyhow, at the end of class, my instructor Mr. Gentry noticed the frown adorned on my face and gave me a heart to heart.

     "Mr. Mukherjee, I know you have been struggling in class and I would like you to know that I did too, when I was at your rank" he consoled. "That step-through side kick is no piece of cake unless you make it".

     "I'm not a baker though" I joked, then espied his solemn face and straightned into an attention stance.

     "Testing is in two days. Tommorow I want you to take an item, focus on it, and repetitively practice your moves on it" he continued, then saw my sly grin and blurted "Nothing too expensive though. Now, on testing day, before you come at it, inhale and exhale, through your nose. Then, think that the board is the head of your greatest foe, and change that 'thump' to a 'crack'!" He snapped his fingers and mystically disappeared after that.

     The next day after completing my homework, I embraced one of my stuffed animals and sat it down on a stool. I turned my back for a split second and heard an audible fwoosh! Houston, we have a problem, I thought. Thank god the stuffed animal had legs. I hoisted it upright and tied it's legs into an affixed position, tight. With maximum power, I bombarded the hapless toy's temple with heel thrust. It wobbled back but didnt fall. I straightened it and remembered the six telltale letters. Breathe.This time, with my oxygen tank full, I stepped up, chambered, and shot my foot out like an arrow. Not only did I knock the stuffed animal down, but the chair came with the package.

     Progress. At first, only half of my endeavors were successful. Gradually, my success rate grew from 50% to 75%, 90%, and finally 100%. Alas, the day we were all waiting for arrived: Saturday morning's testing. Nobody else's worry-colored face could compare to my anxious mood. My heart could be heard beating from Timbuktu, and my palms were sweating, needless of the fact that they weren't hairy. I took a deep breath and we began.

     In case it wasn't known, there are five aspects of rank testing: first form, secondary form, kicks, sparring, and the dreaded board breaks. I passed forms and kicks with flying colors, and in jarring sparring, even though the 'trainee instructor' Mr. Schaefor didn't smooth things out on me, I was pretty sure I passed on that facet. Now it was time; board breaks time.

     Foot after foot, I creeped towards the board station and collected my wood. If I didn't stop sweating, Tustin may experience a flood pretty soon. My pupils weary and breath more shallow than Lady Gaga's song, I experienced the most nerve-wracking 90 seconds of my life before setting up the boards. Now I had two breaking points for both of my boards, the delightful elbow smash and prepostorous step-through side kick. The painless splinters in my elbow shed a decent dilemma of my elbow smash, a vertical break with the cephalic vein prior to the elbow. Step-through side's turn.

     My eyebrows wrestled, my teeth grinded, and I slammed my self against that 1-inch board as quickly as I could. Twice. I detest the noise Thump. On the last try, a near blow-over, I went through the steps in my head. Step, chamber, kick. Step, chamber, kick. I imagined the face of my worst nemesis, Jay Vee, thought of all the adventures ahead of me if I passed, knew that the time to slack was later, and finally, took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. I charged.

     Currently, I am a second degree black belt at West Coast Taekwondo, which is by far the greatest taekwondo school in history. I have always and will always remember the fabulous lessons the kind mentors there have taught me, more than anything teachers anywhere could ever instill. To this day, I remember in my heart what Mr. Gentry told me, and how it led to my triumph that day, my only 3rd try board break so far. Truly, the letter T does not only belong to Teacher, but also to Taekwondo.

The End