I’ve been very nostalgic lately. This post is a direct result of my thinking over the last few days. When I think of the 90s, especially the early to mid 90s, TKD memories tend to crowd out the more difficult things I went through.

During my somewhat younger days and into middle age, I questioned the valid martial arts qualifications of Taekwondo.

All the while, I was teaching it for a living.

Oh, the dichotomy!

Today, I am going to look at TKD again, but my opinion has evolved, and I think, matured.

My TKD instructor is still teaching in South Austin. I trained under Mr. Richard Johnson at Taekwondo Plus. Although I began training in TKD for different reasons, I would be lying if I denied falling in love with the style. In my mid-twenties, I lived and breathed TKD. This was the period of my life where I would wake up at 2 or 3 AM, drink a pot and a half of coffee, work all day as a block mason, go home, shower, drink the remaining half pot of coffee, go the TKD school until 8 or 9, go home, shower again, read until midnight, go to sleep, and repeat the next day.

I was in the best shape of my life during this time. As a TKD white belt, I was about 265 lbs.  By the time I reached Black Belt, I was 225ish lbs., the lowest weight of my adult life. Hell on wheels is almost an unforgivable understatement. All ego aside, I was very good. There is no way to even imagine it when you see me limping around like a bonobo monkey now, but good God, I was fast, nimble, and as good as anyone my size could be.

And flexible! I could do a full splits either leg, and was closerthanthis to a full side splits! Again, you had to be there and see it to believe it, but it is true!

And the people I met during this time were amazing, chief among them being Mr. Johnson himself. A tremendous instructor, leader, and friend. When I started with Kickstart Kids over twenty years ago, much of my teaching style was lifted directly from his teaching style. And what a crew! Mr. and Mrs. Davis, the Perio’s, the Rigdon’s, the Sheffields, Grissom, Herrera, McCullough, Lambert, and many more that the passage of time has taken away the names of, but I can still see their faces in my minds eye.

Regarding the validity of TKD as a martial art, my past view was unforgiving. But the fact is, between the high level of physical conditioning and the fact that a punch is a punch, and a kick is a kick, TKD is a legitimate martial art, and the people who practice it are more than likely able to handle a physical conflict.

It just occurred to me that during my time in TKD, I wasn’t quite the hothead I had been before. Hmm.

With the age of  “my style is better than your style” thankfully behind me, I can honestly say that if you are considering training in TKD, whether for health and fitness, competition, or self- protection, TKD can provide what you are looking for. And if you live in Austin, stop by South Austin Taekwondo Plus,  tell them Wallace sent you. You won’t get a discount or a coffee mug, but you might get some nostalgic stories regarding the way I would sweat buckets every night or how injury prone I was.

Likes and share are always appreciated! Take care of yourself and each other.