Youth Life Skills Learnt
Students of Tang Soo Do gain a foundation of Life Skills which provide a crucial foundation for attaining your success
Positive Character Development
Goal setting
Decision Making
Individual Emotional and Social Communication and Interaction
Active Listening and Practical Adaptability
Interactional Physical Development
Successful Verbal Communication Skills for Affirmative Interactions
Focused On-Task Ability
Coordinative Skills and Pattern Detection
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Our environment is both fun and challenging, offering a path upon which all students may hone the tools for success in all areas of daily life. These skills provide a crucial foundation for attaining your success
Students grading for Black Belt
are required to submit an essay
Below are a few essays from our students
ISince the age of seven, Tang Soo Do has had an immense impact on my life. I have taken the knowledge that I have learnt in class with me in everything I do and everywhere I go, whether that be the confidence, the strength of body and mind, the discipline and respect that I have been aided to build or the crucial defensive skills that have been fostered within me. I am indebted to the patient and encouraging guidance and wisdom from my instructor, Master Carmichael, and I must also thank every other instructor and class assistant for cultivating my knowledge and helping me grow from a seed to a mature plant in the Tang Soo Do system.
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Tang Soo Do has remained the most influential, consistent and rewarding part of my routine for the nine years that I have been enrolled in the system. It has posed as an intense yet gratifying source of knowledge and improvement for me, and with every grade advancement, I am given an exhilarating sense of achievement and reward from committing myself over the years to learning these critical skills. When I was a White Belt, I fondly recall highly admiring the Green Belts’ dedication to their techniques, control of the Bo Staff, and enthusiasm, and this was the level that I had previously trained hard to advance towards. As I progressed from a seed to a growing plant, I was able to fully appreciate the accomplishment that I was desperate to achieve: the Black Belt.
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In the Snow Herons Martial Arts Belt System, the Black Belt symbolises the final stage of one’s life cycle and the beginning of the next. Over the course of my training, I now realise that the Black Belt is not the final objective, but the starting of the path towards true mastery and lifelong ambition.
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Being a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do is to commit yourself to the knowledge that Martial Arts enriches your life with, and to help you advertently focus and realise your goals that are possible to achieve through hard work and determination. The mental strength and dedication that Tang Soo Do has bestowed upon me has influenced my life infinitely, and for that my gratitude is endless.
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Tang Soo Do has ignited a great passion inside of me, and I have not only strengthened my physical form but also learnt pivotal defence skills that will support me in any situation in the future. Because of Tang Soo Do and the diligent training I have received from Master Carmichael, I can now have confidence in myself when I enter the outside world. Volunteering in classes and instructing others has greatly improved the introversion and diffidence of my nature, and I can rely on my reactions and muscle memory from the repetition of techniques in class to protect myself from threat.
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From Hapkido soft style techniques to Il Soo Sik hard style defences, I am equipped with understanding of body mechanics, strike and pressure points but also the knowledge of speed, timing and power. Although I hope that I will not have to use my techniques in a grave situation, I am self-assured with my ability to avoid, assess and remain defended in a threatening circumstance. I have also learnt the importance of discipline as a result of the respectful atmosphere of the Dojang, which is crucial to build a trustful and safe environment for learning techniques. It is an extremely valued skill that will prove incredibly useful in later life, when entering the workplace or speaking with elders, and I am very grateful to have learnt the significance of presenting with humility and respect.
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Discipline is crucial for enabling us to focus on our goals and create positive habits and routines. The act of answering to a senior belt or instructor with “Yes sir/ma’am” exhibits this respect and gratitude, and the class routines of saluting the flag, meditating on our objectives and bowing to our instructor with “Go Map Sum Ni Da” expresses discipline and order. One of the most important values I have learned from my training towards the Black Belt is the importance of friendship and trust. As we train together and share knowledge with each other, Tang So Do has ignited a sense of camaraderie in all of us, and it would have been impossible to achieve my goals without the assistance and support from the valuable friendships I have made. The encouraging community created in Snow Herons Martial Arts is extremely admirable, and it feels very uplifting to be a part of. I believe that being a Black Belt is not solely a display of excellent status, skill and power, but also being a mentor and role model for others. By volunteering and helping younger belts achieve their goals and progress in skill and knowledge, I feel fulfilled that I am inspiring others and inviting them into the camaraderie.
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One of the main motivations that urges me to strive for attaining the Black Belt is that in the future. Beginner and Intermediate belts will admire and look up to me, and I will bear part of the responsibility for kindling the same spark of energy in them that was ignited in me when I was younger. This spark, grown stronger by the warmth of friendship and trust within the club, has kept me committed to Tang Soo Do and given me immense joy and satisfaction from my dedication.
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In conclusion, I must thank Snow Herons Martial Arts and Master Carmichael ceaselessly for changing my life through Tang Soo Do. The nine years I have been training have been invaluable for developing not only my physical skills and techniques, but my mental attitude, discipline and confidence.
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The ability to self-defend is undoubtedly of the utmost importance in Martial Arts, and I think it is an essential skill in modern day life. The sensation of achievement following each progression in grade is unmatched, but the feeling of pride watching a friend or peer’s accomplishments is equally fulfilling.
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From experiencing the beginning of life’s cycle as a seed, to growing physically and mentally, I can now sincerely prepare for the maturity, respect and honour that entails the Black Belt. Looking back at my advancements represented by the cycle of the seasons from the Tang Soo Do belt system, I can hope to start fully appreciating the final stage of this life cycle and the beginning of a new path, one towards the true mastery of Tang Soo Do Karate, only achievable through toil, diligence and relentless energy and passion.
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My journey started eight years ago when my son started taking part in Tang Soo Do karate lessons and my childhood dream of wanting to practice a martial art came true (where I grew up unfortunately there were no such facilities so I had put it all to the back of my mind). Watching him made me feel I wanted to take part and with a little nudge from Master Carmichael and other parents I decided to give it a go. Shortly after, my daughter also started and before we knew it, all three of us were actively involved in the classes. We practiced together and it became a little bit competitive amongst us which was great. To begin with I took part during a morning class with other women and I found this was the right way for me to start. I felt comfortable and it was enjoyable. I learnt the basic techniques and before too long I was testing for my 10th Gup belt. A hall full of parents and other students (partly due to the testing and partly because it was the day of the annual club competition), this was a nerve-wracking event for me, and to this day I still feel sick and full of nerves during the testings.
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Karate has given me confidence, not only in terms of feeling safer when out and about but also as an individual in my private life. Learning all different techniques, from Hap Ki Do to Ho Sin Sul and Il Soo Sik, has given me a breath of knowledge in regard to different ways of defending myself in the unlikely event of being attacked. It allows me to defend my children and to feel that all the time invested has definitely been worthwhile. It has been a long journey and now facing my black belt testing I feel I have gained the respect from my peers. Most recently, they have commented on my abilities and complimented me on certain aspects. This has enhanced my confidence and self-belief in my capabilities. Also, working in conjunction with other black belts is very rewarding and educational.
One of the enjoyable aspects of attending Tang Soo Do classes is that I get to work with people of all ages. Although at times this has posed the odd challenge, it makes the whole experience more valuable and meaningful. It helps in understanding how versatile an opponent could be and to be flexible in my approach to performing moves and techniques. It makes me think outside the box. My mind gets stimulated. I have also found that working with children has taught me more patience and has helped me understand to deal with children who may require some extra assistance and support.
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I have been lucky to have been present for two of Grandmaster Manna’s and Senior Master Manna’s visits. I was able to attend some of their workshops and work closely with them. The workshops were truly inspirational and moves and techniques taught by them still stick in my mind as if I had learnt them yesterday. They are both true role models and I am grateful for their patience, motivation and education. It is my wish to one day visit them in their Dojang in California.
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As a working mother, I don’t always have the time to be going to a gym or working out. Doing Tang Soo Do, however, has become a priority for me and I will do my utmost to attend my classes which allows me to stay fit. Sometimes this has been hard as my husband travels a lot and my kids have their activities, however, Master Carmichael has always been forthcoming and encouraging. My children are getting older and can now be left at home without having to bring them along to class which makes it easier for me to attend evening classes. The warm-ups, stretching and rigorous workouts make me feel like I have achieved something and have helped me to maintain a certain fitness and supplety. Getting older, however, also poses the challenge of increased injuries and having suffered from lower back pain for over 10 years, this has at times taken its toll. There have been pulled muscles, tennis elbows, dead legs and many bruises but none of this has made me want to stop.
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Over the years I have learnt more skills, new kicks and hyungs, hand techniques, bo staff, dagger and most recently short stick techniques. There is always something new to learn and it poses a challenge, something which I find to be much enjoyable. I feel my techniques can always be improved upon and believe that every lesson something gets better, sharper, more precise and stronger. It’s like a never ending journey. There have been times when I was close to giving up. Time constraints, life pressures and conflicts with other students have at times pushed me to the limit. There were tears, frustration and anger. Testings got postponed (partly because I felt I wasn’t ready for the next step and partly because having missed the odd class I felt I hadn’t quite reached the required level) and therefore it has probably taken me longer than most to get to this latest stage. I am glad to say that I got through these and I believe my resilience has paid off. My children look up to me and are proud of seeing how far I’ve come. This in itself is reward enough. However, I feel proud of my own achievements. The hard work I have put in, the time and commitment invested, the efforts made, and the pain endured. I can’t imagine life without Tang Soo Do and will carry on for as long as my body will allow me to. So now I face my next challenge, the black belt testing. I will give it my all and hope that my concentration, knowledge and inner calm will help me on my way.
Tang Soo!
As a black belt, from first dan both training quantity and quality change drastically both have a
significant increase in difficulty for the person. This has affected me due the challenges I have faced
most noticeably my GCSE examinations and shingles that I contracted during this time. However I
remained focused and dedicated to the tang soo do martial art as I have enjoyed it during my
experience from 1st dan to 2nd dan.
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During the unexpected time period where I contracted the virus shingles my physical fitness
decreased making it difficult to perform to the standard of concentration and effort I had become
accustomed to, whereby i could not fulfil the level of being a black belt which I found frustrating as I
had worked hard to come to this point, and I knew to become a 2 nd dan I had to build my strength
and other qualities again to be able to test. However, during the time period where I could not train
due to my illness, I had a large network of support not only including other black belts and friends
but also my family who helped me through this difficult time. When I was able to train again it was
nice to see that Ma’am not only encouraged me but also helped in my rehabilitation. Other black
belts during this time also accompanied my needs while supporting me during this journey and
helping me whenever needed. This setback, although challenging proved that with perseverance and
support from those around you, you can achieve your goals. I would also like to thank anyone who
helped me during this time.
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Additionally, while I was training for my 2 nd dan I also had to complete my GCSE examinations.
Accompanied by the large amount of time taken to revise for the exams there was a lot of pressure
by my school to do well and focus to the best of my ability for my GCSEs, the school also gave a large
amount of support to the students and further support if necessary. This dwindled the amount of
time training that was already low due to me contracting shingles, however, thanks to the time
taken by the school and the time I had spent on revising I was able to complete my GCSEs and
achieve high grades, also thanks to this being a difficult time with a lot of pressure on me there was
the unexpected and added benefit of being able to cope under pressure which helped me during my
2 nd dan testing as I believe that I was noticeably less nervous than my peers during the testing. That
may have also been due to my previous experience in both doing tests and being seated on the
panel for previous black belt testings, but I believe they both were a contributor in it. This along with
the extra time I was able to train and focus on my techniques due to me not being physically fit and
able to take my next exam gave me more time and allowed me to be able to pass my 2 nd dan test.
This time period allowed me to realise that external factors and having a large amount of support
majorly effects other things such as my future and present ability to focus and my willingness to
continue enjoying and doing things I want to do such as Tang soo do martial arts. Rather than not
being able to cope and having to quit or stop doing what I wanted to do because of the difficulty of a
situation that I or others around me might have been placed in.
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As a black belt the difficulty and quantity of training increases drastically as the gap between 1 st dan
black belt and 2 nd dan black belt is significantly larger in my opinion than the gap between Cho Dan
Bo and 1 st dan black belt, this is because as a black belt it is no longer about learning new things it is
also about significantly improving previous techniques to a much higher standard than before, it is
also being able to be a role model for the lower belts and people younger than you so they can
aspire to be as good as you if they continue and are able to reach the black belt level. This also
includes being able to pass on the knowledge you have accumulated during your journey from being
a white belt beginner to becoming a black belt. As a black belt it is imperative you are able to use
your techniques and to be able to be confident in yourself and also to be able to use them in a
difficult scenario If necessary and to be able to pass on your techniques and teach them to a high
enough standard that the people you do teach are also able to use said techniques to defend them
self. As a black belt you should also be knowledgeable about the techniques you use and be able to
apply aspects of techniques you learn and be able to use them in situations you have not necessarily
been taught about, this can apply in any situation such as someone grabbing you in a place you have
not necessarily been taught about or grabbing you with a different hand and not needing to hesitate
and think about a technique that you can use but just being able to escape the situation
immediately.
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In conclusion being a black belt is something that everyone should aspire to be and that even if you
face some difficulties, you are able to overcome them and become a better person from them.
During this time i am thankful to anyone that has supported me to becoming a black belt and who i am as a person.
I joined Snow Herons Martial Arts Tang Soo Do academy when I was 5. My instructor Master Carmichael has helped me grow and develop through the martial arts training system. Istarted karate at the age of 5 in Avenue Primary Academy. I joined karate because a friend of mine was participating in some classes. Although I was very young I grew fond of the environment, friends and instructors in Snow Herons Martial Arts. When I was 7 I did more karate lessons, like the after school Friday class and the Saturday class. After I started going more and more often I felt like I was developing as a human and gained some other attributes of karate, such as learning a new language, Korean. I thought learning a new language would be hard but after repeating the words over and over again, I started
memorising them. I also gained confidence in my actions and started becoming less and less nervous of the world around me.
I was told that karate is more about using mental skills than physical. I didn’t believe them at first but after 10 years of training with Snow Herons Martial Arts I realised what they said was absolutely right. You need many mental skills as much as physical attributes. I learnt many of the ones you need through vigorous training with Snow Herons Martial Arts; i have gained mind and body focus, which is important as if you can’t focus you won’t learn properly, self confidence, communication, calmness, which is also important as if someone doesn’t act rationally they won’t be able to fight or defend themselves properly, self discipline and being able to remember sequences. Without these I wouldn't be the same person I am right now. However my physical attributes have been upgraded as well; such as my
flexibility, technique focus (power) and how to defend myself in a situation.
The beginner techniques are the foundation for all the techniques in Tang Soo Do. I learnt the basic blocks, kicks, punches and techniques and now I use them during higher Hyungs all the time and even in the advanced and black belt classes, we still take every possible moment to sharpen the techniques as they are the building blocks of other techniques. Even a basic technique like Ho Sin Sol or Hapkido could get me out of a tricky situation. I loved
learning these skills and perfecting them even though they are basic. Using these skills I rose up through the different colour belts and still use them to this day. Everything I learnt while I was a white belt is still being used at black belt.
However when I got to Advanced level, the techniques became more and more enjoyable to learn, the boost in self esteem when I learnt something new was a phenomenal feeling.
During being a red belt, it was my time to show all my skills to meet that extra stretch to get a black belt. In Tang Soo Do the red belt symbolises ‘life’s energy when the plant has begun to bloom and ripen in early fall’. There were several occasions where I felt that it was too difficult and thought of giving up but I resiliently bounced back and kept on going.
Now I am 14 years old and have been training for nearly a decade, I have achieved 2nd Dan black belt which is a massive achievement for my personal self. I got type 1 diabetes during my road to black belt but I endured it and kept training. The decade of training made me mature more and enhance my skills and mental fortitude such as my focus and resilience. During the decade of training I learnt how to instruct other students and would sometimes
help out in camp. I gained the key skill of not being nervous around others and learnt leadership and major social skills. I also learnt to adjust my teachings to other people's likings as not everyone is the same and has the skill level.
I have also learnt about how to push myself past my limits and being able to improve skills that I did not realise I needed or skills that I have been lacking on. I have also become more well mannered and polite to people which is part of the ‘Tang Soo Do Seven Codes’, being polite to parents, instructors and friends. Such as calling my instructors Sir and Ma’am have really built my politeness and kindness.
In conclusion, karate has been a key building block in my development as a person, and I must thank everyone who has been there for me in Snow Herons Martial Arts and I must also thank my instructor, Master Carmichael. Looking back at the amount of accomplishments I have made, I realise without them I wouldn’t be the person I am now and
wouldn’t have gained a plethora of important friendships and skills.
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