I tested for my second degree black belt yesterday and succeeded! After doing all the combinations, and all the color belt forms with the people who were testing for their first degree, I stood alone to do Quebec and Exodus, two black belt forms. After sparring, breaking boards and doing our 6 count kick (or double 6 count kick), we sat and listened to Master Kim talk about the journey forward. It went something like this....
Bruce Lee said, "There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." Most people do just enough. They think that when they reach a goal, they are done. They have achieved what they needed to achieve. But that isn't true. The goal you reached is just one point. There is always more you can do. And when you do Tae Kwon Do, you cannot stay the same, you either get better, or you get worse.
There are two types of people, people who HAVE blackbelts and people who ARE blackbelts. Everyone can have a blackbelt. But people who are blackbelts have earned the title and the respect. And they haven't stopped getting better and pushing themselves towards their next goal. I hope you know that when you walk out with your blackbelts today, you are carrying the name of my father on your waists' and you represent this place. Today, you should celebrate, but tomorrow, wake up and set another goal and get to work. Your journey continues....
Bruce Lee said, "There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." Most people do just enough. They think that when they reach a goal, they are done. They have achieved what they needed to achieve. But that isn't true. The goal you reached is just one point. There is always more you can do. And when you do Tae Kwon Do, you cannot stay the same, you either get better, or you get worse.
There are two types of people, people who HAVE blackbelts and people who ARE blackbelts. Everyone can have a blackbelt. But people who are blackbelts have earned the title and the respect. And they haven't stopped getting better and pushing themselves towards their next goal. I hope you know that when you walk out with your blackbelts today, you are carrying the name of my father on your waists' and you represent this place. Today, you should celebrate, but tomorrow, wake up and set another goal and get to work. Your journey continues....