Helen Tachas - September 2008
When I joined Mr No's Taekwondo club with my two daughters as a 43 year old, Mr No said to me that "my time has passed"! It was't until later I realised that Mr No meant that my time for sparring competitions has passed. I should have realised that age was not an issue because it is a key mission in Mr No's student handbook for Taekwondo to provide "Constant and Never-ending Improvement".
I decided that at 43 life hasn't quite passed me by yet and I was determied more than ever to succeed at Taekwondo and aimed to get my black belt. I did not realise early on that Taekwondo would become a way of life for my family, both as a sport for physical recreation and as a philosophy that was close to mine.
Who would have thought that a Western culture and my specific Greek Australian migrant upbringing would have had a philosophy that would fit in with the Korean Martial Art Philosophy of Taekwondo? I began knowing of only the self discipline the sport and art would bring to my children. Taekwondo then re-enforced my family and personal values of respect, honesty, loyalty, modesty and compassion, and encouraged mateship where we do things with and for others. The strength it brought to my relationships with my daughters, and how it enriched our family will always be with me. These values give us strength and wisdom and with the right purpose, goals and process, we can attain what we need if not also what we want.
We recently travelled overseas to Greece, a small country known for its ancient philosophers, science, democracy which shaped the Western world and my relatives. I learnt that the Greeks both ancient and modern like the Koreans are a warrior people; Athenians, Spartans, and Macedonians each at different times using innovative fighting techniques and discipline to win battles against much bigger Persian armies (and unfortunately sometimes their own Greek relatives). The same occurred in Korea, with fighting by the Shilla under the Hwarangdo warrier system to unite Korea, and then again later the Gonjo dynasty to overcome Mongolian aggression. Hwarangdo was like Taekwondo, a Martial art teaching Loyalty to country and friends, obedience, refusal to retreat and fighting with Honour.
I am grateful we live in a great country like Australia that allows us to peacefully embrace the Taeknondo philosophy and now unites people from different countries in our club, and sport to compete and do well, and also provide the moral strength, wisdom and virtue to stand up against aggressors and prevent wars and be "Gumgang", or too strong to be broken.
I feel very privileged and grateful to have been taught by Grandmaster No. I don't think there is anyone in Australia or worldwide that has the skills, patience and vision that Mr No has for Taekwondo. He is a true visionary for the sport. His innovation to improve the sport by introducing electronic guards, to force competitors to kick with better technique and make sparring fair, is a Philosophy of this Martial art, which can be appreciated around the world.
I am thankful that I have been exposed to his Taekwondo philosophy and the Buddhist concepts of ILYO, or the oneness of Mind, Body and Spirit. The human and martial art spirit is alive in me, as I tried to reach my potential in my family life, work life and social life and Taekwondo. When I was a white belt, I thought I could grow but did not know the Art and it was a healthy recreation. I kept positive and saw the light of day and got my yellow belt opening my mind to the possibilities knowing I was truly at a good club and in good hands. My blue belt was the colour of the sky and won by keeping positive habits mentally and pushing myself physically with good instruction. My red belt was earned with more difficulty as I was exposed to the red hot heat of the sun, with the mental and physical difficulties of breaking boards, and difficult Poomsae showing me there was still much to learn.
Getting a black belt in Taekwondo is a dream, as I was never allowed as a young girl, by my parents to participate in these types of activities. It was important to me that last year, my 77 year old mother, taught me how to skip which I use for training for my black belt. I am also seeking new knowledge and proud as I graduate to a senior student in Taekwondo; this is difficult a degree as my University Teaching and Science degrees. I have had to push my physical boundaries, and also my mental and emotional ones.
Finally, I again thank Mr No who has constantly challenged, encouraged and supported me in Taekwondo as my Head Instructor. I would also like to thank my other instructors, Sam and Brendan, the assistant instructors, and the senior and junior Taekwondo students who have supported and helped me, and their families who make up this unique Joon No's Taekwondo tribe. I especially would like to thank my husband, George and my daughters, Angelica and Johanna for their ongoing support. Watching my young daughters sparring and competing in Poomsae at club level initially inexperienced and graduating to Victorian and Australian competitions, I am proud of both of them for their progress, achievements, but more so for whom they are becoming.
Now that I have reached the level of a senior student, I feel I can assist and encourage junior students, the young and the mature that want to start at 43, remembering quite clearly what it was like to learn how to do my first kick and unfortunately go around the wrong way in Poomsae. Although I may need my daughters to read out the players oath in a Championship "because my time has passed", I may one day read out the referees oath at a Victorian and Australian Championship I wil be one of the "new guards" of the philosophy of Taekwondo as I continue my journey.