Quitting Formal Training - A Pause in the Plan
The goal is and will remain to become a taekwondo master and a 4th-degree black belt. Unfortunately as of July 2023, I have taken a leave of absence from training at a dojo. This can be viewed as quitting formal training, but you do not need a school to train. However, there is a difference between training and developing as a martial artist. Self-training and training with a master and other students are essential to being the best you can be. You can train alone all you want but you will not learn more, or become well-rounded martial arts without a school. That is why this is a PAUSE.
Why?
The why here is multifold. There were scheduling and financial challenges that made evening training ineffective for myself and my family. So, for us, it was the most logical choice at this time. Have we stopped kicking? NEVER!
The Plan
The plan will be to get back to formal training. I already miss kicking on a mat and I miss teaching and sharing with a variety of students. But, we are choosing to focus on the silver lining here. Quitting formal training does not mean no training. Quitting formal training means, no dojo. So no, schedule managing and driving to an isolated location to kick. Thats all.
This is a time to realign my priorities and wants. It is a time to get back to why I love taekwondo and why I want to teach. It is a time to focus and work on my overall wellness, basics, and overall betterment.
I admit, I was getting to a point where I was just going through the motions of going to class. I had lost some desire and passion for the training. It became just kicking and punching. I did not feel like I was becoming better.
Martial arts had never been just kicking and punching to me. Now, to realize I was at this point. Quitting formal training at this time is necessary. I love martial arts for the whole body experience and, I lost that somewhere. This time will be meant to reconnect with that. The philosophy and spiritual aspect of martial arts as well as the physical.
The Goal of the Break
As I said, quitting formal training is a gift in disguise and it is not forever. The goal of this break is to realign myself with the reason I train. To better me mentally, physically, and spiritually in line with taekwondo and Wicca. From there I will return to formal training and knock out all testing to get my fourth. By the time I return, I will have held my belt long enough and will just need to catch up on some techniques for testing.
Everything happens for a reason. While I would have loved to remain training and pushed through to my 4th degree of which I was so close. The universe had other plans. Other things needed to take place first and I needed to realize where I was mentally when it came to martial arts and what I needed to reinitiate that spark from when I was younger.
Never give up on your dreams, they will happen, even if it is not entirely when you desire it to.
Keep kicking and blessed be.
