The "I want to start TaeKwonDo but....." senario

I hear this a lot from people. They find out you do taekwondo and then tell you that they've always wanted to try that. You say to them "well why not come and try a class?", to which you get the reply "I'm washing my hair" or "I need to let my mothers sisters aunties cat out"... c'mon folks its not that hard to take an hour out of a week (to start with at least) and give it a try. Heck you might even like it and its a great form of exercise as well as a fantastic confidence builder and stress buster.

So let me debunk a few myths for you and try and allay your fears...

"But I'm not fit enough to start taekwondo!".... let me let you into a little secret... probably very few of us were (or even are at this moment) at the peak of physical fitness. The fitness comes from doing the training. I lost 3 stone in weight in the first 6 months of starting. I'm still not in the best of shape (working on that) now but I have more endurance and can at least get through the exercises now. Don't start out trying to kill yourself, if the exercise is 10 pressups and you start to struggle at 5 then try and do 6. Next week do 7 then 8 etc. Before you know it you'll be battering out pressups and wondering what all the fuss was about!

"I'm too old"... Look... age is really just a number. OK I admit as we get older our bodies aren't as flexible as they were when we were in our teens but again like above, you train to your level and then push it a little. There's a guy I regularly see at competitions who must be in his 70s so if he can keep going at that age, you have no excuse! I'm 45 and I'm loving every minute of my training time!

"But you guys are all experts and I feel like a fool"... you know what, we were all exactly where you are now. The stances felt funny and uncomfortable, the kicking was knee height and had no power and the punches couldn't tickle a butterfly! But with time, patience and practise it starts to click into place. The movements get more fluid, the power comes into the kicks and next thing you know your buddy holding the pad is asking you to tone it down a bit. Just remember, that person wearing a black belt is in reality a white belt who refused to quit (sorry, I love that saying so just had to sneak it in there).

"You're going to beat me up"... now why in the name of the wee man would we do that?? I'd love to know who came up with this pile of... yeah you get it idea.. We're not in the business of beating up beginners and this would certainly put off any students from coming back again. You'll get to sparring eventually and even then it is in a controlled environment. Anyone can flail about like mad kicking and punching full power but it takes real skill to be able to spar and hit fast and light in control. Anyways I get ahead of myself here, you'll get to that eventually just not straight away... you really shouldn't let me get ahead of myself here or I'll be typing this up all night!!

"You're all wearing funky white pyjamas and I'm the outsider in the joggies and tshirt"... yeah... and?? So was I when I started, nearly everyone who I train with now started in basically the same outfit. In fact I kept training in that for 3 months and it was only the week before my first grading when my suit arrived. We don't care what you wear to train in to start off, the important thing is to train and enjoy yourself.

"But I wont know anyone there!".... wait a moment. You know me (or someone else in the club) as you've just asked me about what taekwondo is like, so you do know someone there and you'll get to meet a load of other great people into the bargain. The Prestwick & Ayr clubs are friendly and family orientated as we love new people starting with us. We'll help and encourage you as that's what the members are all about. We love to see our training partners succeed, be it getting to the next belt or just getting to that next pressup!

I think what it really all boils down to is people like the idea of trying taekwondo but the fear of starting is whats holding them back. If you try a class you've taken the first step on what might end up being a big part of your life and if you can get over that fear whats to stop you getting over fear of trying other things? Go on be brave...

Please checkout the Prestwick & Ayr Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/taekwondoayrandprestwick/ for more information about the club training times and locations. You can message the instructor, Kulwant Chahal, from there if you need any specific information.

Preparation for October 2015 Black Belt Grading

I was hoping by now to have filled page after page of information on preparation for the October black belt grading, which is now just about a week away. However,  none of my carefully planned out regime worked the way I thought it would and I seem to have spent more time recovering from injury than anything else. I also went down a route to a place I really didn't want to go, and it was only by the good graces of Mr Chahal (OK.. I got a verbal rollicking from him) and then a complete pestering off a few people (thanks Gill, Helen, Karen, Teagan, Heather, Fiona, Craig, Simon etc) that got my ears burning so badly, that something in the back of my mind started saying "yeah ok, do this!" after the 2nd pre-black belt session. Yes, my own wife, daughter and son harassed me no end.... just cant trust family these days! :) It was that very night that I was given no option when Karen asked me to switch the printer on and next thing I know a copy of the black belt grading application form started churning out..... I had but to get it completed, photos printed and then hand it all into Mr Chahal at the next session and that was it.... no going back. 

A few people will know I had recently lost my mojo for taekwondo, mainly due to the persistent knee injury, which incidentally has started to improve the more I train... go figure! After a few club training classes and the pre-black belt sessions, I started getting this mojo back.... and in spades too! One of my work colleagues, Gordon, has been getting this overflowing enthusiasm a lot recently (sorry mate!). Hoping it will maybe spur him into giving TKD a try too. 

Like the rest of the students grading, I to have some nerves, which is only natural, but I have been practising outside of class (yes really!) and doing theory via the various apps and the black belt schools website. I'm feeling a bit more confident that this new preparation work has me on the right track and in the right frame of mind. Most of us dread the theory and once it's out the way we tend to relax a bit. Maybe not this time though. I'm fully expecting a tough testing of both theory and physical skills on the day. From speaking to others who have gone through this, they tell me it's an experience never to forget and I plan to enjoy every minute of it. 

Before I finish up I want to wish all my fellow black stripe club mates and friends from other clubs the very best of luck and I look forward to seeing and grading with you all on 17th. I also have a few personal  thank yous to hand out. So, in no particular order...

Scott McMillan - thanks for the words of encouragement and helping me to believe in myself again.

Kuli Chahal - you're without doubt the best instructor I have ever trained under but I also consider you a good friend... thanks for telling me to "CUT THE CRAP AND GET ON WITH IT!!"... when it needed to be said. See, I do listen... well sometimes I do :)

Simon Littlejohn - Over the past few weeks you and I have talked numerous times on the phone or at training when you've been down at Prestwick. Thanks for listening and also bolstering my confidence. Looking forward to grading with you mate.

Gill Blackwood, Helen Westwood - Thank you both for the constant pestering of me all the way back down to Ayr in the car after the 2nd pre-blackbelt session.. my ears have never been the same since!

Teagan and Ieuan - For just being you... don't stop and don't change.

Karen Harley - Like the kids, thanks for being you and thanks for making sure I believe in myself and own abilities... and thanks for bouncing theory galore off me in the next week as I know you will!

Max & John Stewart - Thanks for being my chauffeurs to Bristol on 17th. First beer is on me John. Max, semi or fully skimmed?

To everyone at Prestwick & Ayr TaeKwonDo - Thanks for being my second family, you gals and guys are the best!

.... now.. lets do this thing!

Happy 10th Anniversary Prestwick & Ayr TaeKwonDo!

This month saw the Prestwick club celebrate its 10th anniversary. In typical club style we never let on to our beloved instructor (can I say that here??) Mr Chahal that something was in the works, behind his back. This covert operation was meticulously planned and executed by his eldest daughter Kiran who, along with some of the clubs senior black belts, organised a "birthday" cake and a montage or photos that we put together and framed as a wee presentation for him between the childrens and adults sessions on Friday 27th March.

Gotcha Sir!..... again!

Fabulous cake organised by Kiran

Mr Chahal with his students

Mr Chahal with students and parents

I'll keep this post brief and will let the final word on this occasion be from Kiran and Kuli.

Kiran posted this on facebook so I hope she wont mind me quoting this here as well:
"On behalf of my dad and I, I would like to thank everyone for a wonderful 10 years with Team Prestwick & Ayr! We have both learnt so much and from the beginning seen the club prosper. We've seen the club go from strength to strength, and along the way have met some truly wonderful people that aren't like a second family, but they are family. I don't know what we would do without the club going training is the highlight of our days. I would like to thank the parents and students! I have met some amazing people and I am glad to call them my class mates. Here's to a further 10 years and beyond"

And from Kuli Chahal.....
"Well I can honestly say I was caught off guard - again lol
With an awesome cake & pic collage to celebrate OUR clubs 10 year anniversary today!
Really appreciate everyone taking the timeout to be a little sneaky lol
Our clubs are only doing well because of the students & parents that are a part of them so I would like thank each & everyone of you for being playing a part in the last 10 years (whether you still train or used to train, the door is always open to you all). Here's to the next 10 years and beyond.A special thank you goes out to my assistant instructors Mark Sawyer,Karen Harley & Michael Mc Robert - my family - Kiran my PA & especially Mrs Chahal who has done nothing but supported me in all things Tkd from day 1 ‪#‎feelingblessed‬
Kuli Chahal"