Girls Love Tae kwon do
Recently, I was in the locker room changing for an adult tae kwon do class.
The final kid’s lesson had just finished so there were two girls in the locker room changing to go home. I’m an instructor so I recognized them as they have been in my own kid’s tae kwon do class. It just so happened that one of the girls is in the same grade as my son. They go to school together.
She was watching me as I dropped my bag to the floor and dug out my uniform. I looked up and smiled figuring she was trying to remember my name.
“Are you DJ’s mom?”
“I am,” I said.
She acknowledged that and I went about my business thinking she had satisfied her curiosity. Then she said,
“Man is he lucky.”
Talk about curious. None of my sons has much to say about their school day when they get home. My husband assures me it’s normal. Now, I was excited to find out what interesting thing had gone on that my son forgot to tell me about.
“Why do you think he’s lucky?” I ventured.
“Because you’re very strong.”
I had to think for a second about what she said. This young lady had been at the black belt test where I was allowed to test for 3rd degree. I remember her family cheering when I broke two concrete block pavers that were stacked on end like dominoes on a platform. It was a very satisfying thing especially because I had never practiced with real blocks before. I had been using kicking pads which are far lighter.
This young lady was at the test as a student earning her first degree black belt, an achievement gained by few, especially at her age. But for that short moment, she watched me like I had just walked on water.
And at that second, I believe I could have.
I don’t think of myself as a hero. In fact, it makes me uncomfortable when my skills in martial arts are applauded. And yet, as I think upon my childhood, there were so few female competitors a girl could worship.
Girls need role models. So for that reason, I’m humbled but willing to suffer a little hero worship
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