“In the spring of 2019, a friend invited my son to try a class at ATA. That very first day in an ATA school felt like a thread of connection with my husband and children’s Korean heritage. I imagined how proud their Korean grandparents would have been to see them training in Korean martial arts the way my husband did as a child. I never imagined I would be standing here five years later.

“As we began our training, I was impressed by how ATA was changing our attitudes and abilities. I quickly noticed marked improvement in my son’s ability to focus and control his body. Confidence and respectfulness grew too. Soon, my daughter asked to join ATA and thrived. With both kids training, there really wasn’t an excuse for me to just sit and watch. I stepped onto the mats and felt like a duck very much out of water, but my instructors and ATA community were always encouraging me.

“When I started training, I truly never expected to earn a black belt. I’ve had to overcome a limiting belief that I am “just not an athletic person.” I’ve experienced fear, injuries, frustration, and serious health crises for myself, my immediate family, and extended family as I trained. I’ve struggled with autoimmune issues, severe depression, and anxiety during my years of training. I’ve often felt old, clumsy, out of shape, extremely fatigued, and not at all like a candidate for a black belt.

“I nearly didn’t test for my black belt this week. It was my second attempt, and I didn’t feel confident in my ability to break the required boards. My instructors and mentors here encouraged me to believe in myself, harness my fear,  and test anyway.

“As I dressed for my belt testing this week, I told myself over and over:

“The only way to guarantee I won’t earn my black belt is not showing up for my black belt test. The only chance of possibly  earning my black belt is showing up and making an attempt.”

“That’s really all there is to it. It’s choosing a black belt attitude. It’s saying, ”YES, I CAN!” even when you don’t feel like it. I’m not any more energetic, athletically gifted, or coordinated than anyone else in the room. I have often been intimidated of reaching this goal, but I showed up anyway.

“Although my kids beat me to black belt class, I hope I’ve demonstrated to them and to myself that the difference between reaching a goal and not reaching it isn’t to be naturally gifted, it’s simply persevering. I’m standing here because I kept showing up for myself, for my kids, for this community, and (most importantly) for class.

“My black belt means to me that I’m truly never too old, too weak, or too stressed to learn something new or difficult. I don’t have to feel like I can meet a goal in order to actually accomplish it. I simply need to continue doing the things that move me toward my goals and asking for help along the way. If there is something challenging you want to achieve and you’re feeling intimidated too, I offer you this advice: Just keep showing up.”