How Taekwon-Do Changed My Life

By Róis Perkins, Age 13 – Black Belt Student at Worcestershire Martial Arts

Toward my black belt, through all my other belts and years doing Taekwon-Do, it has helped in my life. It has changed things and improved me as a person.

It has given me more confidence in myself and independence, to know that I can help and defend myself without needing anyone to do anything for me. It has changed my life by showing me that I am capable of protecting myself and others, and it has shown me how to help.

It has given me protection for myself and made me know that I can always help others. It made me feel like I could protect my mum, after she has always helped and protected me in everything.

Taekwon-Do has changed my life in a physical way — I now know how to do all these things and skills — but it has also changed my life in a mental way. This means how I think and feel.

All the people I have met and the friends that I’ve made through it have helped make me a better person. The people in Taekwon-Do and the club are like a second family.

It has changed my confidence and now there are people who have helped me feel better — people I know I can always go to. I feel like at the start of my journey in Taekwon-Do, in a tiny class with just a few people, I made friends that I still have now.

I met Zaria in Taekwon-Do, and now she is my best friend. Sometimes you meet people you know from other places too. Over the years I’ve been doing this, I’ve developed new friendships and different people I’ve met have taught me different things. Even people I’m not that close to have helped me with Taekwon-Do and taught me things I didn’t know.

It has created a sense of community for me, and a relaxing place I can go to to see people and learn. It has made me feel less confined to myself. It’s helped me talk to people about things and how I feel.

It helped me to understand not to keep my thoughts — whether good or bad — shut down, and that it’s okay to talk to people about these things.

It has also given me more role models to look up to — people who do good and try to help others, like Sally and Adam, who spend all their time teaching and helping others to learn and have a good learning environment.

There are also role models I look up to because of how they do Taekwon-Do — like Amy with her patterns, Emily with breaking, or Vally in his sparring.

Taekwon-Do has made my life feel more secure. It’s helped me understand more things — also on a learning level. I understand more words now, and I even know some Korean, even if it’s just Taekwon-Do related.

If you’re inspired by Róis’s story and want your child to experience the same sense of growth, friendship and confidence…

Book your trial today

🔗 www.worcestershiremartialarts.co.uk/trials

🖤 First month just £20 and uniform is FREE

📍 Unit 3, Checketts Lane Trading Estate, Worcester, WR3