S.H. KANG’S TAE KWON DO ACADEMY

2nd Dan Black Belt Thesis
By:
Randy Fazio-1st Dan

January 8, 2011
I started Martial Arts in the early nineteen-seventies. I was a young man who had never heard of the art none-the-less seen it. I was a Golden Gloves boxer and had won two Golden Glove Championships by the time I was seventeen. As a boxer, I never felt complete. Even though I was good at it, it somehow lacked the personal fulfillment that I needed. Everyone told me how good I was, but I never felt good enough or had true pride for what I did.
It was around the early seventies that the introduction of Martial Arts came about. We started seeing it on television and in the movies. I was in awe; I felt that this is for me. Once I saw how disciplined and strong these young men were and how physically in shape they were, I was hooked. Just watching the power and precision they had intrigued me, I knew this was for me.
I began studying Tae Kwon Do under then, World Champion Master Sok Ho Kang. This was so different than the local boxing coaches I was used to. Tae Kwon Do was an art to be taken seriously and I did. There I was being taught the Korean tradition which included discipline and respect, none of which I possessed. Entering the Do Chang was nothing like entering the boxing ring. It was sacred: a place to learn, to practice, receive praise and direction. I practiced for many years and finally was promoted to 1st Dan Black Belt. I was so proud of myself, I worked hard for many years and now I had done it. I was indeed a 1st Dan Black Belt, I was accepted into the family as a family member not just a student.
Tae Kwon Do gave me personal fulfillment; no other sport satisfied me like Tae Kwon Do. It wasn’t just a sport to me; it was a way of life. The students were like family. We all shared a close bond and Master Kang became like a second father to all of us, not just the Black Belts.
As soon as I accomplished what I thought was not tangible to me, being a Black Belt, I became a father for the first time. Before I knew it, I had four more and was running two businesses. Then one day, “POW,” twenty-five years had gone by. I hadn’t entered the Do Chang for such a long time, I was afraid to go back. I couldn’t believe how time flew by and how long I had been away from Grand Master Sok Ho Kang’s Tae Kwon Do Academy. I had thought about returning many times, but just couldn’t do it.
I may not have ever returned, for had it not been for a Tae Kwon Do Master who was working out at the Teays Valley YMCA while I was. It was then I decided to go back, no matter what, it was time. Opening the schools door I expected to see old students from the past, but there weren’t any. Instead of seeing familiar faces, I saw first degree Black belts all the way up thru sixth degree, all new faces. I was now 52, parent of five, no longer was I that young, athletic, seventeen year old that Grand Master had taught so long ago. So in I went, seeing the Grand Master for the first time in years startled me. He hadn’t changed at all, neither had the Academy. The only difference I could see was that the students had unfamiliar faces, I didn’t recognize anyone. I spoke with Grand Master Kang about returning, but I got the impression Grand Master didn’t want me there. We spoke about my age (52), and that if I were to return I would have to start all over again as a White Belt and work my way up through the ranks. At first, I was very uncomfortable, almost humble like, but the Black Belts kept reassuring me and encouraging me. They gave me back my drive; I again had Tae Kwon Do running thru my blood.
My first day back; what a doozie! I spared several Black Belts that night and managed to severely pull both hamstrings. I was told by many Doctors to rest at least eight weeks, but heck no, once Tae Kwon Do is in your system, you’re hooked. So I kept returning day after day, injured or not. My legs continue to burden me, I pull my hamstrings with a simple front snap kick, being 52 does have its own limitations. My mind has no limits but my body says differently. Because I was limited with kicking, I became a professional blocker. I could block just about anything and had to change my fighting style because of lingering and continuous injuries. I now am getting ready to test for my 2nd Degree Black Belt and have never been more nervous, excited, and eager and yet I think back to when I was seventeen; now I know what Tae Kwon Do means to me. It’s everything I ever wanted, mental and physical strength, discipline, the ability to protect myself or others, confidence, endurance, pride, joy and a whole new family. I am proud to say I’m a member of Grand Master Sok Ho Kang’s Tae Kwon Do Academy and that they are a part of my family.
Randy Fazio, 1st Dan Black Belt