Mr. Kenneth Potts, Mrs. Suzanne McClure, Mr. Ben Buckner, Mr. Timothy Waters, and Ms. Ann Hatfield have all recently accomplished a great achievement by receiving their First Degree Black Belt and Certificate presented by Tony Lewis, owner and chief instructor of Dickson Taekwondo (608 Henslee Drive).
Mr. Potts said that Taekwondo is measurable for what it has attributed to his life. He stated that in his line of work he needs patience to deal with the public and Taekwondo has helped him in this area of his life tremendously. He said he has also noticed that it has helped him to stay focus on and off the job. His goal in Taekwondo is for it to help him stay healthy in mind and body, and that the rewards in continuing his training in Taekwondo and Hapkido will be to enjoy life at its fullest. He also wants to be able to be there for his wife, children, and grandchildren for many years to come. Also, he wants to be able to see his daughter come back safely from Iraq.
Mrs. McClure has been at Dickson Taekwondo for 3 years. She initially started because she was bored with the same old workout at the gym. In the past three years, she has accomplished so much more than just the workout she was originally looking for. In Taekwondo, she has experienced a marked improvement in her self-confidence, communication and leadership skills, physical well-being, and personal awareness and safety. She said that she has such an appreciation for the sense of accomplishment she feels, and knows she will continue to feel as she sets and achieves new goals. Her next goal in Taekwondo is to earn her Assistant Instructor certification. With that, she hopes to encourage more women to get involved, ultimately teaching classes specifically aimed at women’s issues, focusing on health, safety, fellowship, and leadership. The philosophy of our school “Constant and Never Ending Improvement” has carried into her personal and professional life. Three years ago, she would not have believed that Taekwondo would make such an impact on her life, but now she wants to share with others the amazing benefits of Mr. Lewis’s program at Dickson Taekwondo.
Mr. Buckner stated that Taekwondo has had an exceptional impact on his life for a multitude of reasons. It has increased his self-confidence, dexterity, self-image, and esteem. He said it has impressed his peers and family alike, and that the term “Black Belt” in some form of martial arts carries a respect from both those inside and on the outskirts of martial arts training regimes. “If I had known earning a Taekwondo Black Belt would have been as enjoyable of an experience as Mr. Lewis has made it, I would have started years earlier,” he said. His goals in Taekwondo are to make several degrees of promotion over the next few years. Eventually he may decide to pursue an associate instructor level stripe.
Mr. Waters has been training with Dickson Taekwondo for 3 years. He said that Taekwondo has given him better reflexes, more flexibility, and self-defense. His goals are to learn more self-defense and more techniques. He plans on attending college and eventually own his own business.
Ms. Hatfield has become a physically stronger person. Taekwondo has given her the feeling of protection, and the knowing that she can defend herself. She has also become stronger mentally. She mentioned not only did she make a lot of new, wonderful friends and got her into her school’s yearbook for it, but it has made her a better person in general. Her goals are not to give up! It made it hard when she couldn’t make it to classes and she started losing interest at the blue belt level, the work was strenuous, but Ms. Hatfield is a person who finishes what she starts, therefore she has continued her learning here at Dickson Taekwondo and received her black belt. She is very proud of herself for not giving up. She will be starting college soon to become a Veterinarian and someday open up her own clinic in her hometown. Her spiritual goal is to become closer to God everyday. She would like to someday get married and raise a family. |
