Taekwondo kicks it into high gear in 20th year
Date 3/16/2006 12:00 AM | Topic: SportsThis year, Luther's Taekwondo Club celebrates its 20th anniversary on campus as an institution of leadership, confidence and dedication.
The actual anniversary, which was commemorated in Dec. 2005, continues to be remembered through weekly meetings, testing for belt ranking and the acknowledgement that in 20 years, the biggest changes for this club have been the new faces.
Former member and fourth degree black belt Denise Swinbank traveled from Rochester to attend the spring semester's first belt testing.
"There is a tradition of excellence and that foundation of the club is definitely still here," Swinbank said.
For members of the Taekwondo Club, exemplifying the roots of the organization is something that they strive for every day. One achievement is the club's title of having the highest GPA of any extracurricular group on campus. In 2000, the club was named International Club of the Year by the SongAhm Taekwondo Federation.
"Live with perseverance and in the spirit of Taekwondo," said Anna L. Linnel ('86), current instructor and Luther alumna. "Then we will be able to celebrate here again in another twenty years."
Keeping tradition in mind, students warmed up and prepared last Tuesday for the third belt testing of the year, the first of this semester.
Watching students warm up in the Regents Center dance studio before testing is like watching an eclectic celebration of a dance - it is as much an art form as a kind of self-defense or work out.
Each set of moves is gracefully punctuated with shouts and precise changes in position. Unlike audience members, students preparing to demonstrate their skills do not flinch or even seem to notice the kaihops, or shouts. They are "in the zone".
"I feel like they should be playing Eye of the Tiger," said Paul Beatty ('07), a first-degree black belt. "Here, you are trying to get your body to a state where you don't worry about messing up on small things."
Signifying the start of this semester's testing, Linnel, followed by Swinbank, Beatty and other instructors and high-ranking students, entered the studio and bowed to the class. They bowed again to the American, Korean and American Taekwondo Association (ATA) flags before taking their seats.
"This is our history and our legacy," Linnel said, addressing the students and audience. "We always need to remember our beginnings, our times as white belts and our own first tests.
"During the testing, your energy drives the person behind you and you will build off one another as you perform," she said.
Students were then dismissed to the side of the room and called to test in small groups. Beginning students were tested on preliminary move sequences and judgment of distance. As more advanced groups stepped in front of the judge's table, however, stakes were raised.
Higher-ranking students were judged on sparring, which simulates an actual fight but is graded on control and execution, not contact. For two students testing for black belt status, a series of advanced board breaks were also required.
After each group was finished testing, Linnel addressed the group again.
"Honors and belt rank will not be handed out tonight," she said.
As a rule, group members are not judged in comparison to one another. Along with that, testing results are given in private in order for members to save face and honor.
Before dismissing the group, ranking instructor Swinbank challenged the students to spread the wealth of Luther's Taekwondo tradition.
"Taekwondo is a very positive part of the Luther experience and you might not even realize it until you leave campus," Swinbank said. "In the future it should be our goal on campus to increase awareness of what we do and how important it is to stand up for yourself."
Founded in 1985 by then sophomore Michael Ackerman, Luther's club is the longest running martial arts organization on campus. Today Ackerman is a pediatric cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and runs his own Taekwondo studio.
After Ackerman graduated, Jeff ('91) and Denise Swinbank, both Luther graduates, ran the club until 1996.
"It's interesting because all of the club's instructors have a background at Luther," Swinbank said. "Because of this, we consider ourselves to be a family with each succeeding group of students another generation."
This supportive mind frame has produced 84 black belts from Luther's program, a very high number in terms of success rate.
"Statistically, only five percent of the American population steps into a Taekwondo studio," Linnel said. "From that, only three percent actually attain a black belt."
In the beginning of its practice, the purpose of belt ranking in Taekwondo was to display one's experience in battle. As warriors went out to fight with white belts signifying their amateur status, the garment grew dirtier as they spent more time in the field. That is why today, the darker one's belt, the more experience they are perceived as having.
For some students, participation can be more about being active and relieving stress than moving up the ranks.
"It's a great way to be able to kick and punch things, and that means it's great for getting out aggression," said Ashley Holland ('07).
For whatever reason students choose to be involved with Luther's Taekwondo Club, each member walks away each week with a different experience that they apply to their daily lives.
"Taekwondo has something for everyone," Linnel said. "People who can start and complete martial arts training have very special and desirable qualities.
"Taekwondo is about your own performance because it is such a unique experience for each individual. That is what instills self-esteem," she added.
To paraphrase martial arts expert Rick English, a belt in martial arts is something that goes around your waist, but being in martial arts is a state of mind and attitude. It is in this way that Luther's Taekwondo Club looks to carry on their tradition on campus for another 20 years.
Students who are curious about the club can participate in this semester's new session, which kicks off March 14. Practices are held in the Regents Dance Studio at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.
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Kate Myers
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