by Lenny
I wanted to say a little more about how I started competing in Taekwondo. When I was growing up back in Trinidad and training with Master Jung, my generation of fighters never really had an official Taekwondo team until the 8th Caribbean Championships. All of our best athletes from different schools came to train with the national coach. We had trained for a few months and I rarely missed a class, even though I was unsure if I would be able to fight in the Championships because of my lack of finances. But then luckily someone contributed the money I needed to compete. I certainly had people who put their hopes in me.
The day of my fight I was excited only about my match with the Aruban fighter. He had defeated me in the Junior Pan am Championships and had become the Gold Medalist. I had always remembered that loss and wanted to defeat him to gain confidence and move on and become stronger. When I did defeat him after an exhilarating sudden death match everyone was really excited for me–and no one seemed happier than Master Jung, who had told me that I would beat him.
I also remember my first workout at West Side. I was nervous, very nervous! I didn’t know anyone, and I was unemployed and stressed from my personal situation at home. But I had been directed to West Side by Master Chinedum Osuji, who competed for Trinidad and Tobago in the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he was coached by Master Whang Jr., so the relationship between Mr. Osuji and Masters Whang left me with some feelings of security. My first encounter with Master Whang Senior and Master Whang Junior was pleasant and inspiring. They seemed to be very welcoming and knowledgeable. Master Christina Park’s charismatic and amiable personality also left an unforgettable impression on me. And there was Master Lim with his strong passion for perfection in taekwondo, and of course his comical side which appeared a few weeks later.
