by Lenn Hypolite
We had a great workout last saturday. Saturday workouts are always more unique, since there are usually more people than during the weeknights. First, Masters Whang start us off with some pyrometric drills, which gets us warmed up within a few minutes. We then take out kicking pads or put on hogus and continue with basics kicks in sets of five. Eventually we move on to defensive and offensive attack techniques–this is where I start to huff and puff! But it’s not till after that when we get into the real burnout, where we do combination techniques. Later the class ends with sparring. The Masters always train us hard and push us. I always think that they really want us to do more than our best and I feel blessed to have instructors who want nothing less than all my heart when we’re training.
I’ve been recovering from a badly stumped toe, which has impeded me at times in the past from kicking. It’s really amazing how a small extremity of the body can have such a strong effect. But it’s in better shape now and I feel like I can kick anything.
As of now I’m working on my inside game. I want to get shaper on the inside. Also my form is another thing I want to work on along with my overall speed and recovery after I kick.
I plan to take time off from school to go to the World Championships. Sometimes it can be quite a headache balancing my daily life outside of the dojang with my athletic career. Not to mention the busy days when I have a plate full of activities to do from morning to midnight, five days a week. Sometimes I’m up until 1am the next morning. But I always pull it off and it is worth it.
My past coach from Trinidad has been a constant supporter of my efforts, as has everyone else in the Taekwondo Association of Trinidad and Tobago, and I feel great pride knowing that everyone is putting their hopes in me.
