Page 58 - Martial Science August #22-2017

What led you to the martial What was the training like? Although my main martial
arts in the first place? Was it what you expected? art (currently) is of Chinese
origin, I still love seeing great
My first contact with martial The Karate training was more Taekwondo or other Korean
arts was, besides the movie « a traditional teaching with kicking martial arts such as
Enter the Dragon » with Bruce mainly Kihon and Kata. Taekkyon. I was a big fan
Lee, a general martial arts I loved the teaching and of the undefeated Korean
book from our local library. never questioned what I did. I champion, Jeong Kook-Hyun.
Being a child I read with much simply loved to train martial I trained only a few years in
love stories about M. Ueshiba, arts movements and wanted Taekwondo but it was rich in
the founder of Aikido or about to be the best. training and experience. For
Chinese martial arts ( Wing example I had the occasion
Chun ) and Korean martial It’s difficult to say if at that to go with some fellow stu-
arts ( Hwarang Do and Tae- time it was what I expected. dents and my master to Italy
kwondo ). When I read those Although I loved Bruce Lee to participate at a black belt
books or saw Bruce Lee on and read stories about other championship, but I wasn’t a
screen, I was more than fasci- martial arts, Karate was the black belt at all. I do remem-
nated by the martial mastery only martial art with punch- ber the short performance I
displayed and the invincible ing and kicking in my neigh- was asked to give and we did
heroes portrayed. borhood. it without rehearsal. It was
a fun, but in hindsight it was
I remember practicing the What was your most memora- really awful. During this Tae-
movements from the books ble moment from that time? kwondo period, I did maybe
in my room before I finally 10 small competitions with
could enter a real martial arts My most memorable moment 1st and second placings.
school. being a kid was when I be-
came a regional champion in When did you realize it would
What system did you try first? kata. be your life?
What your instructor’s name?
When did Taekwondo and I always loved martial arts
My very first martial art Karate start changing you as a training and it is a part of
lesson started with Shotokan person? In what ways? me; a part of my life. I never
Karate in a local dojo. I had thought it would be so im-
different Karate teachers like It is merely the continuing portant in my life till I had
Sensei Alex Hauwaert, Dirk of martial arts practice that severe shoulder problems due
Strouwen and the brothers changed me little by little. to a too intensive prolonged
Lintermans. Not to give up even when training period. During
it’s difficult, eye for details, almost 2 years I realized
After years of diligent training patience in training, to be the that without martial arts I
I was suggested to practise best I could be in martial arts couldn’t be complete. I was
Taekwondo because I loved and to practice with passion blessed to recover but it took
kicking techniques. So I start- are some of the virtues that me not only a lot of time, but
ed Taekwondo under Master became part of me thanks to a lot character to continue
M.Akkouh. martial arts training. treatments and not to give up
but especially to keep faith
and focus on healing.

58 MARTIALSCIENCEMAGAZINE.COM