by Melissa A.F.

Created on: February 28, 2009   Last Updated: March 01, 2009

Anyone who knows me has probably heard me say that Tae Kwon Do will always be my first love. My mother began taking classes when I was ten years old at my godfather's martial arts school. I used to come to watch her and my godfather would sit on the bench with me and try to coax me into trying a class. Finally, I gave in. None of my friends were taking martial arts and it was te first time I had gone against the grain on anything, but I was intrigued by it. My godfather was a strict coach and while I was kind of scared of his stern teaching method, I was also drawn to it. I had never been pushed to be the best before, but through Tae Kwon Do I found myself being pushed physically and mentally, and I liked it!

I liked it so much that six months into my training when my godfather asked me if I wanted to be in a tournament, I was all for it. I was even more all for it when I won! I had the fever. I felt like new life was breathed into me. Not only was I doing something special and unique, but I was actually good at it. So good, in fact, that I won state, regional, and eventually 2 national titles all before I graduated high school. I started assistant instructing the children's class when I was just 14 years old, and I received my black belt two weeks before I left for my freshman year of college. I cried over leaving home, and again over leaving my second home, the Tae Kwon Do school. My own father had passed away when I was young and my godfather became a surrogate dad to me. We had a bond, a bond that I cherished. Through this sport and art, a hole that was ripped open when my dad died was able to be healed. Through the tough physical training, I had become mentally tough as well. I had learned confidence and self-discipline, self respect and courage.

I taught my college's martial arts program and when I graduated, I came back home and began training again. I was back! Back to competing, back to the grind. I loved it. I was all fired up about making a comeback, competing on a regular basis again, and most of all just getting back into the swing of things. Tae Kwon Do was home to me, anytime I had ever had a problem in life I was always able to use my training to solve it. I loved that about martial arts, loved all the many gifts it brought to my life.

One night, my life and Tae Kwon Do as I knew it came crashing down around me. My godfather and I were out of town coaching some students from our school at a tournament, when he violated our relationship in an inappropriate

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