I signed up for Taekwondo at IMA about 7 months ago when I was at a very low point in my life. I have always wanted to learn martial arts but never before had a chance, so at age 30 and desperate for something to look forward to, I went online one day and started calling all the martial arts schools in Alameda. I got the best and the quickest response from IMA, so I readily eliminated all the other options. I just a had a very strong intuition that this was exactly what I needed and that proved right.
For the last 7 months and still I go to class with so much joy and excitement for learning as well as seeing people I have come to love.
I could be having an awful day that day, but when I go to class in the evening I get an instant mood shift to considerably better. I have learnt so much and got in such better shape I regret not having found out about IMA sooner. That is because this training as a whole is not just about learning a few cool tricks of self defense or learning how to fight well; it is an all-comprehensive training in how to be a better human being; in having higher morals, better awareness and most importantly a humbled ego. This is why I encourage kids of all ages to go, especially boys who in general struggle more with impulse control and communication skills .
Its also been a great observational experience in witnessing how this training is shaping the personalities of these kids. Regardless of what kind of parenting they are getting at home, when they come to Taekwondo class, which is just like their second family, they are getting the training they need in order to be considerate and kind to other kids and adults, to treat each other like family/team members, to be able to control and learn not to abuse their power and to have the discipline to keep working to get much better. Equally important, these kids learn to stand up for themselves and their rights- they build a strong character and become brave enough to defend themselves by confronting a threatening challenge when its the last resort, instead of being complacent or submissive in the face of real danger. By being desensitized to the initially intimidating act of fighting a sparring partner, they are also psychologically preparing themselves for situations they may encounter in real life.
Also, our instructor Jeremy is someone who is very patient and understanding and he can maintain authority with the students without being a harsh authoritarian- based on respect, not fear. It is a very delicate balance especially with kids, making the class so educational while being so much fun and positive an experience in a light hearted but disciplined manner. Its also a huge plus that the kids have the privilidge of having a real fully trained school teacher, our instructor's wife Susan to help kids after school with all their homework, which you don't get at other schools. You can easily tell just how much they genuinely care about the well being of all their students. They make sure everyone gets personal attention while adjusting their training according to individual need.
So I very strongly recommend people of all ages to go sign up at this school. I would say everyone needs this training. Women especially do need the self-defense even if they aren't particularly interested in becoming competitive later in tournaments. This training brings out the power women have but often lay hidden in their psyche due to many societal factors. No women should ever be subject to violence, but the reality is that they do in significantly high numbers especially in this society. A part of healing this enormous ill of society will take on the part of women to never allow it, whether that be never getting involved with violent men, or physically making him wish he never even got close to her when she completely disables him from hurting her.
Do go to IMA, try out the first class for free and I am sure you too will make your decision to commit to this training right away. I can't emphasize enough how much it helped me, so I do wish the same for everyone else. read more
