Clarissa Kuhns is now a Black Belt! WHOOP!

So I did it!!!!! Blood, sweat, and tears got me through it, courage and faith kept me from quitting. Its all over and I have a million cuts and bruises and one broken hand (or so I think, I will go check it tomorrow). Wow, i can't believe it's finished. The best part is that Enrique, my bro and Vero and my nephews, as well as Jesse and Brent made it when all ofthem said they weren't going to be able to make it!! How awesome!!. I will post up pics and video later, when I can move better. Until then, I will pos the second part of my essay which was my final speech before I got my black belt. I can't thank everyone enough that got me through this!

TaeKwonDo’s Impact.

I began TaeKwonDo in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas 12 years ago as a way to learn to defend myself and begin a cool new sport. Little did I know where this cool new sport was going to lead me. I practiced traditional TaeKwonDo for about 2 years and then stopped because crossing the border every other day became a big hassle. Four years later, I found myself looking at a brochure for the Texas A&M TaeKwonDo Team. I remember walking in the first day of practice feeling very insecure. This placed a damper on my self efficacy. My first practice at the The Martial Arts Center was very similar. Sparring was a new concept that I was not ready to fully commit too. I attended a couple practices and figured I needed to talk to Master Pejo to see what he thought of my progress. I stayed late after practice one day and he showed genuine interest in helping me become the best fighter I could be as long as I was willing to commit. I was hooked. That night, I bought my first set of pads, and my trusty yellow bag and was on my way.

I stayed away from tournaments for a while for fear of getting hurt. Gradually, TaeKwonDo instilled in me the indomitable spirit and courage that would help me turn the fear into fuel. Finally, after about three months I attended my first tournament in Dallas. Little by little, I became comfortable with the team and the team became comfortable with me. I began working at the TaeKwonDo school to help pay for tuition and spent every afternoon teaching, cleaning, and practicing. I was recognized by my strong values and outspoken personality. My time in TaeKwonDo was facilitated by Master Pejo’s support. I clearly remember him sitting in his office and saying something which solidified my view on his commitment toward my success. “Stick with me, and I will take care of you.” He wasn’t lying. Through ups and downs he never turned his back on me. Even when I decided to return to TaeKwonDo after many “breaks”, he was always willing to help me get back in as easily as possible.

I went to my first Collegiate National Championships in Austin in 2001. I remember feeling my heart pulsating in my throat. Master Pejo coached my first two fights. My last fight was against a girl from New York. I was dead tired and couldn’t lift my legs. Master Pejo had to coach someone else so I had to rely on Mr. Brent and Mr. Jesse’s skills to get me through. I remember Mr. Brent yelling “Wait on the back leg”. He kept on repeating those words louder and louder. I thought to myself, “That’s weird, I have my weight on the back leg. Why is he still yelling at me?” Towards the end of the fight, my lead prompted Mr. Jesse and Mr. Brent to yell in unison, “Run away!” So what did I do? I turned my back and started to run in circles. Well, they then yelled “No...don’t turn your back to her!” Eventually the fight ended and I was pronounced the winner. I turned to look at my coaches and they both had a huge smile on their faces. This was hard work paid off. This is what dedication meant. I had won my division. Better yet, I had done that at t.u.’s house. It didn’t get better than that. Or so I thought.

A couple of weeks prior I had made an acquaintance on the team. He was a black belt and a great athlete. He was also practically Master Pejo’s son. There is a lot to say about this relationship. However, there isn’t enough space to cover such an extensive topic. In Master Pejo’s life, he has been and will always be (in my opinion) his most challenging, rewarding, and inspirational student. Master Pejo had grown to care for me in a way that was much stronger than many of his other students. It is only this way, that he would mention me to his most cherished student. Of all the relationships that have budded from this school, only one has he truly not discouraged. It is through this relationship that TaeKwonDo has made its greatest impact on my life.

I know in my heart that Master Pejo knew before anyone else where this relationship was going. As a son must do, Mr. Jesse and I left the school for a year. Let me present a pragmatic paradigm to explain further. Leaving my home to go to college gave me wings to venture off into the real world. Those same wings brought me back home to a relationship with my parents that had grown exponentially stronger. Similarly, Mr. Jesse and I left TaeKwonDo for a year to do our venturing off. It was just enough to solidify the seeds that had been planted. After a year, the TaeKwonDo way of life, called to us and beckoned our return. Our relationship with Master Pejo was a distinct one. We were family.

TaeKwonDo has taught me essential qualities that have led to my personal growth in and outside of the school. First, it taught me to have the indomitable spirit to walk into a ring and put up the best fight in me. This spirit followed me from TaeKwonDo into many other “rings” of life that through perseverance and strength of character I have put up my best fight and succeeded. I have learned courtesy. In a world where abuse of power occurs very often, I have learned to recognize power governed by respect and courtesy as well as one governed by the need of domination and control which in reality is just a lack of self esteem and respect for others. Not only have I learned to identify it but I learned to recognize the temptations of craving of one over the other and using self control to subdue them. This, I believe, is a vital part of learning the true spirit of TaeKwonDo and only a person with true integrity can experience it.

There is a side of TaeKwonDo that most people do not see because it happens rarely or maybe just talked about infrequently. Not only did I find confidence in TaeKwonDo but also my better half. Few remaining were around when this began and even fewer saw it flourish. Although I have learned a lot from Sabumnim, there is even more I have learned from my other half. I have learned that two people can be totally opposite from another and have the same passion and Faith, can become stronger than any human relationship. I have learned that Love transcends rank. However, Love drives respect, and thus I submit to his authority as my senior, but more so because he is the head of my family.

Before TaeKwonDo there was a group of five people that molded me to the woman I am today. They have taught me the fundamental morals and values that have developed into the character traits I am most known for. Sin el amor de mi familia, ni un obstaculo fuera posible y es por eso que les digo que los quiero y les agradesco el apoyo que siempre me han dado. There are many other people who have helped encourage me the entire way from white to black. Most have remained very dear to my heart and deserve my gratitude. First, Master Pejo has always supported my endeavors and has stuck with me in this long road. Secondly, Mr. Brent was the first person I truly befriended on the team and showed me through kindness and encouragement how it is possible to have someone believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself. Lastly, my husband, Jesse, who has been my mentor, coach, and best friend through it all. It would have been impossible to get this far without him.

I also wish to thank Mr. Marcus, Mr. Nick, and Mr. E.J. for helping me this past week as well as the Texas A&M TaeKwonDo Team for getting mr through these 6 years.