Spirit Taekwon-Do

Training in Malaysia with Master Tan

Week 4 - The Final Week !!

 

Friday 23rd October

  Andrew's blog:

 

I had to write this blog entry the next day as I was too tired from last nights training.

After an Indian lunch, which after several attempts to protect my dobok trousers by leaning over my food, it ended with not only getting the food on my face but still a speck on the trousers, Master Tan replied "Brits, can't take them anywhere".

We taught a large class outside under cover, however it started to have a torrential downpour which flooded everywhere. We continued the class even though the children were getting very nervous with the water coming towards them and the high wind. But we soldiered on and finished the class.

During the next class we did some training and teaching by using the punch bag. I strangely felt tired afterwards and I knew what was coming up next.

The evening class was a killer, my entire dobok was drenched in sweat. Several exercises up and down the hall was finished off with sets of 30 push ups after each time, followed by patterns, sparring drills and much much more. I took a picture of the entire class afterwards as a memento. I can't believe I have got to know so many people yet I have to leave so soon. Today we are assisting to teach a private class before we get dropped off at the pool with a massive gym session in the evening.

 

Andrew's blog: Final few days and Conclusion

I am writing this blog currently over India as we fly home back to blighty. If you have not noticed our blogging activities declined near to the end of the trip, this is for 2 major reasons:

1) We are constantly busy as Master Tan was trying to show us as much as Malaysia as he can in a short time scale and

2) He was working us to the bone. 

On Sunday Master Tan took us to the Malaysian Jungle. I knew we would need 4WD car to get there, but I never really fully understood how much we needed it until we went off road. To start off with the roads were just uneven and a bit bumpy going up some steepish hills. I didn’t realise how quickly we were higher, at one point I looked left to see the edge of the car close to the edge of the road.... beyond that however was let’s say a not very nice drop, and one slight mistake at the wheel could send us over the edge....nice.  Even with that at stake, I was having the time of my life making our way there, laughing most of the way.

We arrived at the site next to a river. After setting up the picnic, Master Tan told us to go explore the river. As I ventured up the river climbing up against the current I began to realise where I was, I was in the middle of nowhere. I could only hear the sound of wildlife and I was relaxing in cool water on a hot day, I had never been more at peace in my life. The surrounding rocks called for some extreme sidekicks both Richard and I made some bold attempts. Richard has to be different of course and did a twisting kick. Trying to maintain balance on a slippery rock is hard but also with the added incentive of if you fall you will break something in your body.

On Monday we had our last evening class. Master Tan had been getting us pumped up all day by saying “its going to be hell” and you know what, it was hell !! We completed every pattern from Chon-ji all the way up the Choi-yong our latest pattern. I felt for Richard when it got to Juche. We were shattered by this point and Juche is hard enough when your fit let alone exhausted. After a quick break, Master Tan told us to get our sparring gear on for our final fight. Richard and I pumped ourselves up for this but at the same time were asking Mrs Tan for our last will and testament.  We did some light sparring drills before 8 continuous 2 minute sparring matches. If you remember back, I picked the wrong sparring partner on my first evening class and ended up being treated like a punch bag by the national champion. Master Tan made me face him 3 times, this time however I at least managed to get some points with what I had learnt over the past month. It was however Master Tan, and rightly so, told me it was not good enough “Andrew you have the heart but not the technique.” I have never left a training session unable to move. I had to sit there until I could feel my legs again.

 

On Tuesday, our Final day, after helping teaching a class we had a private session with Lyonel. He took a critical eye to our patterns and showed both of us some exercises to help correct them.

After the class It was chinning time, you may have read the bet I made with Master Tan to do 30 Chin ups, well it was that time. I began strong, the first 10 were easy enough however, as soon as I hit 14 my arms began to ache on 15 my arm slipped and it was over. I had to hand over my Arsenal Jersey to Master Tan as he took it with a huge smile on his face I could not believe I had failed.

We left that evening for our final meal and our final goodbyes. Master Tan shook our hands gave us his last words of wisdom and left. The next morning as we were about to leave Mrs Tan showed up and handed back my Arsenal jersey “Master couldn’t go through with it he felt bad” but I still lost the bet so on orders from Master Tan “I am a Man U lover.” Richard and I weighed ourselves before we left. I had gone down from 72Kg at the beginning of the holiday to 68KG and Richard had gone from 97kg to 93kg. Basically, we both lost a stone in weight !!

As I sit here on the plane on my way home, it's shocking how quickly a month has passed, but it seems like I have been living in Malaysia for years.

For anyone close to Black belt or above and over the age of 18, you must do what we have done. We have lived and breathed the art we love and trained the hardest we ever had. One day I will return to Malaysia and train with Master Tan again. So, it's not a question of if I’ll go back, but a question of when. I have never been so humbled by the generosity of his family, we only went out there to train, but they took us in as if we were one of their own and for that I am eternally grateful to have met them. I will continue to train hard and improve on the areas Master Tan has told me but for now I must do this in England.

Master Tan, I can only thank you for an amazing experience of Malaysian life and Malaysian Taekwon-Do, everyone else, book your flights now!

 

Previous Blogs, select link below

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

 

Please check back for further updates.

 

Richard Sperrin
(III Degree)

Mr Sperrin first started training with Spirit TKD in 1994.

He is a fully qualified Chiropractor and teaches Taekwon-Do on Friday evenings in Bricket Wood.

He enjoys helping students to improve their Taekwon-Do techniques and is respected for his ability to demonstrate the power that can be generated when using correct technique.

 

 

       

 

Mr Fox first started training with Spirit TKD in 2003.

A qualified instructor who enjoys attending seminars and passing the knowledge gained to other students of Spirit TKD.

Graduated at Hertfordshire University and is currently working in a Sales environment.

 

 

Andrew Fox          
(I Degree)              

 

Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control and Indomitable Spirit