Hobby #3 - Martial Arts

Martial arts are truly like its namesake - a form of art, albeit a deadly one. Learning any form of the various martial arts of the world requires discipline, mental & physical fitness, and most importantly, passion.

Yup. Taekwondo is my martial art of choice, and it has been my passion since I began practicing it since I was 11, starting from the tender white-belt. At the age of 15, I have achieved the rank of Poom, or 'Jr. Black-belt'. This rank is given to Taekwondo practitioners who has passed all the necessary grading and completion of syllabus to earn the right & honour to wear the Black-belt under the age of 16.

In 2007, I had taken the 1st Dan (Degree) Black-belt examination to convert my Poom rank to a full Black-belt rank, and also the examination for the 2nd Dan rank. Now, I am proud to have earned the right and honour to hold the rank of a 2nd Dan Black-belt Taekwondo exponent; certified by Kukkiwon, the Taekwondo headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. By that, I have received the official Certificate from Kukkiwon, and the recognition as a Member of the World Taekwondo Federation.

Universiti Teknologi Petronas Taekwondo Club

In UTP, I was elected as the President for the UTP Taekwondo Club circa 2006 - 2007, and for 2007 - 2008. The Club is sanctioned under the Malaysian Taekwondo Association, the body recognized by the World Taekwondo Federation. The Club hires Master Kuppusammy, an instructor by the rank of 7th Dan from his Jireugi Dohjang to teach, train, and condition club members the techniques of Taekwondo for self-defense and competition sparring. Rank upgrade examinations, or known as grading, are conducted every semester, and Master Kuppusammy is authorized and certified to grade the club members from the range of beginners & White-belt to 1st Dan grading.

Fellow Taekwondo exponent, Donovan

Sparring tournament; I'm in the red armour

Demonstration: one inch plank-breaking

Admittedly, though I have been learning other forms of martial arts such as Karate and Aikido, and in the process of studying Krav Maga and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Taekwondo has always been the art that had started it all for me by providing the solid foundation of self-defense, and has continuously conditioned me by providing the base for ease of learning the other forms of aforementioned martial arts.

Thus, Taekwondo would remain as my true passion in martial arts.