New Year's Day challenge 2021
TTA Southwark kicked off 2021 with a new year’s challenge. On the 31st December, a challenge was circulated by club member Jenny with a series of classic Taekwondo drills that could be done individually using local surroundings. The challenge was aiming to start the year as we mean to go on, and perhaps counter the effects of any winter lethargy or overly indulgent Christmases.
Fortunately for most, it was a crisp day on the 1st January, albeit a bit cold, so this helped to make for an invigorating start to the year. It was particularly great to have participation from members of the club who hadn’t been able to make it to either virtual or the in-person classes we managed to have in 2020. The challenge could be tailored to experience, and as a result it seemed to have broad appeal from a 9th kup child, through to our 3rd Dan instructors.
One club member reflected “I realised how much I miss all the fun we used to have… and then the challenge arrived – perfect timing! It looks like it’s time for me to get back to training!”.
It’s obviously harder to work on many of the reactive and dynamic aspects of taekwondo in the current circumstances, but the challenge has served as a bit of reminder of what is still possible. This can include strength, stamina and flexibility training, drawing on the core tenets of perseverance and indomitable spirit.
The challenge was such a success that the club will be using this format for some of our ongoing training during this lockdown, but of course everyone looks forward to the day that we can kick each other in person, in the most well-meaning way possible.
Jenny