Every day, the men and women of Delaware County Community College face a never ending battle on campus waged by a formidable foe: boredom.
Above, DCCC students practice a basic Taekwondo kick. Below, Taekwondo instructor Gerald Williams, Jr. demonstrates proper punching techniques to eager students. (Photo by Shawn Kotzen) In the upcoming months, the battle will be waged at 3 p.m. every Thursday in the Founder’s Hall student lounge.
The lounge, normally filled with couches, tables, and chairs occupied by headphone wearing students resembling human statues, will be cleared to form a makeshift “dojang,” a Korean word meaning school or place of instruction.
For 12 brave souls, Taekwondo will be the way they learn to emphasize etiquette, respect, and self-confidence.
At the very least, they might learn how to kick somebody in the face.
Taekwondo instructor and first degree blackbelt Gerald Williams, Jr., 26, has vehemently vowed to vanquish boredom and free students from their iPod bondage and cell phone cells.
He relies on his 10 years of experience as a student of Taekwondo and his 2 ½ years as a roving instructor to do so.
In Korean, Taekwondo is loosely translated into “the way of the foot or fist.”
It began in ancient Korea, where it is presently the national sport, but did not gain global recognition until the 1950s.
According to the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), it is “a discipline that shows ways of enhancing our spirit and life through training our body and mind.”
The focus of traditional Taekwondo is centered on a system of blocks, kicks, punches and open-handed strikes mainly used for self-defense purposes. Its names and symbols are based on Korean history occurring before the 1950s and 60s.
The WTF is the International Federation governing the sport of Taekwondo, and was a key contributor in orchestrating its Olympic debut at the 2004 games in Sydney.
According to the WTF, Taekwondo is divided into two main branches: traditional and sport.
The branch that evolved since the 50’s and 60’s is called sport. It focuses on speed and sparring in various competitions, including the Olympics.
According to Glen Moore of the World Martial Arts Academy, more than 30 million people practice Taekwondo in more than 156 countries.
Taekwondo enthusiasts believe Taekwondo has something for everyone, combining combat techniques, sport, exercise, meditation, philosophy, and self-defense.
Williams’ approach is no different.
The class began with a standard bow, which, according to Scott Shaw, author of “Taekwondo Basics,” is an ancient Asian tradition and symbolizes respect for the instructor and fellow practitioners.
The students seemed skeptical at first, but after the opening sets of calisthenics they quickly warmed up to the knowledgeable and upbeat Williams.
The first 20 minutes were filled with jumping jacks, pushups, toe touches, and butterfly stretches.
The opening sets of calisthenics were a precursor to the actual Taekwondo lesson, and the students seemed energized and eager to learn.
The introduction to the concept of “KIHAP!!!” played a big role in their excitement.
The term “kihap!” which literally means to yell in Korean, is cried out during a kick or when a punch is thrown.
According to Williams, this boisterous, yet controlled, primal scream is supposed to tighten the stomach muscles, helping one take a punch to the abdominal region and softening the blow. He said its purpose was to loosen up the students.
It worked.
Science in Health Professions major Sabrina Selvy-Moore, 19, said her enjoyment of martial arts movies, such as “Rush Hour 2,” encouraged her to participate in the lesson.
Williams cites such institutions as Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment as other reasons for the rise in popularity.
“Martial Arts are reaching another level,” he said, “and Taekwondo is becoming the most familiar [form] within the United States.”
Williams admitted Taekwondo can be a suitable substitute for an aerobics class as well, which was evident in the way he structured the class.
Future lessons will feature new material, as well as a review from the week before.
“Repetition is good in any sport,” Williams said. “Basically, just come and get a good workout.”
Andrew Johnson, director of Wellness, Athletics, and Recreation, was on hand to convince the more reluctant bystanders to participate in the first half hour session.
Johnson said he wants to offer different types of activities to students during the day.
“I’m just trying to keep people involved,” Johnson said. “People sit around during the day, and there’s not much to do.”
Along with Taekwondo, more popular athletic options such as intramural basketball and flag football will be available in the months to come.
“I want people to find something that interests them,” Johnson said, “as well as bring awareness of wellness to the campus.”
After the Taekwondo session, an enthusiastic Selvy-Moore claimed to be “looking forward to classes in the future,” including yoga.
For those students interested in fighting the war against boredom from a more Zen-like approach, yoga classes are available to students on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m.
For times and locations for activities such as yoga, Pilates, football, and basketball, students should check the bulletin board outside of Room 2507 in Founder’s Hall.
Contact Shawn Kotzen at
communitarian@mail.dccc.edu
