Tans Curumbin

Taekwondo is a way of life. Taekwondo has been my life, since I was 5 years old. The beginning 5 - 8 years old Back in 1989 I would spend a lot of time on the sidelines of my father and older 2 brothers Taekwondo classes. Stretching, kicking and punching, I would be trying to impersonate their techniques while they trained at the Tugun Progress Hall. Finally my parents decided that I could join the class and try Taekwondo. Within months I was going for my first yellow belt grading. The first grading was held at the Tan's Camp within a very large gymnasium and I was the last to be graded. By this time (several hours later) I was comfortably asleep at the back of the hall. Woken by "Wake Up Joanne!" I attempted my first grading and passed with flying colours. This was the start of my Taekwondo journey.  I continued to attend classes up to 3 times a week and received several awards like 'Student of the month' 'Head Instructors award', medals at tournaments etc. Back in the 1990's I would often have to fight boys in competition as female competitors were few and far between. Attending class 3 times a week was just part of the weekly routine as the whole family would be joining in each night at class. My brothers achieved blackbelt with my father also; it made me more and more keen to stick with Taekwondo to reach that goal. I often would use my Taekwondo skills for 'Show and Tell' at school. I can specifically remember wearing my yellow belt to prep and showing everyone 'basic pattern' for my turn up the front. I would [...]