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moved from my Blog to my front page to encourage others who may not see it otherwise.
Tae Kwon Do in My Life
Ernest E. Kudron
To understand the role of Tae Kwon Do in my life you must first know why I signed up for the lessons in the first place. To understand this, you must know about my accident.
On May 29, 2003 I was riding my motorcycle to a guitar lesson when I was struck by a hit and run driver. Although I do not remember the incident I do know how severe and life threatening my injury's were. I suffered eight fractured vertebrae. Two Cervical ( in my neck) and Six Thoracic ( in my middle back) I compressed every disk in my spine, Fractured my right wrist (requiring surgical reconstruction). I damaged my Lungs, requiring me to be placed on a respirator to allow me to breathe. I suffered bleeding in my brain that resulted in me being in a state of coma for two weeks, and still manifests itself in periods of forgetfulness and confusion. I had major soft tissue damage in my hips and legs, (especially in my right hip) and nerve damage throughout my body.
Although I recovered extremely well, I found myself to be very limited in what I could do. I had lost flexibility, endurance, strength, I lived in constant pain. Using the right side of my body required constant thought as I lost my muscle memory due to the damage in the left side of my brain. I had to think about each and every move with my right hand, arm, and leg.
My desire to overcome these limitations are why I joined Elite Family, and started Tae Kwon Do lessons. I would watch my daughter in her classes and thought the classes would do me some good.
I got the clearance from my Doctor and I signed up.
Now, as I prepare for my Black Belt, I find myself looking back. I still face most of the challenges I started with. However, I have learned to compensate for, or continue to improve in my recovery from the challenges I endure.
I have regained my strength, actually, I am stronger now than I have ever been in my life.
My endurance has improved, although it is still far from where it used to be. A combination of my lung function and my medication influence me a great deal in this area.
I do still suffer from cognitive malfunctions where I forget how to do something, or forget what I am even trying to do at a given time.
My muscle memory is improving as I can do most things without having to think about the movements first.
My flexibility is much improved. It is now almost to pre-injury levels and is continuing to improve.
Although my pain levels have not dropped, my ability to tolerate it has improved. My mental outlook is much more optimistic as I have become stronger, healthier, both physically and emotionally.
I will never be what I was. I am now so much more. I have overcome challenges, circumvented limitations, I have become stronger than ever before. I have grown physically, mentally, and emotionally. I look forward to continuing the progress that I have made through my pursuit of Tae Kwon Do.
God gave me my life, and He also gave me Tae Kwon Do as a way of enjoying it once again.
I continue to improve, and as I get stronger, I will continue to grow, and I will become the living testimony of the Greatness of God in his work in me, and Tae Kwon Do will be a very large part of that work.
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