Families opt for Taekwondo discipline, unity in place of stress

As the economy continues in uncertainty, people are looking for solutions. Jeff Patterson thinks he found his answer.
Patterson was like 47 percent of people the American Psychological Association said suffered increased stress this year. Anxious to figure something up with multiple benefits, Patterson said he started taking Taekwondo with his 13-year-old son, Brandon.

“It’s reversed the teaching level from instead of Dad being the teacher, there’s some things I might not remember that my son teaches me. Essentially it’s brought us closer together, my blood pressure’s come down, I release stress — you legally get away with kicking and punchin’ here,” Jeff Patterson said.

Taekwondo is gaining the attention of several families seeking to come closer together or to release stress and gain discipline in today’s world, said Frankey Peterman, owner of Peterman’s American Taekwondo Association Academy in Ozark.

For older participants, Peterman said the art has tended to ease stress on the mind.

Studies showed grade school students progressively improved their grades while training, he said.

“The art means movement or way of the hand and foot, and overall it’s been a great way to train the mind and the body. With a sound mind, people can make sound decisions,” Peterman said.

Melody Hines said she started Taekwondo amid working 40 hours a week to help her daughter, state ATA champion Heaven Hines.

Since then, Hines said she’s gotten healthier and learned to live more and worry less.

Larry Cochran, another state ATA champion, agreed.

“Living is a process. You can help fulfill and improve your physical part of life by finding something you enjoy.
Taekwondo, for me, offers a sense of community you won’t get when you’re in a room by yourself lifting weights,” he said.

Dothan Taekwondo participant Shirley Bender said she started Taekwondo three years ago after suffering from panic attacks and stress.

Over the period, Bender said she lost 150 pounds without surgery or diet.

She recommended the art for anyone seeking to turn their life around.

“My stress wasn’t from the economy ... but I sat down and prayed and said, ‘Lord help me,’ and turned to a phone book to Martial Arts. Master Ho Won Lee didn’t give up on me when everyone else was afraid to even work with me,” she said.
“It’s neat to see God use such a sore part in my life, and now I’m helping others.”

Stress management suggestions
Understand how you experience stress
Learn your own stress signals.
Recognize how you deal with stress.
Find healthy ways to manage stress.
Take care of yourself.
Reach out for support
Source: American Psychological Association, www.apahelpcenter.mediaroom.com

Taekwondo is
a non-agressive and ethical system of self-defense ... (that) emphasizes breaking power, sparring, and learning formal patterns of movement, called “forms.”
Source: American Taekwondo Association, www.ataonline.com