Can You Handle It?

Hey, can you handle it?

You have seen the ad on TV? It’s a car ad. Up comes these two slick black vehicles, in the middle of the desert. A hot looking gal and guy each jump out of their respective vehicles. The guy jumps off his motor cycle and the gal jumps out of her experimental car.

They walk by each other, and flip their respective keys to each other. The guy makes some macho comment to the hot chick. And, the gal quips back with a “Can you handle it?” The last shot shows the chick flying off in a dust storm on the guys cycle. The guy just stands there with his mouth open in disbelief!

I am sure you get the drift here. But anyway, it’s an exciting fun ad to watch. My point being... if you believe “you can handle it”, just about anything you want to do in life, is doable. I kid you not! If you have the “I can handle it" attitude, regardless of your experience, chances are you will succeed.

Your reaching for that goal, very well make take you much longer than you anticipated, but you can do it. Of course, you will need to back up this adventurous spirit, with lots of patience and forbearance. But remember, you can handle it. Right?

Take my own life as an example. During my mid-fifties, I decided I needed to change my lifestyle a little bit. I wanted to add some excitement to my daily routine, something different. In another words, I wanted to shake things up a little. You know what I mean? I am sure you have had similar feelings.

My adventure was martial arts. I never contemplated such an activity in my life. But, something inexplicably got into me, that said, “Jack, go for it!” So anyway, I signed up for a year’s worth of Tae Kwon Do lessons.

Before I knew it, I was practicing at home, the basic kicks and moves for a “White Belt”. Can you believe it. My wife thought I had lost my mind. I found this activity to be so far removed from the rest of my life, that I really loved it. It afforded a real escape for me.

As time progressed, I become more absorbed with this whole martial art thing. During practices, my Master would instruct me to stop doing this or to do more of that. I found myself not only wanting to master this martial art thing, but I also wanted to gain the respect and approval of my Master. The entire process grows on you. I can handle it.

Before I knew it, I found myself testing for my Yellow Belt, on one late Saturday morning. I became very excited myself and felt caught up in the intensity of the moment. We did our various required “moves” for the White Belts, and then, it came time to “break boards”! Can you handle it?

I thought to myself, “Dear God, just let me break this one board, in front of all of these people, and I will do what ever you want”. Maybe those weren’t the exact words, but I am sure you get my drift.

Anyway, I did break the board, and not my foot, to my total amazement. So, from that day on I was hooked!

I truthfully never thought about getting a Black Belt. That thought was just too overwhelming. I thought it would be wonderful, if maybe I hanged around, until I got my Brown Belt. That seemed like a worthy challenge to me.

Hey Jack, can you handle it? That’s what I kept asking myself. At times, the entire process of sticking with this martial art thing, accepting the challenges, persevering with it all, seemed very daunting to me. Almost overwhelming!

The saving grace to this Tae Kwon Do project, was the fact that I really loved the action! I got off on the stretching, kicking, sweating and yelling. It sure beat running to a shrink and pouring out my frustrations and aggressions. I mean, you can let it all hang out on the mat at the Dojang. (Korean speak for school.) When you get into the advanced colored belts, you get into “sparring”. I loved it. Here you get a chance to really get rid of your frustrations and aggressions by kicking and punching your classmates. Before I knew it, I was participating in “tournament” sparring. You talk about excitement and adrenalin flowing! Hey Jack, can you handle it?

Of course, my Master, had me jumping through loops, with his praise and then disapproval and corrections. In retrospect, that was all part of the game. At the time however, I took the entire program quite seriously. My Master knew it, and that’s why he gave me lots of encouragement. Jack,can you handle it?

Only 10% do itCan you handle it? That’s what I asked myself, when our Master informed the class that barely 10% of people taking any martial art, hang in there long enough, to receive their Black Belt! Woe is me. I really didn’t know if I could every do some of those fancy advanced kicks, the Black Belts were required to do. Yeah, not only do the kicks, but you had to break boards with these advanced kicks.

Hey Jack, can you handle it? You know what? Actually, I never ever experienced any serious fear or anxiety. Why? Because, deep down inside, I believed I could do it. I could meet the challenges. I didn’t expect the challenge to be easy. I knew it would take lots of hard work. But, I knew the challenge wasn’t going to beat me.

I obsessed with it Everything about this Tae Kwon Do program fascinated, challenged, and obsessed me. You heard it right. I actually obsessed with this stuff. No big deal. Just ask any martial artist, and he or she will tell you the same thing, obsession with the execution of these kicks is just SOP. (Standard Operating Procedure)

Like I indicated at the beginning of this article, if anybody approaches a challenge with the belief that they can handle it, it’s good as done. Money in the bank.

Please don’t misunderstand me, these big challenges, are not pushovers. It wouldn’t be any fun, if they were. But, if you know you can handle it, and back this resolve up with patience, guts, and hard work, then, you can do it! Can you handle it?

When things get tough and frustrating, don’t let yourself get overwhelmed! Immediately break down your tasks into small and realistic manageable increments. (Benchmarks) If necessary, take a deep breath, step back from the forthcoming challenge, and relax. Lighten up. I mean lighten up your attitude. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Can you handle it?

Just look around. Nobody, I mean nobody else really cares, at least like you think you do. So relax and have some fun with this challenge. Just remember, you are going to “do this thing” with your spirit and determination. And nothing on this earth, is going to stop you. Can you handle it?

As a former Marine I can tell you, this is the “can do attitude” you learn in the Corps. It’s the same Winner attitude the Navy Seals and Marine Force Recon people carry with them, when they are “qualifying”. Can you handle it? By the way, for your info, Marine Recon units were doing what the Navy Seals do now, long before the Seals ever existed.

Which bring to my mind, the time I was qualifying for my 2nd Degree Black Belt. It was during the board breaking sequence. One of the Judges at my testing, was a tough, no nonsense, Korean young man, who was also a celebrated kick boxing champion during the Olympic Trials. Can you handle it?Anyway, this Master called my name, for my initial board breaking sequence. To my surprise, he wanted me to do 10 consecutive “spin heal” board breaking kicks!

I was accustomed to doing 1 board break. Not 10 in a row! Especially, not with the “spinning heal” kick which is very challenging. I mean, you have to keep your balance, spin your entire body around, and in an elevated position, reach up with your leg, and knock the holy heck out of the board, break it, and not kill the poor guy holding the board.

Naturally, my adrenalin was pumping a mile a minute. I approached the board holder, set my self, and kicked the target. Bang! The board split, the board holder, dropped the pieces and immediately presented me with the next target.

I responded with another kick instantly. And, to my total amazement, the board didn’t break. I responded, with controlled anger and aggression…I broke the next 9 boards faster than you could say Jimny Cricket! The entire class responded with clapping and approval. Yeah, can you handle it?

The following day, after the testing, my tough Korean Master, complimented me on my “spirit”. The Korean people love people with spirit. It’s bred into them at an early age. You never give up! Hey, You Can Handle It.

I highly recommend to anyone that’s interested, “Go get your Black Belt in whatever martial art you like. It’s like getting a Phd Degree in Emotional Control!”

And, if you want to deal with the greatest World Master in Tae Kwon Do, contact Master Dae Hoon Lee, Sarasota, Fl. He personally coached me from White Belt through my 2nd Degree Black Belt. As far as Masters in Tae Kwon Do are concerned, this man is a genius. He is equally gifted in dealing with people. He knows how to motivate and inspire. I can't say enough good things about him.

Lee's Traditional Tae Kwon Do-Master Dae Hoon Lee-4801 South Tamiami TrailSarasota, FL 34231(941)923-7752

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