Month: October 2020

Oct 2020 (2) – Always Remember My First Cadenza Performance

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I had my very first ever singing performance on Friday (10/30)! The theme of this Cadenza performance was “movie soundtrack.” I decided, after being extremely indecisive, to sing “Always Remember Us This Way” from the movie A Star Is Born. One of the main reasons why I chose this song was because Lady Gaga’s character, who sang this song, is named Ally.

Prior to the performance check, I tried to practice as much as I could. Since I already knew the song beforehand, what I had to focus on was my piano accompaniment. The most challenging part was performing solo and, on top of that, having it be my first time singing in front of an audience of this size. I contemplated on not singing the bridge of the song because I felt that my voice did not fit t

On the day of the performance, I listened to the song and reviewed the piano chords. Placing my hands onto the keyboards, they were visibly shaking. I was definitely nervous; fortunately, my voice did not reflect that too obviously. I ended up deciding to keep the bridge of the song, but it was during this part of the song where my hands slipped and pressed the wrong note. Though it took me by surprise, I did not show any reaction to it. I found that I carried the same mindset that I usually have for taekwondo competitions, which is to try my best and remain as calm as possible.

After the performance, I was still a bit shaky, recognizing that I was able to accomplish this task. My friends and some teachers gave me words of encouragement, which was rewarding. I value this performance because it allowed me to prove to myself that it is possible for me to to this, and that this is actually very enjoyable.

Here is the video of my performance:

What shapes my perspective as a knower?

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My black belt is a physical representation of my growth and journey in Taekwondo for the past 6 years. Through the opportunities presented to me in this sport, I have been significantly impacted as a knower.

Knowledge acquired from this sport ranges from technical movements to aspects regarding myself. I have never been to any martial arts classes until one day almost 7 years ago. Naturally, I was only capable of clumsily moving around the gym during my first lesson. Learning every movement and perfecting each of them was a gradual process. My starting Taekwondo lessons is an example of exploring something new. Since I enjoyed this sport so much, I have been open to trying something I have never experienced (given that it is safe, of course).

From the numerous competitions I have attended the past years, I observed that my self-imposed mental obstacles are one of the hardest challenges that I face on a daily basis. The information may not be academic, but it has helped me in life. The more I learn about myself over time, the more I am able to overcome these challenges. The high-intensity atmosphere cultivated by the competition forces me to adapt and alter my thinking to conform with the environment. Thus, I believe the environment is another influential aspect that shapes my perspective of a knower.

Taekwondo has allowed me to open myself up to different experiences and consequently, new perspectives on acquiring knowledge.

Oct 2020 (1) – Core Strengthening

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During this practice, our coach wanted us to focus on our core strength because they are essential to kicks and other movements. It was definitely a challenge for me as I consider my core strength to be the weakest. What I had to do was to do a plank on two sets of weight balls and then to support myself while my legs were on the yoga ball. The last exercise was the hardest and the most dangerous. Therefore, the coach taught us how to fall safely without injuring ourselves.

I was surprised that the first part of the exercise (supporting myself on the weight balls) was not as difficult as I imagined. The second part with the yoga ball strained my core muscles the most. I could feel the soreness for the following two days. To relieve this, I stretched out my stomach with the help of my roller.

Though it was tiring, the exercise made me feel like I had a stronger core. One thing I would change about this set of exercise may be the length of time I plank for. I believe that it would be more effective if I gradually build up the time and not force myself to plank for too long the first try. I should practice this at home and during future trainings to improve myself.