Masters Alliance
9th Dan BlackBelt and Olympic Gold Medalist Herb Perez visit with the best and brightest to bring clarity to the future of Martial arts.
Masters Alliance
Grandmaster Meschelle Smith: From Bullied Introvert to Taekwondo Champion and Inspirational Mentor
What does it take to transform from a bullied introvert to an 8th Don Grandmaster in Taekwondo? Join us on the Masters Alliance Podcast as we explore the incredible journey of Grandmaster Meschelle Smith, who began her Taekwondo career at 17 under the mentorship of Grandmaster Les Stampino. Meschelle opens up about her early struggles and how mastering poomsae became the foundation of her mental strength. Her journey took a dramatic turn as she trained for the 1988 Olympic team, transitioning from point fighting to the rigorous demands of full-contact sparring.
Grandmaster Smith reveals that mental readiness often accounts for 95% of a martial artist's success. Drawing inspiration from Kobe Bryant's legendary mindset, she shares valuable strategies for overcoming mental barriers and discusses the impact of her career as a New York State Police officer on her approach to Taekwondo instruction. By incorporating elements of boxing and weapon retention into her training, Meschelle emphasizes the importance of a diversified and rigorous approach for both mental and physical development in Taekwondo.
Owning and running a Taekwondo school presents unique challenges, especially as a woman breaking societal expectations. Meschelle candidly discusses the trials and triumphs she faced in maintaining professional credibility and building a strong community. Her insights on selecting the right students, knowing one's worth, and confidently sharing accomplishments are invaluable for aspiring martial arts entrepreneurs. As a mentor and coach, Meschelle reflects on her passion for guiding the next generation of Taekwondo practitioners and shares her hopes for the sport's future. Don’t miss this inspiring episode filled with resilience, wisdom, and unwavering dedication to the martial art of Taekwondo.
Welcome to the Masters Alliance podcast on CUT. I'm Herb Perez. Today we are joined by Grandmaster Michelle Smith. I remember her from back when I was competing and she was a ferocious competitor and competed in the 1988-1992 team trials for the Olympics and Pan Am Games and one of the most memorable things is how she handled that experience and then transformed it and her life to include a career in police enforcement, state trooper in New York and then a successful school owner and also coach of the AAU team and also coach of the AAU team. She also continues to compete and she competes in the USA Masters and travels around the world with people just like her who enjoy the passion and the sport of taekwondo. So relax, sit back, strap in for another terrific podcast.
Speaker 1:Welcome to the Masters Alliance Podcast, uncut. I'm Herb Perez and today I'm joined by a good friend of mine. We met many years ago during our competition years and she was competing and trying out for the 1988 Olympic team and that journey has led her to an amazing place, not only in life but in careers and things that she has come back to. I'd like to welcome Master Michelle Smith. Always good, you know, I couldn't think of someone better that I would like to spend some time with and talk a little bit about, the passion that we both share, which is Taekwondo, and towards that end, I wanted to start with a little bit about your beginning. You had begun at such a young age. Could you walk us through your early experiences in the sport and maybe what key individuals or mentors shaped your development?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, yes, sir. So actually I started kind of late. I started at 17 in high school and a good friend of mine whom a dear friend with today actually got me started. And actually I started by being a little bit of a wise butt, because during lunch he was in the gym and he was practicing his poomsae and I was actually, you know, being silly and saying you don't know what you're doing, and that kind of thing, and he invited me to a class and I went and just it just absolutely blew me away and my 17th birthday was coming up and I went home and I asked my parents and that was what I got for my 17th birthday. So I started and never looked back.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's amazing. Well, you know, 17 is still kind of young. There are people that start later in life and they don't take it to the amazing place that you did. But starting at 17, I mean, you've reached the rank of 8th Don Grandmaster, which is a remarkable feat. Could you elaborate on your training and maybe the personal growth required to achieve this level of mastery?
Speaker 2:Yeah, my instructor, grandmaster Les Stampino, I actually and I never knew this I actually started training only three years after he attained his black belt, uh, three years after he attained his black belt, and um, so I was one of uh and still am his senior student there and uh, so we kind of you know he was ahead of me but um, kind of made this journey together, I guess you would say. And, um, I was actually really really extremely introverted and shy. So, uh, you know, I had a lot of problems growing up, being bullied, you know the same old story and I was the quiet one, so I was the easy target. And then, you know, I started taking Taekwondo and literally not even did not make a sound, didn't look anybody in the eye, didn't key up, and until Greenbelt actually, so it was really weird that my instructor stuck with me, but I was that introverted and shy. And then, you know, going through the ranks, I had a good friend of mine, michael Smalls, join with me. So I kind of had a little support system as I was going through the ranks because he had trained prior in a different discipline.
Speaker 2:And then, you know, basically it was a competition school. I mean, we started right out at white belt competing. So you know I would compete and would lose constantly. I lost for two years straight, had a really tough time with controlling my emotions, my anger and things like that. And you know, one day my instructor said if you want to continue to keep sparring, then I'm going to have you start competing in forms. So he made me start competing in forms and I'm competitive. So you know, I did the best that I could in forms and it actually did. It calmed me down, it taught me how to control my emotions, my nerves, everything that goes into competing. So to this day I'm a strong believer in you. Got to keep that poomsae going because it just keeps your mind strong.
Speaker 1:Well, Grandmaster, that's a great point. I'm not a huge Pumse fan but, having just had to test before my last Don in the Kuki one, I had done a lot of work on it and I find that it helped me understand a little bit better the purpose of Pumse. But with your competition record, which is awe-inspiring, could you maybe share a specific tournament or match that pushed you to your limits and taught you the lessons of perseverance and resilience?
Speaker 2:oh, absolutely. Um, you know, first thing that comes to mind is 88 games. You know, that's the first thing that comes to mind. Uh, it really pushed me financially, mentally, physically, um, you know, and, and uh, as early as 85, I mean, I hadn't even heard of olympic sparring. You know, I was a point fighter before then and but I kept getting disqualified for contact and you know so, my instructor, uh, heard about, you know, taekwondo going to the olympics. He said it's full contact. This is right up your alley. Um, you know, so it was.
Speaker 2:Basically, I had to learn a whole different style of fighting, um, which was, uh, mentally exhausting and frustrating, um, but, uh, my first national championship with uh, at then USU, right, and now it's USAT, uh, you know, I was lucky enough to get bronze. So I was invited to a training camp at the Olympic Training Center and, you know, I was out there for a week and I felt like, you know, just Couldn't, didn't know the steps, didn't know the terminology, you know, and, thank God, you know, lynette was Lynette Love. She was patient, but but stern, and that's what I needed. And you, sir, were patient, but, you know, stern. You required a certain level of commitment and excellence out of the athletes. And so I learned that right on. And when I got home I just committed myself to learning and getting all this stuff down. Just committed myself to learning and getting all this stuff down.
Speaker 2:And then in 87, I was fortunate enough and blessed enough to take that national title in 87. And that kind of got things going. And you know, I said, you know, maybe I can do this. And you know, just started training. I was working full time but I just devoted as much time as I could to training. I would get up at you know, three, four o'clock in the morning and go do a run. I hate running. I used to have someone make sure I got up and went for a run and then I would go work my job and I would come home and take a shower and go to the dojo and start training again. And anytime I could go away, you know, I used to go away and train with Lynette. I used to go away and train with Kim Dodson, you know, anytime I could go away, because it wasn't very popular around here, so I didn't really have people to train with, you know.
Speaker 2:And then the 88 came, because I was 87 national champion, I could bypass nationals and go right to trials. I did that. Team trials, I thought was probably the most physical thing I've ever done in my life. You have to be in top shape, you know, because you're just fighting. You know three rounds, three minutes, all day long, and I was fortunate enough to wind up being the top fighter team trials.
Speaker 2:And then it came down to me and Sharon, which we were. You know we were rivals, you know we were just, we battled and uh, you know, and and at that time, and you know, sir, at that time, you know you don't like your competitor, you know you do everything you can to to, uh, you know, you put there, I used to put her picture up on the wall and this is why I'm training and blah, blah, blah. And it came down to me and her at team, at the finals. I was the top player going into finals and that was in North Carolina and you know we battled and I really felt strongly that I won the match. You know she's a tremendous fighter. I respect her. You know her ability, her past, her present. You know she's a tremendous fighter. I respect her. You know her ability, her past, her present. You know she's a legend.
Speaker 2:But as an athlete, I'm a competitive athlete and I felt I won. I felt I won that spot for 88 Olympics. No disrespect to her broke me when they rose her hand. I was, you know, I felt confident that I took the matches and you know, it did. It broke me, but you know, I went over after and I shook her hand, I congratulated her, wished her good luck, you know, and she was very gracious to come later to my room and invite me down to the athlete's party, you know, and I thought that was really nice on her part. And you know, I spoke, we spoke before, sir, you came and you were willing to give me the down dirty as to why I lost and you know, I accepted that and I respected that. And you know, and life goes on, you know, I mean, those are great words.
Speaker 1:It's a, and that's what made you a great competitor. You were willing to do what was necessary, accept the outcome even though you may not have agreed with it, and I found myself in a very similar place in 1988. And so it's hard, difficult, if not impossible for some to make that transition. But you, you made that transition and and use that energy and time to become a better athlete and a better taekwondo sabom and grand master. You've made a successful transition from being a competitor to a coach, and maybe it's in part to some of the experiences you've had. But what are the unique challenges that you faced in adapting to this new role and how did your experience as a world-class athlete inform your coaching methods?
Speaker 2:I think you know, once I made the transition over to coaching, it was nice because the AAU actually approached me and asked me if I wanted to be on the national coaching staff. And that's really the first time I was like you know, am I good enough to be on the coaching staff?
Speaker 2:and that kind of thing and you know, but I did, I accepted the position and I'm still on the national coaching staff now. Um, I think for me it's constantly trying to better myself and my knowledge so that my athletes get the best training that they can. You know I will bring them anywhere they need to go. I know some people are afraid to do that. You know they're afraid to kind of get get their students out seeing other people. Sometimes they're afraid they're going to lose that athlete.
Speaker 2:I've lost a couple of athletes because of it and you know what, if they felt they needed to go somewhere else, that's okay, you know, that's okay, and I still see them and I still say hello to them and that kind of thing. So, but I feel if I'm going to be the best coach that I can be for my athletes, I need to constantly be learning and adapting because you sir, uh, today's rules they change. They change, uh, all the time and and there's always a counter to last week's you know approach and there's always a new move to to something. So you know, I take as many seminars as I can. I stay, I stay up on the new, on the new rules, as much as I can and I like I said I bring them wherever they need to go, because they need to grow as athletes and they need to get out there and see what's out there.
Speaker 1:And that's a hard philosophy for a lot of coaches and, having coached for a long time, back from where we are both from and the amount of time that we invest in an athlete and the amount of energy that we invest in an athlete, it's difficult when that happens. I was always fortunate to stay loyal and you've been very fortunate, and people around you, because you stay loyal to the people who have helped you and I see you still interacting with them. And that leads me to my question about your coaching philosophy, which seems to be rooted both in mental and physical development. Can you elaborate, maybe, on how you integrate these aspects to create a well-rounded Taekwondo practitioner?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I try as best I can to get them to understand because, as you know, sir, the mental game is probably 95% of it. You know, I've seen people I'm not really gifted. I tell people all the time I'm not a gifted person, I'm not extremely flexible. I think with me it was more the will. I had the will, you know. I believed in myself, I knew I could do it, even with limited flexibility.
Speaker 2:A lot of people didn't know that I have severe scoliosis. I was born with that. So it really impacted my left leg a lot. So I, you know, I adapted by developing a good punch, good spins, that kind of thing. But a lot of people didn't realize that. You know, my left leg was really, you know, off.
Speaker 2:So the mental game, I think, is what I push on my athletes, you know. And of course you know they've got to train. You know they've got to train, they got to be physically ready. But you can be physically ready and not mentally ready and you really need to be mentally ready. That has, that has to be there, you know, and you got to be able to control those nerves and control those voices in your head saying you know, my legs are heavy, you know, and that kind of thing. And so I try and get them you know, sports psychologists, I try and get them to come in and talk to them a lot Whenever I see something.
Speaker 2:I'm a big, you know. I'm not a big basketball fan, but I'm a big Kobe Bryant fan. You know his philosophy and his approach was just amazing and you know, I take a lot of what he would say and I you know if I get a blurb and I'll just post it to my competition page. You know, and this is you know, this is what you know coach was talking about the other day. You know, about how to control those nerves, or this is what I was talking about the other day about. You know, when you're mentally frustrated and you're tired, you know how how do I overcome that in the middle of a round. You know that kind of thing. So, yeah, I try and stay mentally focused with them as much as physically focused with them.
Speaker 1:I think that's important and obviously it's it's amazing that you continue to share those with your athletes, because many people aren't willing to invest in themselves and it sounds like you continually invest in your uh, your work product, but more importantly, into your knowledge, and then you share that with the athletes and that's a I think it's a great trait. But you have some experiences in New York state police officer, which luckily I have never been pulled over by a New York State trooper or police officer. But could you delve into the specific skills or mindsets that you developed during that time and how it translated into your martial art, instructing and leadership roles?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you know, after the 88 games I went into the state police and it's a six month training academy and it was. It was very tough, it was, it was extremely tough and you know, just like the athletes of old and the athletes of new, same thing, you know. You know troopers that have gone through they say, oh, your class was easy. And then the next class goes through and then we say, oh, your class was easy, that kind of thing. So but it was. It was physically and mentally demanding. It was six months, but I never, you know, we had to stay at the academy for that week and get to go home on the weekends. Basically, when you go home you have to study because your academics have to be there. You have to learn every law in New York State, not just in your municipality but everywhere. So there was a lot of studying involved. But I always made sure Friday five o'clock when we got out, I had my dobok in the car and I would drive right to my dojang, because I know if I didn't I wouldn't go, I would be too tired or I would. You know that kind of thing. So I always made sure as soon as I got released I went to my dojo to train first and then the rest of the weekend was dedicated towards studying that kind of thing. And then I think it really helped me going into the 92 games. You know I did the 92 Pan American Games Championship and it really helped there because my mindset was a little bit different from 88. You know, my mindset going into 92 was I'm going to make every win clear, clear as gold, so they couldn't take it away from me. So those team trials, you know I was much, much more physical and focused on on demanding and commanding my matches, I should say so there was no doubt. So I made that team and I was fortunate enough to take gold in 92 at the Pan Am Games Championships. So you know, I think the six months of police work and the training and then a little bit out on the road and once I got off the 92 games I became one of the first defensive tactics females for the state police that actually passed the DT test like the guys did. So I was kind of proud of that and I was a DT instructor for a long time.
Speaker 2:So the Taekwondo kind of played a good role when I was teaching the recruits because I could teach it from that angle a little bit. The guy that I worked with was open to me teaching a little bit from my my point of view. And then you know my school even though it's traditional half sport Taekwondo, I also include other things. I include boxing, I include hand to hand, I include weapon detentions. So gun and knife weapon. You know retentions, you know what I mean and I feel like you know, even though today's game obviously is a lot of legs obviously, and we don't do a lot of upper body just punching to the body and stuff like that. But you know in reality where are we going to get hit right. I mean we're going to get punched right and sometimes we're going to get punched in the back of the head or you know that kind of thing. So I try and keep that kind of balance. You know realism into the training as well.
Speaker 1:And that leads me into my next question, cause you answered two of my other questions in your first, which was great. You have a unique background as a law enforcement and a martial artist. How has that enriched your ability to connect and inspire students from diverse backgrounds?
Speaker 2:Yeah, because you know, as a police officer, we're not always surrounded with the best people, right, you know, and we're constantly. You know you have to deal with people from different backgrounds and different ideologies. And I've learned to speak to somebody respectfully Right and that's the Taekwondo thing respectfully right, and that's the Taekwondo thing. And as a police officer, when I had a tough arrest or I had a tough case or anything like that, you know, I always remember that I would always speak to that person respectfully first, because they're going through something, they're angry about something and they want somebody to listen. You know I might still have to arrest them, but they want somebody to listen, they want somebody to hear them, you know, and I always kind of remembered that. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:And so when people come into my school, they are I literally have across the spectrum as far as diversity in my school and I'm really proud of that. You know men, women, of all kinds of backgrounds, races and religions, and I always make sure that my school is inclusive and I've, you know, run a couple of times where, you know, I've had to speak with somebody about language, you know, dealing with race, or you know different backgrounds, and I tell them, instead of assuming something, learn something from that person. Learn something from that person, learn something from their background, you know, because we can all learn something from our backgrounds, right, and and we learn that we're we're a lot closer than we think we are. You know what I mean. So, yeah, so, dealing with law enforcement and and you know, dealing with all kinds of people in law enforcement and also as much traveling as I do as an athlete, and I deal with a lot of people from different backgrounds, it really, really helps.
Speaker 1:And you know you now and have for a while owned your school and your business, and that comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. Could you share maybe some of the key lessons you've learned as a business owner in the martial arts industry?
Speaker 2:The first thing, which was the hardest thing, is know your worth. Know your worth, don't be afraid to ask for what you feel you are worth. Um, and also, you know, I'm a female in a man's world, you know. And, uh, it takes a lot for a guy to come in with his son and say, you know, I want you to teach my son Taekwondo, you know, you know they could go somewhere else where they have a male, you know. So, you know, do I have to do a little bit more marketing? Sure, do I have to sell myself a little bit more? Sure, you know, do they have to know?
Speaker 2:You know, when I hand somebody a pamphlet, is my resume right there on the top. Absolutely, you know, because I know I have to put that extra mile in there to get that person to understand that, yes, I know what I'm doing and I can teach your son, or I can teach your daughter, that kind of thing. So that that's a little bit of a challenge. But at the same time, you know, I love challenges, I accept the challenge and you know I'm grateful. I've been here for 26 years. So, and a little bit of a downside for me is, you know, and I don't want to get personal, but you know, relationships are tough when you're a female school owner, you know. You know I was married to a wonderful man, you know. But it just didn't work out because I travel, because I travel a lot, I'm busy and you know, it's a reverse role.
Speaker 2:You know it's like you see a lot of Taekwondo gentlemen and their wives. They're more than willing to go, you know, they're more than willing to go on the trip. And you know I don't want to say, take that backseat, but they're there. They're there to support. You know what I mean. But it's tough for a guy to do that, you know, and we've had conversations about that and I try and understand that. But I also had tried to make him understand that this is what I do for a living, you know. So that part is a challenge. It's tough.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no doubt it's. What you said in the beginning was interesting and resonates with me, because when you look at how much time and energy we spend as instructors and becoming masters and grandmasters of our craft, we spend more time than doctors spend becoming doctors. And so I always counsel people and give them advice. Charge what you're worth, charge what the market will bear, because that's the amount of time. And so much to the fact that these days, even when I receive new members, I interview the parents and the child and evaluate them and at the end of that meeting I make a decision or not whether I'm going to take that student and I don't take everyone. And I tell them upfront we're evaluating you for membership in our school and we don't take everyone. If you're not a good fit for my community, we're not going to take you, and that's not a commentary on you, it's a commentary on us and how we build our community. We'll refer you to someone else. If you're not a good fit for us, then, to be honest, we extend them 24 hours to make a decision at the end of that. Um, we don't take them, and we don't take them if they come back.
Speaker 1:And I think this is hard for people because I think in our industry so many people think that they choose us and for so many years people have done that. They've allowed themselves to be chosen. I don't allow. I don't allow myself to be chosen. I choose people because I want to build my community. Most valuable thing I have is the community that I build. But I became aware that you're doing instructional videos and they've reached quite a wide audience. Could you discuss the production process and the feedback you've received from your viewers and then how do you measure the impact of these resources?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was a little while ago. I haven't done one in a while, but I I did three um and um, I guess. Do you remember? You know we all remember billy blanks, right, and uh, you know his, his videos and things like that. And I remember I, I, he was a good friend of mine, I fought on the same circuit as he did and everything.
Speaker 2:And I was approached to make these videos and I said I will, and just like you said, sir, I'll make them on my terms, Right, and you know my terms were you know it had to be from not only a fitness level but a woman's self-defense level. You know it had to incorporate that woman's self-defense. So I'm not just going to do, you know, 30 kicks on this leg, 30 kicks on this leg and let's jump around and be happy. You know I wanted to make sure that it also sent a message, you know, on women's self-defense, and you know how important it is for women to know how to defend themselves and things like that. And they did well, I mean, at one point they were I forget the young lady who was number one fitness, but I was like number two for a little bit. So but then, like I said, when things got busy I had to kind of turn my attention to more coaching. And then I got back into competition a few years back. So I've been competing too. So that's kind of been taking up some time too.
Speaker 1:Is there any advice you would give aspiring entrepreneurs in the martial art world who are looking to create their own business or instructional materials?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, I I mean basically know your demographics. Uh, that's the mean. Basically know your demographics. That's the first thing. Know your demographics. Second thing you know, like I said before, know your worth and don't be afraid of that.
Speaker 2:Don't be afraid to people call it bragging. I don't call it bragging, I call it. You know you've done something with your life and don't be afraid to share that. Call it. You know you've done something with your life and don't be afraid to share that. You know so. I don't. I don't call it bragging at all, you know.
Speaker 2:So don't be afraid to tell people what you know and what knowledge you can give them. The other thing, I think, is you know financially, you have to understand what your limit is and stay within your limit, because a lot of times, especially when you open your first dojo and you want it to be, you know, you want it to pop, you want it to be state of the art, but a lot of times that can be detrimental because you don't understand right away what it costs the overhead and you know what it costs you know, give yourself four or five years before you start, you know, really expanding, because you get, you know, then you have, you know, a little bit more knowledge of what it takes to actually keep those doors open every day.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean. So you know I've seen people open and close within five years just because they started out just way too big. You know way too. You know, unless you got financial backing, that kind of thing, I didn't have any. So I started small and as I grew I broadened my horizons, that kind of thing.
Speaker 1:You received a lot of honors and accolades throughout your career. What are the ones that you remember, or the ones that you cherish most deeply, and why?
Speaker 2:I think, believe it or not, I've been inducted in the Hall of Fame three times, but I think the last one was the most personal to me because it was from my hometown. You know they approached me. You know I live in Schenectady, new York, and not too many people know where that is, but you know I was on that list for the longest time and I finally got the call and they were like you know, it's your year and you know, unfortunately my parents were gone at that point. I was hoping that they would still be here, but I think that was the most personal one for me because, you know, I had people in the audience you know family and friends and things like that and it was really nice. So I think that was one of my favorites top, top accolades.
Speaker 1:I think if I had to choose one, how do you hope to continue inspiring new generations of martial artists and entrepreneurs?
Speaker 2:other projects um, right now, believe it or not, I feel that I am inspiring older athletes because I'm on the Masters team, us Masters team and a wonderful, wonderful human being and martial artist she's our captain. Master Trinity Osborne started this out. It's just a whisper and it's just blown up. She's just done so much. A whisper and it's just blown up. She's just done so much.
Speaker 2:And you know, I think for me, I hear all the time you know what an inspiration I am at my age. You know I'm going to be 63 and, and you know, still competing, I love getting in the ring. You know, I don't look the same way, but you know what it's, it's amazing. I have an amazing time. I love staying in shape, um and it. It gives me a purpose, it gives me a goal.
Speaker 2:And when somebody comes up to me, or if they say, you know, they saw one of my workouts on on Facebook, um, you know. They say you know, michelle, you're just, you're such an inspiration and that really makes me feel good. You know, michelle, you're just, you're such an inspiration and that really makes me feel good. You know, and I'll get, you know, private messages, you know. You know how can I do this better? And and how can I get started? And it's just people that you know I didn't think I'd ever hear from, or you know, just out of the blue, or people that don't even know. And hey, you know, I just want some advice on something, and to me that's amazing. You know, it's very humbling that I can still, you know, reach out to people and give them knowledge and give them help, and that kind of thing. So I think that part of it is really good and I hope, you know, I'll be there for as long as I can.
Speaker 1:I just I love it and I think that you know, I remember not only your previous career, but I'm watching this new one with the US Masters team and I think, having met Trinity and then a few others, I, you know, in my mind, I think about although I don't compete anymore, I love competing. I just don't compete anymore, I love competing, I just don't compete anymore. But every time I see you guys, it kind of inspires me to think a little bit about it, and I should but-.
Speaker 2:We would love it.
Speaker 1:I know, but maybe my last big competition, my instructor gave me some great advice. He said after the Olympics he said retire, I wanted to fight one more year but I had my student fight instead and he went on to compete in the 93 world championships. Um and I'm and and had a great career, peter Um. But you know I always wish I had done that one more. But I've seen um, I've seen some great people. I had my time and I enjoyed it and I'm happy. But I'll still hold out hope, maybe one day to come with the US Masters.
Speaker 2:Could you share some details about your upcoming projects or initiatives that you're working on and what may be particularly exciting? You, you, um, right now, uh, the immediate future basically, I'm training for uh next year, for uh the world masters, uh championships in taiwan, and I think we're also going to compete in sweden next year. Um, so that's primarily what I'm working on personally right now is keeping my body, you know, injury free and being smart about, about how I go about my workouts and things like that. You know, because you know I don't spring back as fast as I used to. But, and also, you know, embarking on again more coaching, you know, I think. So you know coaching and and getting ready for next year. And I think and I said it last year in Korea, you know, I fought Korea last year and I said, you know this will be it. But you know something about that world title, that world at the beginning of something it really makes you want to get out there one more time.
Speaker 1:That brings me to maybe one of my final questions how do you envision the future of Taekwondo and what role do you see yourself playing in this continued growth and evolution? Both, I mean it's, you know. I think one of the things that, um, one of the things that I always think about is the legacy of what we do. It has given us all such a tremendous gift. And then those of us who continue, um, as you have, to expand ourselves and give back to the sport, I think, are the, the majority of Koreans stop competing, they stop teaching, they stop doing anything unless they just don't, to be honest, have another way to make money. So the Koreans that came up with us, these great players that I respected, they just stopped doing Taekwondo. They don't kick, they've never. They don't kick targets, they don't kick anything, and they liked the outcomes or the goals, but they didn't necessarily like the process.
Speaker 1:And you seem, just like most of us, that are continuing to do it, to enjoy the process. So, for you, I always prompt my guests to think about, not that they haven't, but what is your role in that, in the continuing growth and evolution? And then, and to speak frankly, with the current set of rules which are, you know, not rules that I would like, and certainly I'm imagining and remembering your fighting, can't imagine that you love them, so I'm that's my own battle to fight and I have my own feelings about the wt and how it's being handled and who's leading it. But in your, your situation, you know you're such a positive individual. What do you see as your place in the future of our sport and art and what do you think that you'll do to help its growth or evolution?
Speaker 2:I feel like I think for me, I want to help other young entrepreneurs, you know, who are looking to open schools. I love that process of mentoring them. There's a young man in the area right now who is opening a school and you know he comes to me a lot for a lot of advice and I really love you know he comes to me a lot for a lot of advice and I really love, you know, helping people. I like helping people to. You know answer those questions that I didn't have anybody to answer for me when I was opening up a school. You know we kind of learned by oops, you know, let's not do that again kind of thing, you know. So I hope that I can continue to mentor. I mean, I really enjoy helping.
Speaker 2:I hope that I can continue to coach and expand my craft as a coach. I haven't gotten to that high, high, high. You know I'm in the level two bracket right now, but you know I love watching these high level coaches and I study them and how they coach their students and how they train their students. You know it's really interesting to see that process. So I hope that I can continue to mentor people. I can continue to train people, to mentor people. I can continue to train people. You know, I don't know how much longer I'll run a traditional school, you know, but I will always in some way, shape or form, be training athletes and coaching athletes. I know that. I know that's what I'm, I guess, destined to do. If you want to call it a destiny, I know I'm always going to be involved in Taekwondo in some way, shape or form.
Speaker 1:And I think that's a great start and certainly a great continued legacy. I'm going to invite you to another conversation we're going to have later about the sport in general and I hope you'll accept my invitation and it'll be a forum, kind of on the same topic. But I'd like to extend another offer to you. We've developed a well a conversation and then an educational program on something that might interest you and others, and it's what does it mean to be a modern day master and what are the skills that we, as instructors, should have and share with our students and with our athletes, and then, obviously, with our contemporaries and people that we're helping? And so, um, I think it would be interesting for you and I think we'd love your input on it as well. So I'll send you some information on that so we can circle back on that.
Speaker 1:But I just wanted to say thank you for today, because when I thought about you and I can remember the stories that you remember and your strength, your humility, and then you also came from a different competition, competitive background, as a lot of our great athletes did um, to be honest, most of our successful olympians came from that arena, right? Uh, arlene was one of the first, and juan moreno and I competed in that arena, not to the extent that you guys did, but I competed in the what would have been called the point taekwondo competitions in the area, and I think that that yielded great athletes who understood the balance of power versus speed and strategy, and you always exemplified that and you always carried yourself in that way, and I also would like to applaud you for staying in touch with and recognizing the people like Lynette and Kim Dotson, who's also, I think, is very similar to you as a fighter, and those people that you came up with, but your continued passion and I hope it never changes. Grandmaster for the sport and the art. And where is the next Masters? The US Masters? What country?
Speaker 2:It's either going to be Taiwan or Swedeneden. I believe we're going to do both nice.
Speaker 1:Well, if you go to taiwan, I'll come, because my wife is taiwanese and they'll give me a reason to visit sweden, maybe, maybe. But on behalf of the masters alliance podcast uncut, I wanted to thank you for sharing your extensive history as a career, as a passion, as an advocation, because I want people to hear that story and understand. The path is hard but it's rewarding, and you certainly are an individual who demonstrates that.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much, sir. I can't tell you what an honor it is to be asked to do this. I was actually kind of starstruck, I'm not going to lie. But you know, I've always, always and you know this, sir I've always respected you as an athlete, as an advocate. I love your passion, I love reading your posts and you know there's not many people out there who are willing to speak and you know and like I said, as a coach, I mean I love that the athletes are still doing as well as they are. Today's athletes are wonderfully talented, you know, but, yeah, you know, we've got you know. But, yeah, you know, we've got you know. And it's always, again, it's a generational thing, right, you know, one generation has an opinion about another generation. But you know, we love the sport, we have the passion for the sport and we respect the athletes and I think, at the end of the day, that speaks a lot. So I truly appreciate you inviting me and thank you so so much. Kind words and thank you so so much.
Speaker 1:Kind words and thank you so much. Well, I told you that was going to be a great podcast with an inspiring individual who has had an amazing career, diverse career and successful career, following her dreams and her passions all the way from early days of competition, which continue even today as a USA Masters competitor, traveling around the world with her friends and enjoying the beauty of taekwondo. She serves as an example of what role models should be in our sport and in our art and what is available to you if you reinvest in yourself. This has been a masters alliance podcast, uncut with her perez, and please check out our other versions of the podcast with equally as inspiring individuals who share their methods of success and their passion for all things Taekwondo. Until next time, stay safe, stay strong.