About two and a half years ago, I began writing a book which I hoped would reach a far wider and larger audience than I could ever possibly contact through teaching alone. I truly believe that this project is a blessing from God and that He put it into my heart, knowing that before I could finish it, I would no longer have my martial arts school.

Of all the issues facing society today, I believe that a lack of self esteem is one of the biggest. I elected to write about the effect of martial arts training on self confidence for two reasons. First, in my opinion, despite the growing popularity of Tae Kwon Do and other martial arts, most people still do not consider self defense classes as a viable solution to improving one’s self respect. I want people to realize and understand that the martial arts can be positive, healthy alternative to combating this enormous problem. Therefore, although my book specifically addresses training in Tae Kwon Do, it really speaks to all martial arts styles and systems. Secondly, most of the martial arts books that I see are either instructional in nature - describing the specific aspects of how execute the various techniques – or discuss the history, philosophy, and background of the development of a particular martial arts system.

My book is intended to show the positive influence and impact of martial arts training in developing a strong sense of self reliance and self esteem, which can be done without having to “prove oneself” by engaging in fights or other such physical situations. Being mentally confident can lead to and empower individuals to both strive for and achieve accomplishments that they otherwise may not undertake. I believe that self defense training, therefore, can provide a strong, solid foundation for children, as well as for adults. I want to emphasize and highlight the benefits of martial arts toward improving its students academically, as well as athletically, but with none of the aggressiveness all too often associated with those who study self defense. This kind of training will help to empower our children and bolster their self image in order to better prepare them to face the innumerable challenges of both growing up, as well as when they reach adulthood. And don’t the children deserve this opportunity?

I want people to understand that this training goes well beyond knowing how to protect oneself. On the contrary, it develops a healthy mind and a health body. It allows children to get better grades in school and improve their physical dexterity and motor skills. It also helps adults cope with the everyday pressures from the work place and their home lives, while providing them with an excellent way to get into better shape. Therefore, in both children and adults, the end result is a much more positive and productive individual who is an asset to society without ever needing to call upon their training in a self defense mode. In fact, I always taught my students to only use their training as a last resort – a detail that seems to be just the opposite of the perception many people in the general public have about martial arts training.