Recently in my area there was an unfortunate event that affected the lives of many community members. Thankfully, the city was there to help! People bonded together and collected food, clothes, and anything else those affected by the event need. I talked with some of my students. I discovered that many of them are unaware of an important part of taekwondo. Community service.
On the surface, taekwondo might not seem like it is in anyway connected to charity work and community contributions. This may surprise some, but it can in fact prove to be quite helpful to various causes. Contrary to what some might think, taekwondo can be a community-engaged function. So, now to answer the question: How can you help your community in need?
Raising Money and Supplies
This one is fairly obvious. People are most in need of supplies. They need these supplies to support themselves at the time of their crisis. Simply grabbing some cans or preparing food for those in need is certainly a great way to contribute. Besides food, people also need clothes and tools to fulfill various functions in their new homes.
But what about a taekwondo specific way to help? Well, how about doing a demonstration or some other public stunt? People love coming to watch. They find it appealing to know that the money is going to help others! I’ve run across small taekwondo related events like demonstrations. There are also larger events. Tournaments are formed by multiple dojangs to support larger organizations, like hospitals.
Forming Relationships and Expressing Kindness
A crucial part of being human is having a sense of community and support. Taekwondo is all about community. Extending that community to those in need is an easy way to show support. But how does one do that? There are several ways. One, simple but significant one is simply offering moral support to others. In moments of crisis, simply having a sense of being seen and supported inherently brings support to those in need.
Running A Marathon
Okay, perhaps not that specifically. Getting involved in a physical event to raise funds for an organization is an excellent choice. It benefits both your health and the cause you’re advocating for! Some of my taekwondo colleagues see running a marathon for a charity as an act of charity. It is also their next exercise goal! So really, you’re accomplishing two things at once!
Encouraging Exercise, Self-care, and Self Defense
Connected to creating community is encouraging exercise and self-care in times of distress. Exercise, of any sort, can be helpful to reduce stress. Adding a sense of community allows people to enjoy some time with others. It can help them think of something other than all that’s going on around them. Exercise can help someone in distress stop themselves from feeling overwhelmed. Gotta get all that stress out somehow right?
An example of a taekwondo school offering self-care and training to their community is anti-bullying initiatives. Bullying is a big problem in schools, and attempts should be made to reduce it. One way that taekwondo schools handle this is by teaching conflict resolution. Essentially, teaching people how to dissolve a bullying scenario or perhaps stepping in to stop it. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is the black belt thing to do!
How You Can Help Others
Now, for the most important part. What specific ways can you help others? Well, there are several. Like I mentioned before, there are community sponsored marathons. There are also food banks and crisis relief organizations that one can get involved in or give resources too. There are also hospitals that need blankets for their beds, or toys for kids. In essentia, look for those in need. You will find them.
Good luck!
Have you ever helped your community through taekwondo? How’d you do it? Leave a comment down below!
Disclaimer:
This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All martial arts techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. The information on these pages and videos is meant only to reinforce and supplement the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.
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