That’s right! You heard it here first folks, Ascend has nabbed its first gold medal at ISSO! This is a gigantic milestone for the school, and more specifically for Kimaya, the DP1 student that has the honor of being remembered as our first ever gold medalist! To celebrate this momentous occasion, we interviewed her to gain insight into her journey of practicing this martial art. This is what she had to say.
What has your training process looked like?
“I have been doing Taekwondo since I was 4 years old, so this is my 12th year of practice, and I am currently a certified 2nd degree black belt. However, I have suffered many, many leg injuries over the years, so this is my first ISSO. When I signed up for this, I committed myself fully to training, I went to classes 3 or 4 times a week, and each class helped me get better, even if it was in minute ways. The main form of practice was sparring with my classmates, improving each other a lot through practical application of what we’re taught.”
Were you confident that you would win?
“I know that a lot of people wouldn’t really categorize me as one of the more athletic people at the event, so a fair amount of people would kind of, have their doubts. But in Taekwondo, there is so much more than just athleticism, it’s about understanding your opponent, what are their strengths, what are weaknesses, what are your own strengths & weaknesses. It’s as much a game of strategy as it is fitness. So, there really is no point hedging your bets that you might win or lose, and as such, I approached it with the simplest mindset possible: Go in, and win. Do whatever it takes to win.”
You’ve won the first gold medal at Ascend, how does that make you feel?
“I mean, I obviously feel great, thrilled, some might say, and I’m so extremely grateful that I even had the opportunity to even compete at the ISSO this year. But for me, it isn’t about the gold as much as it is about the principle of getting better. I saw a dozen methods to perform the same exact kick, that I thought only had one method of execution. The simple fact that you can observe a dozen different variations from across the country is so inspiring, and I feel that simply by observing and understanding how my opponents and my competitors act in the ring, my own technique is enriched. I hope that other students are encouraged to take this up and compete at ISSO of whatever discipline they wish, because simply observing others is such a thought provoking process it would be criminal to restrict yourself from it. I also hope that this serves as a wakeup call for the school to really diversify the sports that it offers, because right now Ascend only really offers the 2 major league sports (Basketball & Football) at the school level. This is a wonderful opportunity, riding off the high of our first gold as school, to encourage those who excel at sports unknown to many, but would succeed if simply given the chance.”
How was the event organised, were there any problems you saw with it?
“The event was supremely well organized, like I was shocked at how on top of things the staff were. There was never a moment where inquiries would get stalled, they always made sure we had water or food or anything we needed, and although there were some delays (owing to some of the participants coming to the event 2 or 3 hours late) none of it was their fault. The one issue was weight categories however. You would register your weight before coming to the tournament, but this led to a massive discrepancy with the actual weight of contestants, and the reported weight. I feel like it would have been better to weigh the contestants at the tournament itself, but despite that small blemish, it was really well done and well organized.”
Which people have supported you the most in this endeavour?
“So many people have supported me, most notable of which being my external coach Ms. Kiran. She has been my coach since I was a small child, and she has been the one to consistently teach me and support me pointing out my weaknesses, and really just being a pillar of support I could consistently fall back on. Obviously my parents were extremely supportive of the tournament, my mom coming with me to Hyderabad, and the school administration as well, always being ready at a moment’s notice. Whenever I had issues or questions about the event, they were always there to either provide or obtain those answers, and it was really helpful. My classmates at Taekwondo were criminally underrated in helping me, actually practicing alongside me and making sure that I stay on top of my game. It is only with worthy competition that you can push yourself to become that much better, that much stronger, and motivate yourself to newer heights. (Spite is powerful!) I specifically sparred against the boys, because their natural advantage only further pushed me to my own limits, and it made me a more aggressive, responsive and tactical fighter.”
Let this be the first step in expanding the boundaries of any future competitions, sports or otherwise. Because while the sport might change, the values that determine the gold medal will never change, and we would do well to remember, and utilize them.
