A Tae kwon do Woman

I had spend 15 years using different exercise routines. I was definitely an active, healthy and fit woman.

I've done step aerobics, the slide, Jane Fonda style aerobics, pilates. I had been a faithful morning runner for years doing my 3 miles each morning before the rest of my household was awake. At one point my friends and I even added bicycling 3 times a week and going to the gym to lift weights.

Then I took two of my three sons who were 10 and 7 years old at the time (my 3 year old had no interest) to the closest martial arts school in my area.

I didn't give any thought to whether it was the right school, it was close and that's all I cared about. It also happened to be a traditional tae kwon do school.

My boys were very excited to start karate class (common mistake which makes tae kwon do enthusiasts cringe). I signed them up and we started attending class every week.

After a month of watching their classes intently, trying to memorize the lessons so I could help them practice at home, I began to think, "This is fun."

It didn't take long to go from this is fun to "I want to try it."

Before I knew it, the Grandmaster had me in his office being interviewed. Suddenly, I was signed up to go to classes twice a week, a tae kwon do woman.

When you start something new you feel some level of nervousness and anxiety. Your know, that slightly queasy feeling in the gut. And putting on those oversized white pajamas that they called a uniform for the first time was the worst.

Walking barefoot from the changing room, across the cold floor, to the gym dojang and actually entering my first class made me as nervous as anything I've ever had to do.

There is something intimidating about the whole process.

I was a stay-at-home mom so there was plenty of time during the day to go to class. That was good because it didn't interfere with my family schedule in the evenings when most tae kwon do classes occur.

My sons were attending twice a week. Twice a week is a minimum if you want to progress.

I began at two times a week myself. It wasn't long before twice became 3 days a week. Before 6 months had gone by, I was completely hooked, a tae kwon do woman attending class Monday-Friday.

Within the next year, I became a volunteer instructor every Sunday which I continued for about 1 1/2 years.

Am I obsessed? No. Driven maybe, but not obsessed.

I have tried to maintain my physical fitness all my life which served me well through my twenties and after the birth of each of my three sons.

Nothing and I mean nothing has ever put me in as good a physical condition as tae kwon do.

Now there are no aerobics classes, no weightlifting, no jogging or bicycling as a regular form of exercise. I don't need it.

I only need tae kwon do.