The Way Word / My Experience with the TKD Times

I started reading the Tae Kwon Do Times back in 2006 when I earned my black belt in Tae Kwon Do. In many ways, the publication opened up a world of Tae Kwon Do much more than what I had been exposed to. When you’re new to the arts and you’re coming up the ranks, it’s easy to have tunnel vision and adopt the notion that your school is the first and last word in whatever art you’re pursuing. TKD Times revealed a plethora of different philosophies and training tools that helped set me on a new path. Shortly after subscribing, the TKD Times posted a request for article submissions from new black belts asking what their rank means to them. I fit that category, and I submitted my essay. I was happy when it was published. Later on that year, I opened my school and began working for continued rank promotion. I also began teaching people with a variety of challenging health circumstances, specifically cancer fighters and survivors. I was learning like mad, and I wanted to share the information. I took a chance and contacted the TKD Times editor. I told her what I was doing, and she asked me to submit an article with photos. It was a hit. She printed it camera-ready, exactly how I submitted it. I was thrilled that she even took a chance on me, but the results were undeniable. In my observation, the Tae Kwon Do Times has always tapped in to their audience by reaching out. I remember their School of the Month feature that showcased winning schools from all over the world. You needed to submit your entry form (no fees), answer a few questions and wait for the results. I love that. It really promoted a healthy competition between all of us. One day, I was tapped by the editor to vye for a position as a correspondent. I submitted some writings and I got the spot. I spent several years as a correspondent until one day, a new editor asked me to submit some technique-driven weapon articles. I’m an Eskrima practitioner, as well, and I had a ton of material. So, for a few years, I was able to contribute in that fashion, as well as the occasional artist-profile feature. Within parameters, I was given a great deal of latitude and artistic license in the text content and photos

that I was submitting. It’s been really fun and interesting work. After a couple of years, I approached the editor and asked if he would give me a crack at my own column. I suppose by then I had paid my dues, and he asked me to submit some writings for his review. That’s how my column, The Way Word, was born. I’ve been able to write about things in the arts that are important to me, like the Health, Wellness, Recovery and Recuperation series; timely issues like the Covid19 pandemic, and also my own philosophies that seems to tap in to a universality for most practitioners. When I tell people about the Tae Kwon Do Times, I talk about it from my heart. It’s the only publication of its kind. It is the premier international magazine of all that is Tae Kwon Do and beyond. What I like most about it is that it’s readerdriven. There’s always something interesting in each issue no matter where you are in your career. I see it as a must-read for all martial artists no matter what style(s) you practice. Also, it’s not so esoteric that a nonpractitioner couldn’t pick it up and enjoy it, too. Thank you, GM Jung and thank you, Tae Kwon Do Times. You’ve been a staple on my path. Kathrin J. Sumpter is a 6th degree black belt in TaeKwonDo under GM Clay Worley and a 4th degree black belt in Cacoy Cañete Doce Pares Eskrima under Sr. GM Anthony Kleeman. She owns/operates Sequim Martial Arts since 2006 on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula in Sequim, WA and has been writing for the Tae Kwon Do Times for over 12 years. You can reach Kathrin at www.sequimmartialarts.com or sequimmartialarts@olypen.com.