DANA HEE

Dana Hee, the hard story of an Olympic Taekwondo champion Learn about the hard story that North American Dana Hee, champion at the Seoul Olympics, had to live through and overcome when Taekwondo first appeared as an exhibition sport.

By MasTKD -September 13, 2010

After her Olympic victory and after going through a painful past, she not only became a model, a stuntwoman in Hollywood, but also dedicated her experience to making her known to the world through self-help conferences and seminars in her country as well as in the rest of the world.

This beautiful woman who lives on a paradise ranch in New Mexico, USA, surrounded by indigenous people, horses, deer and wild animals, has also worked as a stunt double in several films, including Mortal Kombat and Batman, among others. She defines herself as a woman who had a great achievement by being an Olympic champion. HAS COME FROM FAR AND STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. A WOMAN WHO KNOWS THE MEANING OF HOPE, COURAGE, AND PERSEVERANCE.”

Below is a summary of her life, told in the first person by Dana Hee herself, exclusively for masTaekwondo.com ..

I lived my life for the first 22 years in a very sad way. From the age of three, I was between an orphanage, and a family that disintegrated between abuse, suicide, alcoholism and low income. With that kind of life I was in a commune, a government shelter, and finally in a foster home until the age of sixteen.

Never trusting illusions of love and security, I left the foster home and struggled for the next six years to live on my own. I was in a lot of emotional turmoil, and pain had run my life. The devastating feelings of sadness and despair from the past had blocked out any sense of hope that any girl like me could have had. Time and time again, I found myself running from any possibility, challenge, or dream IT WAS AS IF THE TWO WORDS, “CAN'T” HAD BEEN PROGRAMMED INTO MY MIND.

The thought, that I was not well enough, had been instilled in me since childhood. It was as if the two words, "I can't" had been programmed into my mind. By the age of 25, I had made my own enemy. That is, until I made a decision that would change my life forever. That decision did not happen overnight. This came from years of self loathing.

taekwondo salvation Then I discovered that I had a real talent and the opportunity of a lifetime. With a scholarship, a sponsorship and of course, the help of the Stanford University Taekwondo coach, I began the dream of Olympic Gold.

I knew that if I won an Olympic gold medal, then I would really "be someone", I would be recognized, loved, and wanted, but I had to leave my old fear of failure to try to get the best of myself, however

I was not strong enough at that time and I left again out of fear.

Years later, I was still training to overcome my cowardice, when another opportunity to test my talent in Taekwondo was given at my first National competition in 1986, and I discovered the possibility that this sport should be presented at the Olympics in Seoul 1988, in Korea.

AT LEAST I WOULD KNOW I WOULD GIVE 100% EFFORT TO GET THE BEST IN ME.

I had been given a second chance, and I swear, I would make the most of it. This time I swore to myself no matter what, that I would take this dream and make it come true no matter what. At least I would know that I would give 100% effort to get the best of myself. I analyzed who I was, I cataloged the things I had to do, then I understood how to achieve it, and step by step I set a goal. Immediately, I discovered that I had the real talent in this sport, although I still needed a lot more technical work. It also became clear that my biggest The "I can't" had to change Champions have to believe in themselves, learning from their experiences and disappointments in life, in my case, I had developed the bad habit of saying, “I can't” therefore, I had no self-esteem.

Achieving the Olympic medal was something that seemed impossible. For the next two semesters, I trained like crazy. First for about 3 hours a day, then for 6 hours, and finally just before the Olympics, I was training 8 hours a day.

I traveled and competed in every tournament that I could find that would be beneficial. I researched and experimented with physical, mental and dietary programs. I solicited funding from local businesses, help from top coaches, and ideas from well-known competitors.

I HAD DETERMINED THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS FASTER AND STRONGER THAN MANY COMPETITORS, I DIDN'T HAVE THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS. AND WITHOUT THIS RESISTANCE, WOULD I BE UNABLE TO WIN?

With the stamina he had, he could win a match, maybe two, but that wasn't enough. Even though I had trained like a maniac to try to increase my stamina, I discovered that I still didn't have the attitude to persevere. Once I was tired, my mind would override my body and I would walk away perhaps unsuccessful.

So I went to train with the coach of a rival athlete who knew how to encourage that part of the mental strength to the competitors, who in turn had amazing resistance and determination. Her athletes had the indomitable spirit that I didn't have.. The revelation was to conquer the mountain One of the forms of the coach's training program was to run mountains and long distances, something that I had been doing very little because I felt like I was drowning.

I had previously discovered at the New York institute where I trained that those long-distance races gave me asthma, but training with that teacher I had to run. It seemed impossible to do this satisfactorily, and over my last two efforts, I had felt too tired to run up that high hill.

However, I had to make a third attempt. Despite my determination, about a quarter of the way up, my breath hitched, my heart started pounding, I had an asthmatic reaction, and my lungs felt sick. I panicked and came gasping for air. My coach, who had been staying with me to encourage me, happened to me -I thought he was going to help me or calm me down-, but no! to my surprise he came over, put his hand on my back and started to push me up the hill. I felt outraged. He ignored the fact that I still couldn't breathe, and that I was close to despair, unbelievable!

As I stumbled forward, I got very upset and started forward on my own, grumbling with anger, trying to pull away, he followed, his hand on my back as a reminder that he wasn't going to let me stop. Fuming with rage and indignation, I kept going and managed to reach the top of the mountain.

I DISCOVERED THAT I COULD FOLLOW AND OVERCOME OBSTACLES

Although I do not deny that I felt very suffocated, I discovered that I could continue and overcome the obstacles. This revelation pontificated in my head like a trumpet from heaven.

I checked in my unconscious, that I had been thinking, “I can't do it”, “I can't do this”, “I'm going to be left out”, because I still had those negative thoughts, but finally I said to myself; "Hey!", "I can do it", "I could keep running" "I was not left out".

Her change of mind made her strong After that experience in my hard training, I always started to think that when he told me: “I can't”, I learned to replace that thought with, “I can”. Those two little words changed my life forever.

Throughout the remaining months of intensive training, I used those two words as much as possible, I now knew in my heart, that it was possible if I only believed in myself, and could only continue to take my determination for a dream.

Success at the Olympics This knowledge "I can" became the key to my success. So much so that when I had a considerable injury before competing, which forced me to not be able to train for several days, I began to practice "visualizing" my combat movements. It got worse when it became obvious that my Olympic coach no longer had the confidence to be a medal contender, I put my disappointment and frustration behind me, turning it into fuel for my determination to win. The day I had to compete I woke up with my body rested, I felt in my spirit that I was ready for the competition. But, just before I entered the competition, that old fear of failure began to creep into my mind. But, as those thoughts began to take over my mind, I began to substitute the truth: "I was ready" "And, I was fine", and I took the initiative in the initial combat, and although I knew that my body was not at the 100% for the injury, my positive attitude made up for it.

I faced my toughest opponent, the athlete from Chinese Taipei in the semifinals, I knew in my heart, that I was very good to win. He knew that I had the strength, the speed, the tactics, and the determination. And most important of all, is that I really believed in myself.

The victory. Standing on the Olympic podium watching the American flag wave gracefully upwards, listening to the music of our beautiful national anthem, my heart swelled. I had already won the Olympic gold medal, I had overcome my fears, my fears, I was finally a winner. Who would have thought that a skinny, shy, lonely girl, without esteem or confidence, would grow up and win the prestigious honor of being an Olympic champion for her country?

Who would have thought that it would be possible to make a dream come true with a vow of commitment and faith on two little words, “I can”?

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A SKINNY, SHY, ALONE, GIRL WITHOUT ESTEEM OR TRUST, WOULD GROW UP AND EARN THE PRESTIGIOUS HONOR OF BEING AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION FOR HER COUNTRY?

Today the Olympic champion of Seoul 88, enjoys her life in the mountains of the American West, raising animals and living a wild and natural life, but with the firm conviction of helping people, for which she gives conferences, talks and seminars. .

PRIMER CONGRESO DE LA WORLD TRADITIONAL TANG SOO DO UNION 2022 28, 29 Y 30 OCTUBRE

VIERNES 28 DE OCTUBRE

Palabras de bienvenida - Palabras de KJN Patricio Saavedra

Metodología de enseñanza en las Artes Marciales para niños de 3 a 5 años

Marketing de las Artes marciales - KJN Patricio Saavedra

**Coffe Break**

Formas tradicionales de Tang Soo Do (Formas originales) HORA

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SABADO 29 DE OCTUBRE

Inauguración del evento y Presentación de las delegaciones – Palabras de KJN Patricio Saavedra

Practica general de Tang Soo Do Tradicional - KJN Patricio Saavedra

Armas Nunchako, Kali y Bo (principiantes) KSN Fabian Saavedra y SBN Mary Cayte Reiland

**Coffe Break**

Acrobacias para Artes Marciales (introducción y elementos básicos) SBN Edgar Quiroz

RECESO PARA ALMORZAR

Armas Nunchako, Kali y Bo (Avanzadas) KSN Fabian Saavedra y SBN Mary Cayte Reiland

**Coffe Break**

Acrobacias para Artes Marciales (Metodología de enseñanza y progresiones) SBN Edgar Quiroz

Receso

**Cena de gala** (Participan Maestros, estudiantes y padres de familia)

Entrega de reconocimientos.

DOMINGO 30 DE OCTUBRE

Examen de Cinturones Negros y certificación para Instructores.

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