Therese Park: Exercise, discipline and positive thoughts

I recently reduced animal fat and increased fruit and green vegetables in my daily diet. I began to think positively about my ever-increasing age, too, and yes, I do exercise.

My personal revolution began when I learned that the common symptoms of aging — aches and pains, persisting fatigue, depression, loss of memory and, for some, loss of will to live — are directly linked to the lessening of a hormone called serotonin that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness. But the good news is that with proper diet, positive attitude and exercise, you can increase this saintly hormone in your brain.

This is why I found my way to a martial arts studio at 95th and Nall in Overland Park — a few blocks from my home — whose mission statement reads, “Learning, sweating, and having fun.”

Every student there comes to learn, sweat and have fun, including Daevion Conrad, 10, the 2014 North American Sport Taekwondo Association champion in sparring in the Intermediate Belt Division. Daevion is a purple belt, which is in the middle of the belt scale, and he keeps coming because he’s aiming for black belt.

I’m a white belt, the very first one. I have no ambition to get more belts because I have too many in my closet — some made of genuine cowhide. I come here to learn, sweat and have fun.

Shortly before five o’clock on weekdays, the 4,000-square-foot space bustles as parents bring their children for the children’s class, and about two dozen elementary school children, who had participated in the after-school program here, join them. With instructor David Popper’s loud call of “Cha-rrryot!” — attention in Korean — silence fills the room. After a short greeting, instructor David orders the class to turn and bow to the three flags, the U.S. flag, the Korean flag and the World Taekwondo Federation flag, at the corner. He then introduces his wife and his co-worker, Miss Andrea, to the class, and she leads a 20-minute exercise session that includes stretching, jumping jacks and push-ups.

Here, all students take “orders” seriously by responding to their instructors with “Yes, sir” or “Yes, ma’am!” at the top of their voices. All students speak some Korean words pertaining to the martial arts and can count from one to 10 in Korean fluently, too. When the exercise session ends, instructor David leads the class.

In direct translation, taekwondo means “discipline of feet and fists.” The earliest record shows that taekwondo began about 50 B.C. in the ancient kingdom in Shilla, one of three kingdoms that existed on the Korean peninsula. Unlike today when anyone can enjoy the “discipline of feet and fists” all around the world, more than 2,000 years ago only sons of royalty, called “Hwarang” (flower boys) were privileged to learn, and Hwarang Academy taught literature, arts, archery and the Confucian philosophy, along with the physical aspects of martial arts.

Though with time the Korean martial arts branched out with many different names, each with different regulations and forms, today they unite under the umbrella of the World Taekwondo Federation in Seoul.

The six o’clock class is for families and adults.

Brian and his two sons, Collins, 8, and Brendan, 6, have been attending this class for nearly two years.

“We had Collins’ seventh birthday party here last year,” the father said in an email. “David and Andrea offered a trial class during the party that included ‘board breaking.’ It was great! Every one was impressed. Ever since, the three of us have been attending the family class three to four times a week! Now, Colin is a green belt and Brendan is still learning new kicks and having fun, and I am a high-blue belt, only two belts shy of black. These days, we hear stories of children kidnapped or abused. … As a father, I hope my sons could defend themselves against possible assailants with what they learn here.”

Six-year-old Lily inspired her father, Jason, to join after she had attended the after-school-program for 18 months.

“I love it,” he said with a grin. “It’s something Lily and I can do together, but it has improved my general health since I’ve joined eight months ago. My 3-year old Levi is already talking about taking the class, and if it happens, my wife will join, too.”

Linda, 52, a purple belt, didn’t come here to learn taekwondo three years ago, she said. She was a student at Baker University at the time, and she came to interview David and Andrea for her paper on martial arts studios in Kansas City. “My professor gave me ‘A,’” she said with a smile. “But that’s beside the point; I was hooked on taekwondo!”

Me? I come here for serotonin.

This story was originally published October 2, 2014 at 8:34 PM with the headline "Therese Park: Exercise, discipline and positive thoughts."