 It was with the greatest pleasure on the 29th of November last year that I witnessed my friend and training partner gain not only her hard-worked for 1st Dan, but out of approximately 500 participants win the 1st Dan black belt of the year. I met Lynsay at my first workout sparring session as a yellow stripe. She was a blue belt then an even though I must have sparred like I’d been thrown out of an aeroplane, she was both encouraging and patient and we’ve been mates ever since! Over the past two years I’ve seen Lynsay win countless medals and excel herself in gradings, through a combination of talent, an enormous amount of hard work and attention to detail but still remaining down to earth and funny. What a lot of people probably don’t realise when reading about high achievers in martial arts is that many of them don’t get paid for what they do and Lynsay has combined her career in Tae Dwon Do with a full time career in graphic design.
If anyone has witnessed Lynsay in a competition, I am sure you’ll agree that her success up until now is only the tip of the iceberg for the future and I for one can’t wait to see what she will achieve on the international stage.
Martial Edge: Congratulations on your recent success in both gaining the TAGB black belt of the year and winning the British Championships at patterns. How did you personally rate your own performance after the grading?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: In the grading I made a couple of silly mistakes, and I was disappointed afterwards but I had certainly put 100% effort in, which for me was the main thing – if I had not put my maximum in at any point, then I would really have been angry with myself.
Martial Edge: How did you prepare for the various different aspects of your black belt grading?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: The key for me was to start early! My grading was in October, so from January I made the changes necessary. I changed my diet, cut out alcohol (except on my birthday in August!) and devised a fitness and extra training plan. I started collecting extra theory information from January, and I also worked out which individual aspects of Tae Kwon-Do that I needed to improve upon, such as my breathing technique.
Martial Edge: What did it feel like when you first put on your black belt?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: It seemed strange seeing my name embroidered on this belt (especially as it had been spelled correctly!), but I was chuffed to bits. My parents were there that day which was excellent, as it made it more memorable.
Martial Edge: How did you feel when your name was called out when the black belt of the year was awarded at the British Championships?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: Gobsmacked and ecstatic! It was a dream come true, I just wish I hadn’t been crying for the photo, so I could have looked a little more dignified.
Martial Edge: What made you first walk into the Dojang?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: I used to do a boxercise class with a bit of self defence thrown in and I wanted to do this sort of thing more than once a week. A poster was up in the leisure centre where I trained so I thought of going along, and it was probably the fact that the first lesson was free which tipped the scale for me! It was very unusual at first as I had been taught to do a boxer-style punch and I wasn’t sure I liked the straight shoulders, fist-to-the-belt punches we first learnt.
Martial Edge: What was it about Tae Kwon Do that gripped you?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: When I realised that there were so many different aspects to Tae Kwon-Do, like the patterns, sparring, theory, and the competition side I realised that I had found something that would hold my interest, unlike all of the other activities I’d tried. And I liked the fact that there were gradings so that you could see how your skills were progressing.
Martial Edge: When did you start competing?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: The first competition I did was actually the first one I was told about, and I was a yellow-stripe. I didn’t really have any idea what was going to happen but I was keen to get stuck in.
Martial Edge: Which do you prefer; patterns or sparring, why?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: I’m not sure I prefer one over another. I love patterns because they are ongoing in the sense that I can always improve them, so they are good for when I set myself targets such as improving the speed between chamber and execution of technique. But I love sparring as it’s also good for seeing myself progress, like when I can score using a new kick or avoid being hit by improving my footwork. I think they balance each other well, as in the skills that you can’t learn from one you can learn from the other.
Martial Edge: What else have you achieved in competitions since gaining your black belt?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: My first black belt competition was an inter-schools championship, so I had a nice fun tournament for my first one with the big girls! That day I came 2nd in patterns, 1st in sparring, 1st in team sparring and 1st in hand destruction. The next was the British where I came 1st in patterns, after that was the South Midlands where I came 2nd in patterns, 2nd in sparring, and 2nd in team sparring. The latest was the Midlands where I came 1st in sparring, 2nd in team sparring, and 1st in team patterns. But most importantly was the experience I gained fighting new people, and umpiring, so seeing competitions from a different angle.
Martial Edge: What are the differences you have noticed now you are in the black belt division?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: It’s harder and faster but so much more satisfying when I get a place as there isn’t any higher division than that.
Martial Edge: What are your next achievements in view?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: I want to be as successful in competitions in the black belt division as I was in colour-belt divisions (I won 50 medals/trophies as a colour-belt which is quite frightening when you consider how much I must have spent on competitions!). My next immediate goal is to develop a larger arsenal of techniques for my sparring.
Martial Edge: Where’s Quentin the Samuri sitting now?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: Quentin is beside the telly in full view of any visitors, and never far from sight when watching films!
Martial Edge: Are there any other martial artists you admire, why?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: I admire the people I train with who put in maximum effort, especially the very senior grades who have a long time in between gradings to keep up the motivation. I also admire the people who struggle with certain aspects of Tae Kwon-Do but persevere all the same.
Martial Edge: Beauty tips for staying glamorous whilst sweating in a dobok?
T.A.G.B Lynsay Williams: He he, well the doboks aren’t exactly flattering and helmet-hair isn’t particularly attractive, but don’t worry because I’m sure real men love sweaty birds!
Thank you for your time Lynsay. Now, dear readers, we are going to jump into my car and go training and have a golly good gossip, followed by a healthy meal of a burger, fries and chocolate!
|
Interviews 
(0 vote)
