Ekjot Kaur

The martial arts help girls to focus on what’s important in their lives. While many may become caught up in make-up, fashionable clothes, and false friends that come and go, those in the martial arts tend to be more goal-oriented and self-motivated to achieve in academics and focus in the classroom and on homework. As an instructor myself, I have seen many students with severe cases of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) be trained to focus and achieve well. Since martial arts promotion depends on how well a student works to achieve a certain performance standard on forms, kicks, and sparring, a student must put effort into their training and focus on new techniques being taught in order to be promoted, and encouragement paves the way.

The martial arts ingrains respect for all people into young girls. Just as instructors respect students, senior belts respect junior belts and junior belts respect senior belts and instructors, it is an atmosphere of mutual respect regardless. Girls feel valued for their contributions and in turn value the people around them including peers and parents, setting a positive example and helping them to develop into respectful young women.

The martial arts promote gender equality to a great extent. Both males and females can be martial artists. Girls do the same exercises as male students in the martial arts academy, they fight the same way, and many times girls can see that they do movements as well as the boys, further encouraging self-respect and the very visible understanding that women are not limited due to their gender.

Martial arts support an attitude of perseverance that serves a girl well in daily life. Some kicks and forms may be difficult to learn, but there are always instructors available to help encourage students. When fighting, girls learn that if they get knocked down, they don’t cry and give up, rather, they get up and keep fighting. This attitude manifests itself into everyday decisions and girls in martial arts tend to stay at their tasks until they are completed rather than just simply giving up if the going gets hard.

Lastly, but also very importantly, is the fact that martial arts is a great physical workout for girls. Martial Arts that builds strength, speed, stamina, and endurance in girls, keeping them physically fit and in great shape, a fact which helps establish a positive personal image and further promotes confidence in school and in life in general.

Ekjot Kaur looks like any other girl next doors. However it comes as a surprise when one learns that this unassuming 21-year-old bundle of energy; has to her credit 11 Golds, 2 Silvers and 2 Bronze Medals in both state and national level events of a sport that is considered to be a male bastion – the martial art of ‘Taekwondo’. Ekjot has been adjudged a Black Belt by the World Taekwondo Federation, Korea.

Fresh from her success in a prestigious 2 years course of Taekwondo she attended in Korea, the fit and enthusiastic martial arts wonder, now wants to share her knowledge and knowhow with people of the tri city and fellow Indians. She wants to improve the quality of life being led by Indians; who Ekjot feels are leading an unhealthy lifestyle sans physical fitness. This is the reason why she wants to introduce the world of ‘New KOREAN’ General Fitness, Self Defence and Martial Arts (Taekwondo) Techniques, especially for Girls. Girls in India Ekjot feels should be trained in some form of martial art or the other, as incidents of violence against them are increasing.

This never say die martial arts expert, has learnt the Korean language and can speak, read and understand it. With a Diploma in Sports Science and a Major in Taekwondo from TAEKYEUNG UNIVERSITY, under her belt, she now will start classes in Taekwondo Jejo which is Taekwondo Dance with music. Says Ekjot, “The martial arts component enhances concentration and physical fitness, while the dance components reduces injury risks, and improves children’s posture, flexibility and rhythmic sense.” Ekjot demonstrated her martial arts prowess at a media interaction organized in Chandigarh. She presented ‘Jejo’ and other martial art techniques.

Ekjot has at a very young age accomplished a lot. She has been able to meet world renowned players like Steven Lopez (3 times Olympic Gold Medalist and 5 times World Championship Gold Medalist), apart from attending Taekwondo camps at Palgongsan, Khajedo, Yeogdok, Ulsan, Seouk and Jejudo. She feels that martial arts are looked upon by many as some sort of an aggression and violence, but in reality it is a measure of self defence and a highly effective exercise form. According to Ekjot, “Martial arts teach practitioners self discipline, increases their confidence, concentration AND for kids having problem of obesity there are techniques to make them fit again.” Ekjot has learnt a lot from her Korea experience. She feels that Koreans are quite fit as they always adopt a healthy exercise regimen which by and large includes martial arts.

Ekjot is an Instructor with Extreme Martial Arts an organization committed to development of a martial art culture in the tri city. The organization presently is running classes at The British School, Chandigarh and Mohali. She has big plans for fitness in the tri city through latest techniques learnt in Korea. Ekjot will bring to the tri city, skipping techniques that were in use but that are no longer being practiced in India. These are very popular in Korea. Then there is a plan afoot to start Kyurogi (Sparring) – International fighting Techniques of Olympic style at her classes.

Ekjot says, “Indians need to take a decision and get motivated to learn these martial art techniques which will always be helpful to them, given the fast life style of today which now is also witnessing increasing crime and violence”.

Other course done from South Korea

• Taekwondo Jejo (Taekwondo Dance with Music) – Combines powerful punches and speedy kicks in Martial arts with music rhythm to form a dance. The martial arts component enhances concentration and physical fitness while the dance components reduce injury risks, and improve children’s posture, flexibility and rhythmic sense.
• Kyurogi (Sparring) – International fighting Techniques of Olympic style.
• Taekkyon (Korean Traditional Martial Arts) – Taekkyon is a traditional Korean martial art with a dance-like appearance in some aspects. It combines dance with kicks and throws. Taekkyon contains many kinds of techniques, including hand and leg techniques as well as joint locks, and head butts.
• Poomsae – It is a set of fighting technique, it is acting in relation to your opponent. It’s a way of acting in relation to an opponent, developed through the infinite experience and accumulated wisdom of the ancients. The practitioner of Taekwondo poomsae does not fight along but with the wisdom of his ancestors. To simplify it is attack, defence forms for leaning self control, paitience, to build confidence, and to set goals and focus on them.
• Khamdo (Sword) Warriors sword fighting techniquies
• International Refereeing How to conduct Taekwondo competitions with rules and regulations according to World Taekwondo Federation.
• Shivamdam (Korean Taekwondo Demonstration) Demonstrations often incorporate bricks, tiles, blocks of ice or other materials. Can be separated into three types:-
  Power breaking using straightforward techniques to break as many boards as possible
• Speed breaking boards are held loosely by one edge, putting special focus on the speed required to perform the break.
• Special techniques breaking fewer boards but using jumping or flying techniques to attain greater heights, distances, or to clear obstacles.
• Selected for giving 6 months training at Taekwondo Dojangs (Practice Place) 3 months at Kids Dongcheon Taekwondo Dojang and 3 months at Taekwon In K-Tigers Dojang.
• Have learned Korean language
• Witnessed the World Taekwondo Championship held at Gyongju from 29th April to 6th May 2011.
• Met the world renowned players like Steven Lopez (3 times Olympic Gold Medalist, 5 times World Championship Gold Medalist).
• Attended Taekwondo camps at Palgongsan, Khajedo, Yeogdok, Ulsan, Seouk, Jejudo places from University side.
• First girl in Northern India to attend the 2 years advance course at Korea of Taekwondo.