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Q&A with Applewood native, Taekwondo instructor at Personal Achievement Martial Arts studio
Courtesy: Jennifer Seeley

Q&A with Applewood native, Taekwondo instructor at Personal Achievement Martial Arts studio

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — This month Applewood Living is proud to introduce you to local athlete Heather Hardman! Heather is eighteen years old and graduated from Colorado Preparatory Academy this past spring. She presented the valedictorian address and was a member of the National Honor Society (NHS). Currently she is in her first semester at the Colorado School of Mines and is an instructor at Personal Achievement Martial Arts right here in Applewood. Although Heather enjoys the outdoors, horseback riding, archery and competitive dance, her main sport of choice is Taekwondo. She’s been involved with it for the past seven years and represents Personal Achievement Martial Arts in competitions.

Q: What do you love about Taekwondo?
A: Martial arts goes beyond learning self-defense, for it revolves around the formation of discipline and the development of confidence to encourage individuals to accomplish their goals. Martial arts, like many, is a challenging sport, where situations require perseverance, determination, resilience, and adaptation in order to succeed. My involvement in martial arts has been significant to my development of character, for I have learned how to push my own boundaries and not let my fear or failures define what I am capable of. Though challenging, martial arts has been the most rewarding activity I have participated in.

Q: What are your personal goals within Taekwondo?
A: Ultimately, my biggest personal goal is to be the best martial artist I can be, as demonstrated through my knowledge, technique, and most importantly, character. I strive to constantly improve and understand further concepts, whether that be during class, working with peers, or on the demonstration team. Martial arts has an incredible structure, for you are continually motivated to earn your next belt and advance through the ranks. I hope to one day earn my 5th degree black belt (I am currently a 2nd degree black belt) and beyond. The rank helps me identify and physically accomplish a goal, but the real achievement will be my personal growth and what I have learned long term from participating in martial arts.

Q: Do you have a saying or motto that you like to live by?
A: One of my favorite quotes is “The best way to predict the future is to create it” – Abraham Lincoln. I truly take this quote to heart, for the only way to reach a goal is to work towards it. Once I have identified what I want to achieve, whether it be a short or long term goal, I am determined, and nothing will get in my way to make that reality. Nothing worth having comes easy, so if you have a goal for the future, work to create it.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you face in martial arts?
A: Martial arts presents several challenges, both physical and mental, that require perseverance and grit to overcome. Personally, one of the biggest challenges I have had to overcome is continuing to train after undergoing surgeries. In the past three years, I have torn my ACL and meniscus in both legs, requiring complete knee reconstructions. After recovery, I had to regain the confidence to continue training. I am still hesitant, but I do not let that limit my potential, for I continue to push myself and incrementally increase the difficulty at which I train. I have now identified what my boundaries are so that I can continue to overcome them as I continue to recover. While the injuries were devastating at the time, I have not let that define and determine what I will accomplish.

Q: In your athletic journey, what was the best advice you were ever given?
A: The best advice I was ever given was “don’t let perfect get in the way of greatness.” I am a perfectionist, constantly driven to improve and achieve the next best thing. For the longest time, “perfect” was my goal, whether it be in martial arts or my education. But perfectionism is an ideal and a subjective concept. What may be considered perfect to one could be entirely different to another. This presents a new challenge: who do you want to impress? Whose standards are you going to strive to achieve, only to reach their level of perfectionism? In reality, “perfect” is unattainable, so why let it dictate your life? Instead, surround yourself with people who align and support your future aspirations. I will never be perfect to anyone, but I hope to be seen as great to those that matter.

Q: What has being a member of a team taught you?
A: Being a member of a team has taught me that success does not occur through an individual, but the effort of several dedicated members. It has been insightful to experience the impact a leader can have on the team’s performance. As one of the Team Captains for the Demonstration Team at PAMA, I have the opportunity to help design and choreograph the performance and teach it. Being surrounded by phenomenal mentors has allowed me to realize that a leader is more than an individual that leads and contributes to a team of people, but one that effectively communicates and enacts change through their actions. Leadership requires the ability to unite people under a common goal and motivate them to succeed.

Q: Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
A: While performing on the demonstration team, I have dropped my weapon several times. At the time, it feels like the end of the world, with multiple people, including instructors, staring at me while I awkwardly run across the floor to pick up my thrown weapon. While embarrassing, I have to put that aside and learn from my mistake. Maybe I need to adjust my hand position or the height and power at which I am throwing. Whatever it may be, I don’t just put that mistake behind me, I try to learn and grow from it, so I don’t make the same type of mistake again. However, I can’t let my mistake phase me, I have to get right back on the horse and keep going.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
A: The best piece of advice I have received from a coach and mentor is to be constantly resetting your goals into manageable pieces. I frequently have a large, overarching goal I want to achieve, but it means nothing if you don’t know what steps to take to get there, suddenly becoming a daunting task. Martial arts is a great example of this. Your goal may be to earn your black belt, which may be intimidating and overwhelming when you first start, but it becomes very manageable when you take it in steps. First it is your white belt, then gold, orange, and so on. You are constantly progressing and gaining knowledge in steps, so you are prepared when the time comes to test for your black belt. You have thus achieved a major goal by completing it in incremental steps. This lesson can then be applied to any area of your life. When you have a goal, break it down so you know the steps to take to make it a reality.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A: Personal Achievement Martial Arts has provided a great community and opportunity to train and advance no matter your situation. I have gotten to train with my mom and all of my siblings, something I could not have done in any other sport. I love being able to learn and practice side by side with my mom. The instructors and people at PAMA have become a second family, forming a deeper connection when you are constantly training and completing milestones together.

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