Image by JakobT_98, used under Creative Commons licence.

Here’s a true story about a  good friend and colleague of mine, who’s a real source of inspiration to so many of us..

Master Jenna started Panther Taekwondo classes back in 2006 when she was 11 years old. Something about the class really spoke to Jenna: in her own words, “I fell in love with the art. I quickly realised that Panther Taekwondo would become a way of life for me”.

Jenna started to work very hard and passed all her gradings.  She was featured in the local paper because of her success in rising up the levels of taekwondo so quickly, She felt proud and happy.

Then, at the age of just 13, Jenna was rushed to hospital with a life-threatening infection which led to multi-organ failure. She was in a grave condition; her parents were told that her life might be in danger.  Only four other people in Great Britain have suffered from this extremely rare condition.

“When I heard my martial arts teacher, I stirred and raised my arms into an on-guard position”

This was a dreadful crisis. She underwent major surgery and her family remained at her bedside.

In Jenna’s own words:

“Grandmaster Ewan very kindly came to see me, and my mother described how when I heard my martial arts teacher, I stirred and raised my fist into an on-guard position. Because taekwondo means so much to me, I found a really deep inspiration in doing this. I knew then that I would survive.

“I was in hospital for another three months. I decided to spend my time learning the taekwondo syllabus, concentrating not just on the physical training – as I was still stuck in bed a lot of time –  but on the mental training aspects. The more I learned about taekwondo, the stronger I felt myself to be even thought I was still in hospital and my doctors were still quite worried about my progress

“It was so hard to have to re-learn everything from the beginning”

“After returning home, my first thought was to visit Panther Taekwondo.  I came along in my wheelchair, then got up and walked to the front of the class using crutches. Everyone gave me a standing ovation. I was back home.

“Next, I started physiotherapy. It was hard work and sometimes felt very slow, but I learned to walk properly again. It was so hard to feel that I was starting again from the beginning, having to re-learn the basics, whether than meant taekwondo or just taking a few steps across a room.

“At the age of 15, I successfully achieved my 1st Dan black belt. I knew from that day that Panther Taekwondo wouldn’t just be a way of life for me. It was also going to be my career.

Jenna’s story confirms my purpose in life as well as hers

“Since then I’ve achieved my second, third and fourth Dan. I’ve starred in a YouTube documentary and become a master grade at Panther Taekwondo. I now run classes and I’ve been promoted to the Panther management team.

We’re so proud of Master Jenna, and of how much Panther Taekwondo means to her and how it helped and inspired her when she was quite literally fighting for her life. It was another proof to me of the power and value of the martial arts, and a confirmation of my purpose in life as well as hers.