Mrs. Peek
5th Degree
Instructor
2003-2004 ATA FLORIDA STATE CHAMPION
Forms and Sparring


I began karate with the ATA in 1982 at Baptist Bible College in Springfield Missouri. Initially, I had been  in a girls' kokondo class, but it dissolved when our instructor married a black belt from the taekwondo class. We had to climb three flights of stairs to get to our dojo. There wasn't enough air conditioning or heat on the third floor, but we had some excellent workouts. There was quite a bit of exposed ductwork making jump kicks somewhat hazardous for our taller students. Our instructor, then called Mr. Isaacs, was a second degree at the time. We now can call him Senior Master Isaacs since he has earned the title.




My husband, Mr. Peek, loves to tell everyone how we met in that class, and that I taught him Songahm one. He admits that he began taekwondo to meet girls. I guess he was making sure to cover all the bases since there really weren't too many of us young ladies in the class at the time.  



I, on the other hand, had joined the class for fitness since I did not believe myself to be cut out to be a cheerleader and had never played volleyball competitively. It was a bit disconcerting joining the guys' class not knowing how territorial they would feel. Most all of them were kind and helpful and gentlemanly. I joined at a time while we were still doing what I believe was referred to as "old world style" forms. I was surprised to find out that I would be learning an entirely new set of forms and one steps about the time I had attained red belt. That turned out to be quite an undertaking since my graduation was not too far down the road. I did earn my first degree before I graduated in 1985. A month later I married Mr. Peek.



It sometimes astounds me that so much time has passed and I am still practicing taekwondo. I would say that my motives have evolved. I am still interested in fitness, but now I see the art as more of a journey than a destination. I enjoy working out so that I expand and challenge myself while still enjoying all of the commonly known benefits of the martial arts. I am now a fifth degree, and still learning, still on my journey, still enjoying the ride rather than having come to the end of the road. Come and join us- we're having a blast!