By Karla Davis
Editor’s Note: Mr. Mitru is the Tae Kwon Do instructor at MCSM. Staff reporter and freshman Karla Davis is currently taking this Korean martial art as part of her regular gym class, and was asked to interview Mr. Mitru about when, why and how he decided to share his knowledge of Tae Kwon Do with the students at MCSM.
Q: What is Tae Kwon Do ( also known as “Taekwon-do” or “Taekwondo”)?
A: “Tae Kwon Do is a Korean defensive art that was created by General Choi Hong Hi during the 1950s. I began teaching it about 7 years ago in a different high school as an after-school club, then started teaching it here when I came to MCSM about four years ago.”
Q: Whose idea was it to bring Tae Kwon Do into MCSM?
A: “It was my idea…I’m doing it because I like it and wanted to share it with the students.”
Q: What important qualities do you think Tae Kwon Do develops in young people?
![DSC_0138[1]](https://mcsmrampage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSC_01381.jpg)
A: “It develops character…and it develops discipline. It also helps students to discover what they can achieve by increasing the capacity of their bodies and minds to function at very high levels of skill. When students do well in Tae Kwon Do, they tend to do well in their other classes too because lessons learned in Tae Kwon Do can help you excell in school and other areas of life.”
Q: What made you personally interested in Tae Kwon Do?
A: ” I started doing martial arts by asking a friend who was a black belt in Kung Fu in my native country to help me. That’s how I started learning.”
Q: Is there a Tae Kwon Do club currently at MCSM?
A: “At the moment, Tae Kwon Do is being taught as a part of the regular P.E. curriculum. Unfortunately the actual club has been discontinued due to a lack of commitment from the students when it came to going to organized regional tournaments and testing to achieve a higher degree or belt.”