Do, or do not — there is no try.
These words might have been made famous by the fictional Star Wars character Jedi Master Yoda, but they nevertheless ring with an element of truth that any martial artist like Terri Miller can no doubt relate to.
The local instructor, who since the '90s has run the Mountainview Taekwondo Club in Sundre, recently passed an exam for her fifth degree black belt, earning her the title of master in the martial art.
“It felt awesome — I should have done it a long, long time ago,” she told the Round Up, adding the exam held Aug. 20 in Whitecourt, Alta., regenerated her passion for the sport.
“I want to get back and do some competition.”
The Taekwondo Alliance of Alberta conducted the master level examination for instructors Miller as well as Melissa Isaac, who is the first female First Nations master to be recognized in Canada. Both were fourth dan — or fourth degree black belt — instructors. Miller has more than 30 years of taekwondo experience while Isaac has accumulated more than 25 years of experience and also runs a club in High Prairie. Their testing was conducted by the following three Whitecourt Taekwondo masters: Jim Rennie, Jeremy Wilhelm and Mike Braun.
“Master Miller is a great example of someone in her 50s who has kept both mind and body in great shape,” said Rennie in a press release.
The testing consisted of both physical and written elements and the successful completion of the testing helped bring to 14 the number of masters promoted by the Taekwondo Alliance of Alberta, which represents more than 20 clubs and 2,000 students throughout the province, he said.
“I've got 20-year-old black belts who can't do sidekicks as crisp or as perfectly as Terri can — her technique is stellar, near-perfection. It really just shows you're only as old as you think you are,” he told the Round Up.
“If you push yourself hard, you'll get the results.”
Miller said she originally discovered a passion for the sport during some time she spent working with the auxiliary program with the RCMP in Leduc. An instructor was demonstrating some self-defence techniques to the detachment's members, and she immediately fell in love and decided to pursue the martial art.
“I got my first degree black degree in 1989 in Edmonton,” she said.
While she maintains a passion for competition, she has also dedicated a portion of her focus to her students at the local studio. However, she got her roots instructing in Provost, where her husband was stationed at the time and where she also started a club that has continued to run to this day after one of her former students took over.
She moved to Sundre from Provost in the mid-'90s when her husband Const. Dusty Miller, who retired in 2005, was posted in the community.
The club in Sundre meets at the community centre on Monday and Thursday nights, starting at 6 p.m. with the youngest students and continuing until about 9 p.m. depending on the turnout of other age groups. The club's local tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Sundre High School gym. Although she largely runs the club single-handedly, Miller said several of her black belt students have stepped up to the plate to help instruct, which contributes to their own personal development.
“Wanting to see my students achieve that black belt level is really important (to me),” she said, adding she finds most rewarding about the martial art the competitive aspect as well as seeing her students improve.
But juggling her time, or perhaps rather lack thereof, has remained the biggest hurdle. Between working a full-time job, running her own martial arts equipment business on the side, on top of trying to coordinate classes and competitions while still trying to find time for herself to progress is no easy task.
“Managing my time between everything is the biggest challenge,” she said, adding preparing for her master's exam also required a major commitment.
“Trying to find the time and energy to put into the test and get ready for it is really time consuming.”
For anyone who has never tried a martial art like Taekwondo but who has perhaps thought about it, Miller says, “don't be scared to try something new. And don't think you have to wait to be in better shape to do it.”
Martial arts are ideal for all levels of fitness. Additionally, the taekwondo club in Sundre is welcoming, she said.
“One of the really cool things about our club — I can't stress it enough — is the group we have is absolutely fantastic.”
Those interested in finding out more or perhaps even trying out a class can drop by the community centre during a lesson or alternatively email [email protected] or call 403-638-3790. Although the Tiny Tigers class for children up to age five is currently full, the two other classes for those aged 8-12 as well as 13 and up have no cap.
“We're willing to talk to anyone who wants to come in,” she said.
