30 Mar. 2017 – When we say athletes, the first thing that pops into our minds are the words strong and fearless. They will face adversity and overcome tremendous challenges. They will epitomize physical perfection and will even defy gravity.
When it comes to taekwondo, these top notch athletes are born with a fearless nature and a mindset as strong as an ox. Their sports require they be fierce and determined competitors, ready to take on and tear apart anyone who comes their way. Come to think of it, on the surface, they simply define perfection. But bare in mind that taekwondo players are humans too and they are not immune to feelings neither to fear.
Here are the top 5 biggest fears of taekwondo players:
- Number 5: Forgetting the equipment needed
Despite this incident being unlikely to happen, taekwondo players, as mentioned above, are human after all. They could forget any part of their equipment, be it mouth guard or groin protection. One thing they could also miss is trimming their nails; a minor yet very crucial detail.
- Number 4: Forgetting one of the rules
Another matter that is not very likely to happen, but you never know. The rules of the sport are constantly changing, becoming more and more detailed with every modification. The amount of information these people have to keep in mind is just huge. Besides, with the new regulations, each player has to adapt and change his style or strategy to best suit the rules.
- Number 3: Facing a taller opponent
How to fight someone whose legs are just too dang long? It is known that everyone likes to have the upper hand in his fight. When taekwondo players are fighting someone taller, their opponent just seems to have that slight edge over them. It is true that size doesn’t determine who is better, and being taller doesn’t necessarily mean you will win, but fighting someone considerably taller is not a walk in the park.
- Number 2: Losing to an unknown or weaker opponent
When the likes of taekwondo players spend practically all their lives in the gym, working their fingers to the bone, it is for a pretty good reason. They want to create a name for themselves. They want to be genuinely known as good players in the sport; players to fear. So when they spend this much time creating an reputation for themselves, winning becomes a habit, and losing is just not an option anymore. If they ever do lose to someone weaker, it is like all their efforts have gone to waste. This is not to say that other players should be underestimated, because sometimes, the underdog bites back. But truth be told, losing isn’t any athlete’s cup of tea, let alone losing to someone weaker.
- Number 1: Injuries
Whether career ending or minor injury, this is the ultimate fear of athletes, and not just taekwondo players. Despite being protected, athletes’ bodies are still vulnerable to injury. Even after being fully recovered, the players will mentally be affected, and getting back to the way they were before is an incredibly hard task. They will fight with the constant fear of hurting themselves again, which won’t let them reach their full potential. What is even worse than an old injury, are the ones that happen during the fight, forcing athletes to withdraw. But the number 1 worst injuries of all, are the career ending ones.
Article by: Ghina Chehwan
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