coming clean about my martial arts training...

I haven't been showing you guys much of my TKD training but I'm excited for this new chapter in our story together.
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[@donavantkd]

Hey y’all sorry about the audio in the beginning. I was using my IPhone for a moment and didn’t realize the audio quality was that bad lol. Shouldn’t happen again

[@BrickzSenghorOfficial]

It's ok bro. Lol

[@yashasupercow99]

It wasnt that bad bro.

[@Pinky-kc8go]

😂

[@bernardrosario3527]

Hello Donovan, I find your videos very informative and inspiring. Please remember that teaching others and knowing that you are making significant contributions to the quality of the lives of your viewers and your on sight students is very significant and important to your entire community as well as to your sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction, and I hope you remember this and become "re-motivated" when you feel bummed out. I hope this helps!! Keep kicking!!!! And Thanks!!!

[@donavantkd]

Oh I absolutely love teaching and creating content for you guys fulfills my heart sooo soo much! I just wanted to explain that burn out is normal for anyone and that sometimes rest is needed haha

[@singingpanda3132]

Omg sir... So felt that message... I love the art of hapkido... I don't like competing... And sparring for me is fun occasionally, but really don't live for it. I really enjoy the training with others and growing with them... When my instructor moved away, despite giving me a bunch of his stuff to practice on my own... I just couldn't get into it on my own without at least having others to train with. I still stretch almost daily, but I miss it soo much! Now i have discovered a back condition that affects everything so when i do get back to it... I'm also going to have to relearn everything in a new way because of how my back functions. I don't have your issue... But it still is crazy how it affects everything i do, not JUST martial arts. Hopefully after i finish my physical therapy in a few more weeks, I'll be able to kick myself back in gear with my training... I think I'm also going to have to start from the beginning like i never trained before... Its a long road but i do think it will be worth it in the long run.

[@mili4185]

Please don’t quit your are so inspiring to people of the Taekwondo community including myself and my son who watch you all the time. Take a tiny break to refresh yourself then come back . You’re so talented.

[@donavantkd]

I'm most definitely not quitting. I just wanted to share that everyone has highs and lows in their training...myself included. Sometimes, I push for hours every single day...and some days I get in a funk and don't train as consistently. It's all part of the process haha

[@mili4185]

Thank you for clarifying your video. I totally understand how you feel now. The days your in a funk do something else you also enjoy or listen to your favorite songs. That also helps me.

[@Pinky-kc8go]

3:37 how smooth he took off his headphones😂💙♥️

[@donavantkd]

LOL I’m glad someone acknowledged it! 😂

[@Pinky-kc8go]

@@donavantkd How could someone not😁

[@agentbawa552]

Is no one acknowledging that casual floor toss though? 😂

[@hinakhodiyara5575]

A true gem amongst martial artist's, Thanks for keeping it real. Have a good one

[@donavantkd]

That warms my heart. Thank you so much!

[@Jeffjutzu]

I have felt the burn out, I've trained karate since forever. I found it's easier to do when you have projects to work on to get excited about. Like doing fight scenes, performing, or fighting.

[@donavantkd]

Absolutely! It's always best when you have a goal in mind. For me...it's helping others and making the martial arts community more accepting and taking it to the next level . That's what inspires me to train and work from 6am-2am xD

[@genes6703]

Hi, I was just curious who your master is. I've never seen a video of you talking about your learning career. thanks

[@MichaelHetherington]

Hey Donavan, you've done so much in this space already and you're still so young! That's a big advantage. I wouldn't put so much pressure on yourself to have it worked out. Use your 20's to explore and experiment. Maybe take a few years off to travel. Have fun. Vlog the journey. I didn't have much of a clue until I was about 30 - And, I'm so glad for it :)

[@donavantkd]

Reading this comment made my spirit so happy. I never stop to think about where I am and where I’ve been because I’m always focused on what’s next! I’m so grateful to be doing what I love every day and definitely plan on letting go a little more this year

[@francisandrew7387]

you are awesome'

[@DanRHagen]

Love your content and find it very useful. Thank you Donovan!

[@donavantkd]

I appreciate the support!

[@BrickzSenghorOfficial]

I can't wait to stretch like you. I'm testing at the end of the month for my last best before I do my black belt qualification

[@donavantkd]

Congratulations!!! :)

[@BrickzSenghorOfficial]

@@donavantkd Thank you

[@BVOMASTERCHONG]

Good luck!

[@BrickzSenghorOfficial]

@@BVOMASTERCHONG thank you 🙏

[@leonardlen-ccrowder7992]

Your videos have been helping me a lot especially with my balance,splits, and kicks and im just a red belt soooo yeah DON'T QUIT keep going. have a good day sir. I'm replying way from Birmingham Alabama btw.

[@donavantkd]

Haha there's no chance I'm quitting haha. So glad my content is able to help you! :)

[@ilovetotri23]

You encourage me to do my physical therapy.

[@donavantkd]

awww yay! That means the world

[@ericagoehring1089]

I am interested in everything you described. The real life of someone who is building a life in and around martial arts is cool even if the details might seem tedious. Keep at it!

[@donavantkd]

Yay I’m so glad to hear that! I look forward to posting more vlogs 😊

[@jiani5905]

Are you gonna make a staff video?

[@jaidab944]

What if some days you only stretch....that way you stay lose and on days you’re like ok definitely wanting to do this. Then practice ...

[@PedroRogerio846]

I went through that burning process myself 2 years ago bro. And, as someone who have felt burnt out myself, I would suggest you undertake something new to add to your martial skills. Maybe training another style, doing weight lifting or practicing a non martial sport, like swimming. The feeling of being a beginner once again and looking forward to learn and improve, helped to fuel me on training what i could already do fine, with much more fervor as well. Maybe it could you too. :D

[@donavantkd]

I've been considering playing with some Wusu. There's no good schools in my area but I figure I can do some research and learn a little on my own. I agree that changing up your training is a great way to reinspire yourself. I also picked up some gloves so I can do some boxing drills on the heavy bag. I love to try new things. I feel great in my training now but burn outs are just part of the process haha

[@PedroRogerio846]

​@@donavantkd Nice! Mixing Boxing with Taekwondo is a insane blend, best from the two worlds of striking, lol. As for Wushu, you could use your staff skill to train on chinese style. As it's very different than japanese and korean styles. I train Sanda, but had some traditional wushu weapons training as I wanted to train with a weapon too. The weapon forms do wonders to your overall mobility, I recommend it to you if you find a good place that teaches Wushu. And keep at it bro, your work is appreciated. Your side kick video, actually helped me a lot with speed issues. ^^

[@markol7819]

🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@bibabutzemann5661]

What do you do against the kurve on your back while kicking and all the stuff? Just focus on tense your ass muscle alle the time?😃 or focus on push the hip forward all the time? I tried to focus on tense my ass muscle while doing kicking and so on. But then i have problems to relax.

[@donavantkd]

I mainly focus on engaging my core and glutes at the moment of impact. It's not even necessarily "squeezing"...it kinda feels like just completely realigning my body. I feel way taller when I do it and everything feels different. I do everything pretty slow so I can focus on maintaining the positioning. It's definitely a process lol

[@bibabutzemann5661]

Donavan Barrett yes its a progress..but it helps me too and feels somehow better, even when i not train. But its hard to implement this nice position at the moment because i pushed my ass out all my life haha. But im sure we can fix it. ❤️

[@glennmacneil7957]

Wait a min... you have wayward in FL?

[@glennmacneil7957]

Wawa

[@donavantkd]

Yes! They've been in the east coast for a few years now. It's right up there with Target and Starbucks on my list of favorite places to go haha

[@Pinky-kc8go]

Uff Donavan, the sound quality in the beginning was bad :o Did you dump coffee on your camera?😂

[@donavantkd]

Sorry I was using my IPhone 😂😂😂

[@Pinky-kc8go]

@@donavantkd Ooohhhh 😅😂

[@bienian7253]

Start tricking, and doing freestyle poomsae, possibly watch a Matt Emig sampler.

[@donavantkd]

I respect tricking and would learn some basic stuff but I'm not really interested in being a "tricker" per say hahaha

[@roddielumsden1501]

Try adding something new as well as tkd with your flexibility you'd be great at dancing take up musical theatre

[@erzascarlet9167]

What is up with the audio 😵😵😵

[@donavantkd]

Sorry I was on my iPhone and didn’t know it sounded that bad!

[@erzascarlet9167]

That makes more sense! I was wondering why it was only the first part lol

[@knightlight954]

Cut back in tkd. Do hot yoga and a different art. Bjj, kali, or boxing.