Tang Soo Do instructor stays a step ahead
Third-degree black belt Bonnie McGowan teaches San Kil Tang Soo Do to children and adults at the YMCA.
How did you get started in San Kil Tang Soo Do?
I’ll tell you what, when I joined the YMCA, I went in looking at making a little social life for myself. I was checking out the brochure and I thought that scuba diving would be interesting, or fencing would be interesting, or the martial arts class. It just so happened that I reached the martial arts instructor on the phone first. I found it was a great way to work out my body and use my mind, which I found a lot more interesting than going in and cycling.
How did you get started teaching?
I started my training with San Kil at the York YMCA. My instructor who was at the YMCA moved his program to a local gym. . . . He then got transferred to California, and it was at that point that I took over. That program fell apart. I lost all of his students. But I didn’t want to give up. So that’s when I approached the YMCA and asked if I could run my program out of there.
Did you have problems as a woman teaching a martial arts class?
It was definitely an issue when I took over the class. It wasn’t just the fact that they were males. It was the fact that they were young males. They were having a hard time seeing me teach them how to defend themselves. . . . I’ve been much better with children and more mature adult males.
Why did you start teaching parents and their kids at the same time?
I found it was a great way for parents and children to do an activity together. I invite my parents and adults to come into the kids’ class to train with us. When I dismiss the children, the adults stay and train and do more serious work. It’s been beneficial for all of us. For me, I have more adults in my kids’ class, which means more assistance. Our kids would stay off to the side and play while we continue our training.
What’s it like when you take a student to black belt?
I had a father and daughter team sign up for my class. The father was the first of my students to reach black belt. And I traveled to North Carolina for his testing, which was just a fantastic experience. There were probably 20 to 30 people testing; he just fit right in and looked like everyone else who was testing.
My student was there to test for his first-degree black belt; the other student was there to test for his fourth-degree black belt, which is a masters belt. And when my student actually got a really good shot in on the gentleman preparing for his masters belt, everyone sitting in was amazed. They were all thinking, “There’s little Bonnie coming in from York, and her student is clocking this guy. . . .” The gentleman that he clipped was a really excellent martial artist.
What inspires you?
The thing that keeps me training and continuing to grow (is) really my students in my class. I have to be one step ahead of them. They really keep me motivated to do that.
ABOUT BONNIE MCGOWAN Age: 44 Occupation: Teaches San Kil Tang Soo Do to children and adults at the YMCA. Third-degree black belt. Works as a hairstylist at Studio 5 once a week. Family: Husband Andy, works as an electrical engineer on ships in the seismic energy field and travels six to seven months out of the year; sons Austin, 14, and Nathaniel, 12. Education: Licenses in cosmetology and teaching cosmetology from York County School of Technology Lives in: Springettsbury Township
Take the class:
McGowan teaches Tang Soo Do at the YMCA, 90 N. Newberry St., York.
Classes are $40 for members and $60 for nonmembers. There is a 10 percent discount for a second family member who joins the class. Children’s classes are 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; adult classes are 7:15 to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. Free trial classes are available.
To sign up, contact the YMCA at 843-7884.
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