I USED to do Taekwondo (TKD) and grabbed my black belt more than 30 years ago.
Unlike some other sports, TKD is a way of life that trains both your body and your mind. TKD is the art of self-defence that originated in Korea.
It is recognised as one of the oldest forms of martial arts in the world, reaching back over 2,000 years.
The name was selected for its appropriate description of the art: Tae (foot), Kwon (hand), Do (the way). After a long break, I had made a comeback to the world of kicks and punches a couple of years before the pandemic.
“Tae” refers to the legs and lower torso, which provide the force necessary to do the hopping, jumping, and flying kicks that TKD is famous for.
“Kwon,” as with “Tae”, means more than just “striking with hands.” It refers to the upper body and arms as well. Finger tips, wrists, fists and elbows are also used to strike with. An inherent part of the term “Kwon” also means defence.
It is the complement of attack or strike and must be explored in order to learn balance of form and technique.
“Do” means “the way.” This is the domain of the mind and indicates that more is involved than just training the body.
It is not enough for the practitioner to become proficient in just the physical aspects of the art. His or her mind and body must work together in harmony, embodying the spirit of oneness.
Thus, TKD utilises both mental and physical development which provides a setting for emotional well-being, freedom from stress and fear, a complete system of self-defence, and a truly unique lifestyle.
I am back to this combative sport (again) after a long pandemic break. Training will be demanding as I will be preparing for a senior belt test later this year.
Performing all the forms and drills are going to be much more difficult than navigating a dazed and confused Wall Street.
The feeling is scarier than staring at the latest US CPI inflation data at 9.1% (the markets yawned).
Someone from Melbourne told me about the soaring beef prices. Ouch! I advised her to switch to vegan.
There are a lot of parallels between TKD and investing. Someone who is bad at TKD will throw as many punches, kicks, and combinations as possible in any given round. A lot of times these attacks will be clumsy and can be easily deflected.
A good TKD practitioner’s every move is well coordinated and planned out in advance. He or she will engage in fewer moves but the aim is to make every strike counts.
A good investor does not act based on extreme greed and fear. A good base fitness plus training is a must to get through a black belt test. 2022 has been a difficult year so far but a lot of negative news has been priced in already.
You must improve your investment skills if you want to perform well consistently. Do not depend on what you have learned in the classroom.
Your fancy job title, CGPA, whitepapers and complex theories mean nothing in the real world. I am a simple man. I track price action all the time. I am already looking for interest rate cuts in 2023.
TKD practitioners who are taller can make use of their height and speed to knock out their challengers. Similarly, investors need to know their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Focus on your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. I am not a prophet. I get solid support from my team members and partners. They are really good in what they are doing.
Moving on, as the consensus for a recession continues to swell which is not the base case here, volatility will remain high.
Inflation remains a wild card and consumers are already whistling past the graveyard. If oil prices stay at the current levels, inflation will drift lower from here.
Singapore surprised me with an out-of-cycle-policy tightening to tackle rising inflation. I have been bullish on the King dollar in a world of bad currency alternatives. Enough of talking (writing), it is time to kick someone’s ass. – July 15, 2022
YH Wong is Senior Partner (Asia) at Satori Consultancy (MUR) Ltd and has over two decades of experience in the financial services industry.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main photo credit: Black Belt Trek
