Belief is the greatest weapon of all

Taekwondo has been a part of Andi’s life for 35 years.

“I was terrified in the beginning,” she recalls, “my dad did it when I was a child and as he was a solo dad, it was either sit on the sidelines or join in.”

“So, I joined.”

Andi says that back then, taekwondo was a male-dominated arena—a “boys’ club” with few female faces. However today, the world of taekwondo is vastly different.

“My club is mostly women now, which is amazing to see.”

“The sport has evolved, creating more inclusive pathways that allow athletes to compete not just in combat but also in Poomsae—patterns of movements that emphasise precision, balance, and mental focus.”

Poomsae is the form that Andi will compete in when she heads to Hong Kong.

“It’s a competition with myself every time,” she says. “As soon as I perfect one thing, something else needs work. It’s an iterative growth process, and that suits me perfectly.”

At the event, competitors are called onto the mat side by side and are given two of nine patterns to execute, with each move scrutinised for accuracy, flow and presentation.

It’s really cool to watch,” Andi says, “because everyone has their own flair. You’re simulating a fight in a controlled, precise way—it’s artistry and power combined.”

For Andi, the experience is as much about personal achievement as it is about paving the way for others.

“I want to role model the fact that age and gender are not barriers to success. They may be challenges, but with determination, you can break through them.”

“I think about that little girl I once was—at six years old, I couldn’t have imagined doing something like this. But here I am. Believe in yourself, because everything starts with that belief.”

Andi says that if you condition yourself to know the reward at the end is worth the effort at the start, then anything is possible.

“The first step is believing, and the rest will follow,” she says.

In her role as a business tutor at NMIT, Andi enjoys understanding what motivates her students to get the best out of them.

We wish Andi and her two fellow teammates all the best at the Poomsae World Taekwondo Championships(external link). 

Learn more about the business programmes at NMIT(external link).