By Kyra Gillespie
“It’s not about the black belt. You don’t wear a black belt, you become a black belt.”
Sixty years of age and ready to take on a third Dan black belt, Pakenham legend Sam Hassan tells KYRA GILLESPIE about how martial arts changed his life.
Sam Hassan and his family migrated to Australia from war-torn Lebanon when he was just 16 years old and his father decided it was too unsafe to remain living there.
“My old man dedicated his life to the poor and to justice and equality.
“Instead of just worrying about his own kids, as any normal parent would do, he cared for all the children.
“To him all the kids in the country were his own kids,” Mr Hassan said.
“He fought in the war between Palestine and Israel for the Palestinian side but, of course, lost in the end.
“He was a man of strong beliefs.”
A prominent figure in the Middle East, Mr Hassan’s father had a big influence on the family values and shaping who Mr Hassan is as a person.
But learning to assimilate into an entirely new and unfamiliar country was extremely difficult. Mr Hassan needed something to get him through the hard times.
“When I migrated here as a young man I couldn’t speak the language, it was a completely different culture and I had no friends.
“In Australia kids grow up playing football or cricket, for example, and make friends that way.
“But when you arrive at 16, there’s nobody there for you when you struggle to speak and make friends and communicate.
“I was nervous and unsettled because I didn’t belong here but I didn’t belong where I came from either. I needed to be confident enough to look after myself.
“So I turned to Tae Kwon Do.”
Although he did a little bit of Tae Kwon Do when he was younger, Mr Hassan didn’t get serious about the sport until he joined Pakenham Moon Lee Tae Kwon Do 13 years ago.
“I was so impressed by the Pakenham club that I decided to join.
“Although I had come from a different martial arts place I had to start again as a white belt, because each club is different to the next.
“Originally I didn’t want to grade, but the owner Jimmy encouraged me to and soon I’ll be going for my third Dan black belt. I’m 61 now, and at times he’s had to tell me to slow down,” Mr Hassan said with a laugh.
For Mr Hassan, the best thing about Tae Kwon Do is the focus on the individual.
“In Tae Kwon Do you’re not competing against anyone but yourself.
“It’s not like a team sport where you share the battle, it’s all about the individual.
“You challenge yourself, not your opposition, and you learn something about yourself after each battle.
“You have to raise the bar for yourself because no matter how well you can do you can always improve.”
“It’s not about the black belt. You don’t wear a black belt, you become a black belt.”
Mr Hassan believes that Tae Kwon Do has improved his attitude.
“It’s changed me, I used to be very fiery. I was the sort of person who would fight to stick up for the underdog, but now I have more self-control.
“Whoever does martial arts is less likely to be aggressive and will avoid fighting because they have enough confidence in themselves.
“Usually people who pick fights, whether they’re kids or adults, they do it out of fear.
“The training gives you the confidence to ignore it.”
Not only has Tae Kwon Do helped with Mr Hassan’s physical health, but also his mental health.
“It helps me with my personal issues, too. I suffered from depression all my life, and it’s helped a lot. It makes life easier.
“I’ve got a real passion for it. When I step into the studio it takes my mind to a different place.”
Mr Hassan teaches at the Pakenham club each Friday night.
“He’s a ripper, old Sam,” Pakenham Tae Kwon Do owner James said.
“He’s been with us for a long time – he’s a club champion.”
“Tae Kwon Do is based upon the idea of the indomitable spirit that no matter your circumstances or how hard life gets, nothing can break your goals.”
