Name: Ruth May
Role: Account Executive, ExpenseIn
Favourite movie: The Blind Side
Favourite food: Chocolate
Favourite book: The Silent Patient
Congrats on becoming the British Taekwondo Champion in 2022! What got you into Taekwondo in the first place, and what has your journey been like so far?
My parents took me along to a local club when I was 5 years old. They just wanted me to learn some self defence and maybe get my black belt in the future. I became really interested in the competitive sparring side of Taekwondo quite early on, as I was always a high energy child, running round and jumping off walls so it was a way of channelling my energy as well. However, there weren’t any opportunities for sparring in Wales, so I was involved in the traditional side of things - learning the martial art and passing my belt gradings.
I won the Welsh championships a couple of times as a junior, but it was only when I turned 16 and the opportunity came along to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Championships that I started taking things seriously. I spent my 17th birthday at a training camp, before winning an unexpected bronze medal at the event. Since then, I have been competing consistently across the UK and Europe for the past 10 years. It has been a journey of highs and lows; I’ve considered leaving the sport after some periods of tough results or injuries. During these times I’ve tried to focus on other things as there are so many aspects of Taekwondo to enjoy, like passing my 3rd Dan black belt earlier this year. Even during the tougher times, the love for the sport always pulls me back in and I thrive on the buzz of competition.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in Taekwondo, and how has that person influenced your journey?
Double Olympic Champion Jade Jones was a huge influence in my Taekwondo journey. I watched her win the London 2012 Olympics when I was 14 years old, fighting out of a small town in Wales and it really resonated with my background. That was the moment I thought if she could do it then so could I and I decided that I wanted to pursue Taekwondo competitively.
I had a real full circle moment two years later, when we both represented Wales on the same team at the Commonwealths. She has done so much for Taekwondo in Wales and the UK and if it wasn’t for Jade, there wouldn’t be the funding and opportunities available that there are today.
What were some of the toughest challenges you faced while training for the championship, and how did you push through them?
For me, the challenge is usually psychological. Keeping the belief that you are the best and that you are going to win. I knew that I was the favourite for the title having won the Welsh Championships, British University Championships and European University Games Bronze earlier in the year, so I had that added pressure. I can deal with the hard work and the extra training sessions so for me, it’s being able to manage the pressure and perform on the day.
I try and channel the pressure into training, using it to push myself to work a little bit harder every time, so that I know I’m as best prepared as I can be. I also try to focus on the things that I can control – energy spent worrying about things that I can’t control is wasted energy.
What are some misconceptions people might have about Taekwondo, and how would you address them?
I think a lot of people get confused with different martial arts, quite simply because they aren’t involved and don’t realise the differences. I often get asked if I do Judo, even though Judo involves grabs and throws whilst Taekwondo is kicking and punching. I wouldn’t know where to start in a Judo match!
I also think that people assume because you do Taekwondo you are aggressive or get involved in conflict but it’s quite the opposite. I genuinely think I am much less likely to get myself into dangerous situations because of Taekwondo, and I have more control over my emotions – I’m much more likely to walk away than get involved in an argument.
How do you stay focused and composed during high-pressure moments, both in competitions and in your professional life?
As mentioned above, when I started focusing only on the things that I can control I found that this helps me manage the pressure. If I have prepared properly, the rest will fall into place. If I am feeling stressed, I run through worse case scenarios in my mind to rationalise my thought processes. What is the worst thing that can happen? Is it the end of the world? Quite often you find that the worst-case scenario isn’t that bad at all – it often involves failing and you can always try again.
When you start to rationalise these thoughts, it often helps to calm my mind and put things into perspective. I try to live in the moment and focus on the here and now rather than worrying about things that have already happened or might happen. Finally, it’s important to remember that I am in a very privileged position – I am very lucky to have a sport and a job that I love.
What skills or qualities from your Taekwondo training do you find most useful in your job at ExpenseIn? Are there any unexpected similarities between it and Taekwondo?
Taekwondo teaches you to be resilient. Often in sport things will not go your way, and you must learn to overcome these obstacles, re-evaluate and try again. It can be hard dealing with disappointment or managing situations out of your control. This transfers to my job, especially working in sales. You have days where everything goes your way, and days where projects are cancelled, or barriers are put in your way. Being able to carry on regardless, problem solving and creating new opportunities for yourself without worrying about minor issues is relevant to both.
I am also super competitive thanks to my Taekwondo background so if you set me a target, I want to smash it!
How important is community and support from fellow athletes in Taekwondo, and do you find a similar sense of community at ExpenseIn?
Taekwondo can be a a lonely sport. You have a team around you but under the bright lights in the ring it’s all down to you. It’s important to surround yourself with people who can understand what it takes – they understand the hours of work you put in and live through the same cycles of delight and disappointment you experience in sport. When I first started, I used to struggle with the separation of having friendships and then having to compete against each other. Now I understand that we are all there for the same reason - you’ll quite often see us kicking each other and then hugging it out 10 minutes later!
At ExpenseIn, I find that the team have also built a great community, despite working remotely. It’s a similar environment – we are all working towards the same goal as a team, whilst working independently. We share our successes and our tougher challenges, offering support and encouragement along the way.
What message would you like to share with others who might be considering taking up Taekwondo?
Just do it! There are so many different reasons why people take up Taekwondo, and the sport offers something for everyone. Most people never actually compete in Taekwondo – they just take part because they love it.
Find a club local to you, take some friends and enjoy the journey. Don’t take yourself too seriously and don’t expect to learn everything at once – it's a process.
