The Slope Survey returns for its 9th installment with Tessa Gordon.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Master Tessa Gordon holds a 6th degree black belt in the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do. Gordon was a member of the 1988 Canadian Olympic Team, nine-time Canadian National Champion, World Championship Medalist and Pan American Champion. In 1992, Gordon moved to New York where she founded Pure Energy Martial Arts. She started with just a few students in her home. Today she teaches students of all ages and abilities and her school has become a neighborhood institution in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
What brought you to Park Slope?
I moved here from Toronto, Canada in 1992, I had family in Kensington and stumbled into Park Sope.
What is your most memorable Park Slope moment?
My most memorable Park Slope moments are spending Weekends in Prospect Park with friends.
Describe your community superpower.
My community super power would probably be being able to offer something that I love to the neighborhood and that would, of course, be martial arts training. Offering respect, humility, perserverance, self control, honesty and discipline.
If you could change one thing about the neighborhood, what wuld it be?
If I could change one thing in the neighborhood it would be the prices of homes and commercial spaces.
What do you think Park Slope will look like in 10 years?
I think Park Slope will look like Manhattan in 10 years.
What are you reading, would you recommend it?
Right now I am reading Good to Great (Jim Collins) for the second time. Last time I read it it was quite a few years ago.
I would definitely recommend.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I would say my greatest extravagance would be, believe it or not, shoes.
If you couldn’t live in Park Slope or in Brooklyn, where would you go?
If I couldn’t live in Park Slope or Brooklyn, I would probably move back to Canada or more than likely move close to the water, I love being by the water.
Who is your hero, real or fictional?
I admire so many, Michael Phelps, the Williams Sisters, Apolo Ono, Wayne Gretzky to name only a few.
Last Word, What is turning you on these days?
I honestly don’t have an answer to that question. 🙂
