2008 Woodie Awards
Indomitable spirit, not fighting, defines tournament
Students showcase skills at tourney
Suzanna Caldwell
Issue date: 6/24/08 Section: Sports
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"It makes me happy," said Asia, a participant in Champ Tae Kwon Do's summer training camp.
At the camp, Asia doesn't just practice his tae kwon do skills. He gets to hang out with his friends, play in the park and even go swimming.
The 9-year-old said it even gives his mom a break.
"It keeps me out of her hair for a while," he said.
But for Asia and the three dozen other students participating in the camp, they're doing more than just having fun and learning tae kwon do. They're learning to have an indomitable spirit.
Physical, mental, moral
At 10 a.m., just as the city begins to shuffle, Champ Tae Kwon Do is already bustling. No one staffs the lobby, but young voices penetrate the room, decorated with posters of tae kwon do masters and awarded trophies and plaques. Shoes and sandals of all sizes neatly line the floor leading from the lobby into the practice area.
Matthew Saccheus, 19 and a first-degree black belt, zig-zags his way through several sparring students to get to the edge of the practice mats, a soft orange and blue foam. He turns to face the rest of his students, back to the lobby, and bows to show respect - something all students must do - before turning around and exiting.
Saccheus has been working towards his black belt for four years. He was encouraged to take up the sport after his brother started.
For Saccheus, tae kwon do has calmed him down and made him less angry. A former smoker, he found that he could apply his newfound discipline to help him quit the habit.
He is tall, at over 6 feet, and he holds himself confidently. He does not slouch and makes direct eye contact. He speaks maturely for his age, clearly and concisely, avoiding slang.
For Master Sung Yu, the founder and lead instructor of Champ Tae Kwon Do, Saccheus is exactly what tae kwon do is all about.
"(Tae kwon do) is life-changing and life-challenging," said Yu, who began tae kwon do when he was 6 years old.
The fifth-degree black belt has been studying the martial art form for 32 years. He said that tae kwon do is not about kicking and punching.
"We teach them right from wrong and practical life skills," Yu said. "It teaches them to stay away from trouble and to have self-confidence."
'Demonstration, not competition'
Yu worked to coordinate the second annual Great Alaska Martial Arts Festival and Tournament. The event was for more than just locals. Yu was able to bring competitors from across the country, with teams from San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; and Lexington, Ky., participating in the event.
Even with the broad range of competition, Yu emphasized that the tournament is not about winning.
"It's a family event," Yu said. "(The point is) to improve ourselves through demonstration."
On June 21, the tournament showcased the talents of the students, who ranged in age from 3 to 50. Students showcased their skills in a variety of ways during the festival's opening ceremony. Younger students were led by their instructors through choreographed steps that showcased basic skill sets. Older, "elite" competitors demonstrated board breaking and high kicks.
While sparring did occur, officials insisted that students adhere to specific rules. All sparrers were required to wear protective gear, including a chest pad, helmet and mouth guard. Hitting in the face was not allowed, and all kicks had to land on opponents' protective gear.
At the end of the tournament, tall, colorful trophies were handed out to all participants. Each trophy had a gold figurine on top, frozen in the middle of a high kick.
'It's a parent's dream'
At only 9 years old, Carson Washburn is already a second-degree black belt. Carson started with his brother four years ago and worked his way up. Like Saccheus, Carson stands straight and holds himself with confidence.
Carson said that in the four years he has been studying tae kwon do, he's learned manners and etiquette, as well respect for others and even other cultures.
But still, he really likes the kicking.
"And having fun," he added quickly.
Yu said he thinks that's OK, but that the root of the sport is developing an indomitable spirit.
"We hope to be educational, motivational and inspirational," he said.
Shawn Morris has seen significant change is his 13-year-old son Zachary.
"He's more confident, more disciplined and more respectful towards his parents," Morris said about his son, who has been learning at Champ Tae Kwon Do the past year.
"It's a parent's dream," Morris said.
Change for the best
After the opening ceremony, the students raced off the gym floor at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex to prepare for their sparring matches. Some changed out of their ceremonial gear and into their traditional doboks, the white pants and shirt that most tae kwon do students wear.
The judges took breaks in preparation for the beginning of the tournament, and VIP's got up to stretch after the 90-minute ceremony.
Afterward, Asia's mother, Kyona So, noted the change she has seen in her son.
After moving from Texas, So enrolled Asia in the class so he would have something to do while she worked.
"I've seen a change in his confidence," So said. "He's more outgoing."
But Asia, who admitted that he was a little nervous about the tournament, was still excited to compete.
"There's going to be a lot of people," he said. "But it'll be worth it."
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