Our Black Belts
Master John Anderson
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2003
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Foot, Fist, Way.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. Keep On, Keepin’ On! My good friend and his wife shared this with me, Sabonim and Gwanjangnim.
It applies to everything. No matter what the circumstances, Keep On, Keepin’ On! If things are bad, they’ll get better. If things are good, strive to do your best and things can still get better. For you, and everyone around you.
Do, or Do Not, there is no Try. ~Yoda
Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right. ~ Henry Ford.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. Movie(s): Star Wars (The original), “It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.”
~ Obi-wan Kenobi
Trading Places, “Those men……….” ~ Louis Winthorpe III (You’d gotta know it to understand. Relates to Monday night Jiu Jitsu and John coming home all beat up.)
Book(s): The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho; American Gods, by Neil Gaiman; The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz
Master Rick Wright
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A.
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A.
Michael Greene
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2007
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Three words that describe TKD to me are: Master Daniel Graff. Master Graff is a quintessential leader, teacher, mentor and coach. He is a fierce competitor, driven martial artist yet he remains humble and kind – a balance that embodies the 5 tenets and inspires.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. My favorite quote is from the first Kung Fu Panda movie, also a favorite, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” Being in the moment is a lesson I learn almost every time I enter the Dojang. I enter with worries, negative emotions, life’s baggage if you will… somehow, almost magically, TKD provides a respite. I always feel myself a little ‘lighter’ on my feet, in mind and spirit, after spending time with my TKD Master, and TKD ‘Family’.
Melissa Cano
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2007
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Training, Knowledge and Dedication
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. "Blessed are the flexible for they shall bend but not break."
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. Favorite Movie: The Gods Must Be Crazy Favorite Book: "Stiff" By Mary Roach
Jenifer Harris
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2008
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. I started Taekwondo with my son as something we could do together. It quickly became a place where I could grow and become a more confident person, both in and out of the dojang. Taekwondo has also become my family.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Lao Tzu We all have our journey’s in life; every one of the demands we take that single step. Some journeys are our choice, some are life’s journeys. My journey as a martial artist is a journey of choice. Every time I walk into the dojang I take yet another step on that journey of a thousand miles. I know that every time I train, I am improving myself and my health, both my mental and physical. In life, we are not always given the choice to start a journey. Yet, we find ourselves on new adventures almost daily. We do have the choice, however, to accept what is given to us and try to make it as easy as possible. Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we react to it.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. My favorite book(s) are the Outlander Saga, by Diana Gabaldon.
David Persha
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2008
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Foot, Fist, Way
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times"
Its like this: first you will kick the bag, and watch it bust open.Then you will kick the tree and watch it splinter.Then you will kick the stone and watch it crumble. Then you will kick the mountain and watch it crack. Finally you will kick yourself, and feel your foot snap, for one who knows who he is through training and discipline cannot be broken.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas "There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
Sean Palmer
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2009
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. What I appreciate about Taekwondo is that is pushes me farther than I think is possible. This transfers into my personal life also. I have learned to trust the method and persevere into success.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. My favorite quote is “Keep on Keepin’ On” Sometimes we can go full out on our endeavors, other times we can just plod along. As long as we keep going, we are making progress.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. My favorite movie is the “The Princess Bride” “No more rhymes and I mean it….”
Marcy Anderson
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2009
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Three words that describe Taekwondo to me are challenge, perseverance and longevity. Taekwondo is challenging both mentally and physically. The mental challenge relates not only to memorizing the terminology and the forms, but to the mental discipline involved with sticking with the training. Perseverance relates to the short-and the long-term goals: sometimes it’s simply about getting through the next workout, while other times it’s about earning that next belt. Longevity is especially meaningful to me right now; Taekwondo will always be part of me and my life, and it will always be there when I’m ready to return to training.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. My favorite quote is “Beef jerky time!” (Billy Ray Valentine [Eddie Murphy], Trading Places).It has nothing to do with TKD or life. I suppose something that does is a little something I say frequently while at my job: “Rainbows and puppy dogs!” This little gem speaks to staying positive even when everything kind of stinks.
Jason Hicks
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2012
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Three words that describe TKD are Learn, Practice,Teach. I love teaching classes.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. My favorite quote is “ It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog” because it reminds that I can do anything, I set my mind to.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. My favorite movie is Elf, “Does someone need a hug?
Cort Johnson
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2012
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Three words that describe Taekwondo to me: Fitness, Friends and Fun
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. Do it right the first time! Life is too short to waste time and energy. Do your best, give your best, be your best.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. “Don’t Mess with the Bull, You’ll Get the Horns,” By Megadeth. I am a drummer and I love the energy and outlet of heavy metal music, similar to the energy and stress release of Taekwondo.
D'Ann Johnson
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A.2012
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Body, Mind and Spirit.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. Favorite Mantra is Run to your own race. Commit to your own lane. Harness your own talents and strengths. Wear blinders to stay focused on your own goals and block outside distractions. Go at your own pace. Keep going and finish strong. Stay true to yourself and you will find that you are already in the winner's circle.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. Favorite Movie is Secretariat - "This is about life being ahead of you and you run at it. You never know how far you can run, unless you run." "Let him run his own race."
Jim Brown
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2013
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Fitness, Discipline and Self-confidence.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. Always try to do your best in everything.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. Movie - Forest Gump Book - Bible
Hunter Harris
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2013
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Three words that describe TKD for me are, learn, practice and teach. These are the words that keep me moving forward in my learning and passing it on to the next generations.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. “Duty, Honor, Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” General Douglas MacArthur
The three words Duty, Honor, Country reminded me of the path I need to take. My Duty is to stay in school and with my family through the rough times. My Honor is to keep the ones I love safe and staying on the right side of the road. My country, and it’s freedoms that allow me to grow the way my parents are teaching me to. The three words lead me to who I need to be and as long as those words stay pure than the path I take will stay clean. When I step into the dojang I am taking a step into what I will be.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, by Toby Keith.
Reece King
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2013
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Fun, Challenging, Learning
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. My favorite quote is , “ Nothing is impossible, unless you think it is.” Because it makes me think if I put my mind to it and try, I will get it.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. My favorite book is,” The Red Pyramid,” My favorite song is ,”Shake it UP Christmas,’ and my favorite movie is Kung Fu Panda.
Teresa Hicks
Q. When did you earn your blackbelt?
A. 2014
Q. Give us three words or a couple of sentences about what TKD means to you.
A. Fun, exercise and TKD gives me a chance to connect with my children. My oldest is a black belt and my youngest is a brown belt.
Q. What is your favorite quote or mantra. How does it apply to martial arts and daily life.
A. My favorite quote is , “ So you're telling me there's a chance!" Dumb and Dumber.
Q. What is your favorite movie, book or song?
A. My favorite movie is,” Tommy Boy!"
