6. Sempai Jonas

Sempai Jonas in action during his form.
Sempai Jonas in action during his form.

1. How long have you been training in the martial arts? Why did you start?

“I began my martial arts training in 2003 at the age of 8. I got into Tae Kwon Do because of my friend, and because I used to and still do watch a lot of Kung Fu movies. Plus, I get to learn how to kick while spinning in the air, but I have also learned that there’s more to martial arts other than kicking and punching. I have also met a lot of people that I now call friends.”

2. Have you ever used your martial arts outside of class?

“I have never used my martial arts to defend myself physically outside of class, but I have certainly used the mental side of it to help me push myself harder with things like homework and how I act outside of class.”

3. What was the biggest obstacle you have overcome since you began training?

“The biggest obstacle that I have overcome in the last 10 years of my martial arts training was my arrogance and impatience. As I went on in training, it occurred to me that being arrogant and impatient wasn’t going to get me what I wanted (or make me any friends). I was able to change my habitual behavior because of it.”

Sempai Jonas is a 1st degree in Chung Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do and has been with NWSMA for over a decade.