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.