AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Five young Tae Kwon Do athletes from Amarillo are headed to the Junior Olympic games in San Jose, california.
These 11 to 19 years olds will all be competing for the gold.
They will compete in various demonstrations from sparring, to board breaking, and what's called a form or pattern, a sequence of martial techniques. To be able to participate these athletes had to first qualify in the state competition.
"I will be doing breaking, which is breaking boards, forms which is a form, and sparring which is fighting. It teaches you how to get points in competition and how to defend yourself," said Riley McGee, 12, who will be at the Junior Olympic games for the second time. McGee is a red belt and said he's been doing Tae Kwon Do for about two years.
"I'm going to break four boards with the tornado kick, jumping front kick, back kick, and spinning heel kick," said Taylor Swearingen, 12, a red belt who is going for his first time.
While the sport combines combat techniques, self-defense, and exercise, it also teaches respect.
"Now the kids they (have) a modern style, (they're) too spoiled, So that's why it's very important that Tae Kwon Do teaches them disciple," said Master Inseon Kim. Kim has been teaching the sport since 1985 and established his own location, Kim's USA Tae Kwon Do Institute in 1988.
"A lot of kids don't seem to have self confidence so it makes you feel like you can accomplish things," said Casey James, 19, a second degree black belt. It's his second time competing in the Junior Olympic games for sparring.
And that's just what they're doing. These pre-teens and teenagers are using discipline techniques they learn in the classroom and translating that into the real world.
"How to respect your parents and how to defend yourself," said Ben James, 12, a red belt. His older brother Casey James encouraged him to start Tae Kwon Do. Ben is also competing in sparring.
"It's disciplined me, helped me with self confidence," said Cameron Tanksley, 11, a blue belt and the youngest athlete going.
That type of confidence, along with honesty, respect, disciple, will take these athletes to the Junior Olympic games. "As part of being an instructor, a coach, everybody gets different conditions. If they get nervous its my job to try to give them confidence so they can better perform out there. It's very honorable for (them to) represent the state of Texas, not only Kim's USA Tae Kwon Do institute, but for representing the state of Texas," said Kim.
There will be more than 3,000 competitors nationwide. The championship runs from June 30, 2011 to July 3, 2011.
