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February 1, 2012
Hannah Milks, Student Life Editor
Flying kicks, chops, spins, and breaking boards. This seemingly innocent LJHS student can do it all.
Black belt Dylan McCloskey does Tae Kwon Do (tie-qon-doe) at Fast Kick Martial Arts (FKMA) in Liberty, by the new Feldmans. Dylan is instructed by Master Daniel Doering and Mrs. Doering. Mrs. Doering has been doing tae kwon do for fourteen years, and has been instructing for nine years. She is a fourth degree black belt. Master Daniel Doering has been doing Tae Kwon Do for nineteen years and has been instructing for about fifteen years. He is a fifth degree black belt.
Dylan has been doing tae kwon do for seven years now. He started after he went to a friend’s Tae Kwon Do birthday party in second grade. “My friend got to cut her cake with a sword, and break a board. In second grade that was the coolest thing ever.”
Dylan is now a full second degree black belt. It takes a long time to get that high in belt rankings. Dylan explains, “You have to earn 12 belts. First is white belt. It is given to you, then yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, red, black tip, recommended black, black, recommended second, and full second are all earned.” To earn each belt you have to learn a poomsae, or form. Dylan describes forms as “a choreographed fight, it uses the techniques you learn in class.” Also you have to spar (fight) and break boards. At Dylan’s next testing he will have to break a cement block.
Dylan teaches tae kwon do every Tuesday and Thursday. He takes us through a typical class he teaches. “First we run laps, and then we do 100 jumping jacks and 50 knee ups. Then we do punches and kicks, and finally forms.” Dylan loves teaching, “I like it because I get to be in charge of the class.”
Dylan isn’t planning on going to the Olympics for tae kwon do, which you can, it is an Olympic sport. But he has competed in many local tournaments. “I just went to a tournament a few months ago with Mica, Nina, Jack, and Hunter. It’s a lot of fun to go with your friends; there’s nothing like the rush of adrenaline you get when you spar. You hear the sound of your breath, your coach yelling at you and feel the sweat dripping down your face, it’s awesome to share the experience with your friends.”
Watch out for this ninja Legends; you never know when he may spring a surprise attack.
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