When I joined the martial arts club in college and had my first taste of taekwondo, I never thought I’d begin serious training two decades later.

Martial arts is my favorite way to exercise, blow off stress, and just have fun. The endless space for improvement within each person’s strengths and limitations is tremendously satisfying.

I started in taekwondo, and am currently a 2nd degree black belt preparing to test for 3rd degree in 2024. In addition to the gumdo (Korean sword), I’m training with the jahng bong (bo staff). In 2023 I began studying Shin Shin Ryu iaijutsu, a 400-year-old Japanese (samurai) sword art. 

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Second degree black belt, Songahm Taekwondo

World champion, traditional weapons (gumdo)