Eyes focused and hands poised, sophomore Megha Bembi sweeps her leg in a single arc to deliver a devastating blow to the kicking paddle. Bembi’s lethal kicks and keen precision are the result of many years in Taekwondo.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that specializes in various kicking techniques. A person’s level in Taekwondo is determined by their belt’s color. Athletes are required to pass several tests in front of judges to advance to the next tier.
While the black belt is the highest level color a taekwondo practitioner can receive, athletes can acquire degrees, or levels, within that rank. Six months ago, Bembi had to undergo special training for a month to prepare herself for the second degree black belt test. In front of three judges, Bembi and other athletes were required to do a series of tests to pass: from taking a written test to executing specific kicking techniques, breaking boards and having to create and perform her own poomsae, or form.
“We did our own forms that we created by ourselves. That was really scary [as] mine [was] shorter than the others,” Bembi said. “I followed the requirements, but I think mine could have been a little bit longer, [and] I panicked.”
Despite these doubts, she attained her second degree black belt. Compared to the first degree, the second degree is more intense, as students are expected to memorize more poomsaes and perform more complex kicks.
“My master was telling me before [that] ‘you are going to make it, you are going to pass,’ but I felt really nervous,” Bembi said. “But after [the test,] they told us we passed when we were done, I was relieved and proud.”
Bembi has been doing Taekwondo for over seven years ever since her friend introduced her to the sport. Since then, she has honed her skills and worked vigorously to reach where she is now. Currently, Bembi takes her black belt classes at All Star Taekwondo in Diamond Bar every Monday or Wednesday.
“She’s gotten better; [she] started off not as good and not as strong, and then she became stronger,” sophomore Zaraphina Mora, one of her friends who has seen her practice, said. “[Taekwondo has made her] more confident, more independent.”
Besides learning how to defend herself, Bembi has developed a deeper understanding of persistence and morality from Taekwondo. She has implemented these fundamental principles in her life, which influenced and shaped her into the person she is today.
“[Taekwondo] does teach you a lot of self defense, but they also teach you discipline, and a lot of times our master teaches us certain life lessons,” Bembi said. “It just makes you a more independent and confident person.”
