“Not only did I improve at martial arts, but I also made lifelong friends”

Akash Danda: “Taekwondo is more than just a hobby to me, it helped me grow as a person, develop a more open mindset, and is an outlet for stress. I started taekwondo when I was 8 years old. In the beginning, I wasn’t really interested and it was just another class that my mom signed me up for. However, after a couple of years I became very interested in taekwondo. I learned important skills like discipline, perseverance, and respect. In August 2022, I competed at a taekwondo world championship representing the U.S.A. I qualified to go to the world championship through a national tournament that took place in March.

Between March and August, I had to put in hours and hours of work to make sure that I was in prime condition. The world championship was just around the corner. I had many mixed emotions and was very scared but excited. It was an amazing experience. I had made lifelong memories and met so many inspiring people. Through this experience, I bonded with so many people and realized how much taekwondo really has an impact on me. Through my taekwondo journey, not only did I improve at martial arts, but I also made lifelong friends and learned very important life skills along the way.”