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For centuries, martial arts have been a practice found around the world. Although they come in many forms, an impact is always made on participants. At Grand View University, this is as true as anywhere else.

Hope Mozingo is a freshman criminal justice major and former practitioner of Taekwondo. Mozingo started in sixth grade and trained for advancement through her freshman year of high school, during which she received her second-degree blackbelt.

First-degree blackbelts at the school she attended were required to assist in teaching students of lower ranks. It was through this opportunity that Mozingo developed a bond with her fellow students.

Even after deciding to no longer train for advancement, Mozingo stayed to help with the younger classes because she loved the people she worked with.

            “The people I trained with always were there for each other,” Mozingo said. 

Also, a change is felt inside all who manage to persevere through their training.
“I believe it has made me more open-minded and considerate of others,” Mozingo said.

Through years of training, those involved often feel themselves to be a part of a special kind of community.

For Rachel Amann, a freshman English major and former Taekwondo practitioner, this community had even more of a family feel than most.

Unlike most martial arts academies, Amann’s mostly comprised individuals from their homeschool community. These types of martial arts schools grant those involved an opportunity to learn a helpful skill while also taking care of the physical education part of their curriculum.

Wanting her to learn how to defend herself, it was Amann’s father who had her begin Taekwondo.

“It started as a family thing,” said Amann. “My sister and I trained together and my parents always supported us.”

Amann advanced through her second-degree blackbelt, but had to quit due to a lack of time. Amann said she has been granted much confidence through her achievement and considers going back at some point in the future.

Martial arts strive to instill and develop both the body and the mind. Various forms, routines and sparring sessions condition the body and also train the mind to be able to endure through difficult and overwhelming situations.

            Grant Weldon, a sophomore sports management major, is a former practitioner of Taekwondo.

Shortly before receiving his blackbelt, Weldon’s instructor passed away. This came as a hard hit to the small school in Grundy Center where he trained.

The absence of an instructor meant Weldon needed to commute for lessons to the nearest school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Weldon said he had thoughts of quitting but decided that after all the hard work he had put in that he needed to see things through.

“After my instructor died, we needed to fill in a few classes before I could test for my blackbelt,” said Weldon. “It was about an hour-long commute both ways three times a week, so we couldn’t keep going.”

Unlike many other sports and activities where it is possible to advance in rank through simply hard work, martial arts will often include time as an added factor. Depending on which rank is being tested, the required wait time may vary from a few months to several years. The gaps between being eligible to test help to teach the martial artist the value of patience and give an opportunity to perfect their skills.

It was this required wait before he could test for his blackbelt that challenged Weldon’s dedication to his goal.

“I’m glad I did,” said Weldon. “Now I can look back at that belt with pride and say I’ve done something not very many have,”

Through the hard training put on both the mind and body, a strong sense of accomplishment is granted to those who persevere.

“Now, I can look back at the belts on my wall and feel a lot of pride and confidence,” Weldon said.