The young black belt

8-year-old shows maturity in earning tae kwon do 1st-degree black belt

By Candace Begody
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK, March 10, 2011

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(Courtesy photo)

Tomas Ayala, 8, Navajo/Pascua Yaqui, from Tucson, Ariz., was the youngest of 120 students at the Sunrise Tae Kwon Do school to earn a first-degree black belt.




Tomas Ayala put in the extra time.

Many times the technique and forms of tae kwon do, the modern martial art of Korea, did not stick the first time around forcing him to study many hours after class.

But after two and a half years, the 8-year-old Navajo and Pascua Yaqui of Tucson, Ariz., can finally say all those long hours paid off as he has become the youngest of 120 students at the Sunrise Tae Kwon Do school in Tucson to receive his first-degree black belt - a goal he set for himself at age 5.

Before a panel of three third-degree and sixth-degree black belts Feb. 26, Ayala was tested.

"They called everybody up by rank," said Tomas, describing his test. "I was tested on my forms, I had to fight older and higher ranked black belts, and board breaking - I broke it the first time."

Every student is tested on memory, speed and accuracy of forms, their ability to break three-quarter inch boards, the rhythm of their presentation including the use of weapons such as a sword and nunchucks, and self-defense through free sparring.

"I was nervous to find out if I passed or not," Tomas said. "I had to work all the way up there.

"But it's all because I practiced," he added. "In class they start teaching you, but you have to make sure you pay attention. I had to work a lot at night and when I got to my red belt, I had to make sure I paid attention when we were doing forms."

Ayala, who attends two-hour classes three to four times a week, started with his white belt, which signifies purity and innocence.

He continued to prove his competence earning eight colored belts after that before earning his first black belt.

"He went through very consistently and got every belt right away," said Tomas' father, Gabriel. "He never went to a graduation and failed."

With each colored belt, the level becomes more difficult - there are 8 to 9 routines in every phase with anywhere from 18 to 46 moves within each routine.

The student must master these and is tested before awarded the next colored belt.

As students climb the latter to a black belt, there is also more responsibility.

"On top of doing his own training and doing his stuff," said Gabriel, "he helps to teach classes and helps others."

Like a few select others in the school, Tomas took on a teaching role as part of the school's leadership program, an invitation-only program.

"The program trains students how to develop into the type of person who always does their absolute best," said Andy Latherow, a sixth-degree master instructor at the school. "The instructor has to first see the right attitude.

"Then we teach them how to build rapport and how to lead groups," Latherow added. "He assists in classes - before or after his classes, he helps students through material, and assists as the bad-guy partner for students."



Tomas finds this rewarding.

"I get to show them the first few moves," he said. "And if they don't know it or remember it, I can help them. With the teaching program, you are able to help students and they appreciate you for it. They also get to know you."

Though Latherow was not Tomas' original instructor, he said Tomas has progressed rapidly.

"He's come a long way in such a short period of time," said Latherow, who met Tomas in August when Tomas was a red belt. "He is always so energetic and always trying his best in class. He had to work hard to memorize the form ands put in extra hours at home."

No one knows best the time put in at home than his parents, Juanita and Gabriel.

"It's very time consuming and he practices every night," said Gabriel. "It's a lot to be tested over anything and everything covered within the last two and a half years.

"At that age, that's a lot of work," he added. "But he passed everything at 100 percent and was named a black belt. It's a great accomplishment for him."

Much like a movie, Tomas' interest and determination in tae kwon do was sparked after encountering a bully at a Tucson mall.

"There was a little boy that was pushing around everyone and when he came to my son, Tomas grabbed him by his shirt and pushed him aside," said Gabriel. "The boy ran to his grandmother crying and later came over to my son and started talking to him.

"He is able to protect himself," he said.

Though Tomas has reached his goal, it's not the end of the road.

"I want to reach my eighth-degree black belt," Tomas said with enthusiasm. "Then master if I can. It'll take a lot of practice, hard work, and sweat."

To reach his second-degree black belt, Tomas must remain a first-degree black belt for a minimum of one year and must pass five intermediate tests before advancing to his final testing.

"There are six distinct blocks of material they have to learn and have to show," said Latherow.

When he's not training, Tomas is either watching TV, drawing, playing his guitar, playing with LEGOS or Wii, or learning traditional songs.

His favorite classes are math, social studies, and reading.

Of the day Tomas passed his final test, Gabriel said, "I was extremely proud and very honored to be a part of it and to watch him. Just knowing he accomplished it on his own. It's a very big thing to see him mature as a little man."

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