Father and son achieve fourth-degree black belts.
Steven and Wayne Duford both received their fourth degree black belt.
Submitted photo
A Bridlewood father-son duo recently received their fourth-degree
black belt in taekwondo – no small feat due to the hundreds of movements both
had to memorize and present during their testing.
There are hundreds of movements put into patterns taekwondo students
must master.
Each level adds more movements to the ones previously
learned; there are 258 movements to memorize for those with a yellow to black
stripe, and 819 in total for a fourth degree black belt.
“It was good, he cried tears of happiness,” said Steven
Duford about his father Wayne during the presentation.
“It was an emotional experience,” added Wayne.
Both began their martial arts journey almost 11 years ago.
Steven joined the taekwondo classes at Black Belt Excellence
Martial Arts Academy after a friend told him about the experience.
Wayne
joined a few months later after observing his son in class.
“I’d take him every week and watch,” said Wayne, who is set
to retire from his work in the government. “Instead of sitting out in the
lobby, I decided to join the class.”
When they joined, neither had foreseen going this far in taekwondo.
“When I first joined, you don’t think that far ahead,” said Wayne. “You just keep
going. If I keep going something’s got to happen. You just do your best.”
Steven, who graduated from A.Y.
Jackson Secondary
School and is now taking interactive multimedia and design at Carleton University
and Algonquin College, said getting his first-degree
black belt was his goal when he first signed up.
Both Steven and Wayne have been awarded a number of medals
and accommodations within the academy and in competitions during their time at
the academy.
Wayne
is the 2007 Canadian Campion and is also a patterns champion, while Steven is a
flying side-kick champion.
Both have also achieved their demonstration, tournament and
leadership excellence, said teacher and founder of the academy Phil Nguyen, who
is a sixth-degree black belt.
“You have a responsibility to teach the next generation,” he
said.
Wayne and Steven both teach at the academy.
“Every student has the potential,” said Wayne. “You bring that potential out.”
Nguyen said the life skills taught in taekwondo help set
people up to deal with what life has to offer.
“Focus, discipline, determination and passion; you improve
yourself and the world around you,” he said.
Nguyen’s academy, which is located in Bridlewood, is one of
the longest-running in Kanata.
Black Belt Excellence will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year.
“That’s what keeps me going – leaving a positive legacy in
this community,” said Nguyen.
jessica.cunha@metroland.com