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Taking On The World

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - When you talk about being the very best at what you do, 16-year-old Leigh Martin is just that.

Martin won a World Championship in the 14-16 year-old division in the recent American Taekwondo Association (ATA) World Championships in Little Rock, Ark.

“It’s very intimidating,” Martin said.  “The regional or national tournaments I’m not nervous.  The World Championship is a good stress.”

Taekwondo is a South Korean style of martial arts and the world’s most practiced martial art.

The same goes at Lee’s Taekwondo on 15th Street.

The training center has been around for 26 years and has produced several state and world champions.

To qualify for the ATA World Championship, Martin participated in numerous regional tournaments throughout the country.  Her mom actually purchased an RV to make the trips easier.

“My mom looked at the tournament schedule and asked if I want to go there,” Martin said.  “We’ve been to Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana and Illinois a few times.  But the farthest we’ve been is Las Vegas.”

Four other students at Lee’s Taekwondo won State Championships.  Michael Hunter and his son, Will, competed in the Forms and Weapons categories.

“It’s great to travel a whole year with my son,” Hunter said.  “Just going to different tournaments and watching him grow, it’s really awesome.”

Larry Price and Jordon Murray also won state in their age groups.

“It’s hard, a lot of practice, hard work to get here,” 8-year-old Murray said.  “This place is about protecting yourself and other people.”

There are 11 more ATA santioned tournaments throughout the country before Panama City hosts it during Sept. 2-3 at the Edgewater Beach Resort.

Posted by on 07/26 at 07:14 PM
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