Being a black belt in any fighting style shows dedication and strength in the sport and is considered a prestigious achievement. Practicing since he was 6, Alex Babiasz, senior, has just earned his third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. It took him almost 11 years to achieve this accomplishment in the sport.

“My mom got me started in it. She actually had the idea before I was born. Her idea was for me to learn self defense so I could always protect myself,” Babiasz said.

With the different types of fighting styles, Tae Kwon Do is more of a way of life rather than a violent weapon. It is a fighting style that comes from Korea and is practiced by over 70 million people around the world.

“‘Tae Kwon Do’ means the way of the hand and foot. You learn how to attack in the appropriate situation and to defend yourself while using your hands and feet. You also learn how to use weapons such at bow staves and nunchucks,” Babiasz said.

“Karate is more about learning self-defense, and less about forward fighting. Kung fu has many different styles, ranging from peaceful and smooth forms of movement to more harsh violent fighting. I would never put down any of the martial arts, as each has its strengths and weaknesses. “ 

There are a different number of belts for each school, and at the school where Babiasz teaches there are 11 colored belts before black, and then nine more degree black belts. Each school has their own ranking system for the belts earned before black belt.

“The highest ranking belt is tenth degree, but that would be almost impossible since I don’t live in Korea. Seventh degree would be my goal because then you are granted the title of “Grand Master,” right now I am “Master” because I have a third degree,” Babiasz stated.

“The different degree black belts are officially earned/approved through Kukkiwon, which is the Tae Kwon Do headquarters, so you become an official degree black belt throughout the world,” Babiasz added.

Never was there ever a moment that Alex doubted his passion for Tae Kwon Do, “I’ve never thought I would quit. Training and teaching Tae Kwon Do has always been what I’m most passionate about,” Babiasz said.

Testing for each belt, as expected, gets harder and harder each time. The tests see if one is able to withstand and do special tasks that training has prepared him or her to do. “I tested just last December. It was about two hours, and it was mostly composed of push ups, kicking and punching combinations, weapon forms, sparring one-on-one and one-on-two, board breaks and more push ups.  My favorite but scariest part was when I jumped over six people, bending down at the waist, for my flying side kick board break; it was at the end and I was really tired,” Babiasz said.

Babiasz is excited to continue his dedicated training in the art of Tae Kwon Do and cannot wait for what the future holds for him.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Alejandro Bitetto

Alex kicks his instructor showing off his combat moves that he has learned over the years.