MONROE - At the age of 5, Aric Barnard began taekwondo classes in Darlington. Now 29 years later, the Northside Elementary School teacher recently received his sixth-degree black belt and master rank in the sport.
Not only has he continued to master skills as a student, but he also teaches with Elite Tae Kwon Do in Monroe.
"I'm going to keep training and keep teaching," Barnard said. "It's a lifelong practice for me."
Passion for the art of taekwondo was not something Barnard initially sought. In fact, he and his father stumbled on a class accidentally while visiting the Darlington bowling alley. Barnard said they heard the class and wandered in. Barnard wanted to try, and his father managed to convince instructor Larry Leitzinger to take on his youngest student yet.
From there, the belt tests progressed. Taekwondo is measured by 11 belts of different colors, from yellow to purple to pure black. The highest degree black belt is ninth. Barnard said he may not reach the ceiling, but he is not bothered by the idea.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. It is characterized by a focus on kicks to an opponent's head, jumping kicks, spinning kicks and a number of fast-kicking techniques.
Barnard said taekwondo is an art of standard skills, learned patterns of conduct over time and focus. Not only is it a set of fancy moves, there are pieces of history and culture to learn.
Each belt and degree requires a promotional test. Most average an hour or more, with intense physical requirements from running to fighting. Barnard's latest promotional test lasted 45 minutes, although he said it was partially ceremonial rather than the intensity of some earlier stage promotion evaluations.
"No matter how many tests I have, I think it's natural to be nervous because you care," Barnard said. "I think (taekwondo) has helped me be a more confident person in everything I do."
As a taekwondo master, he has set a goal to teach all of his students to aim high and try hard to achieve.
Barnard has been working with his 4-year-old son for seven months. From the classroom to the taekwondo mat, he wants to pass on the gift of confidence he received in his own training.
"I've been fortunate because of the instructors I've had," Barnard said. "Now I get to take that with me and apply it to what I do, and hopefully pass along that experience to my own students."
Not only has he continued to master skills as a student, but he also teaches with Elite Tae Kwon Do in Monroe.
"I'm going to keep training and keep teaching," Barnard said. "It's a lifelong practice for me."
Passion for the art of taekwondo was not something Barnard initially sought. In fact, he and his father stumbled on a class accidentally while visiting the Darlington bowling alley. Barnard said they heard the class and wandered in. Barnard wanted to try, and his father managed to convince instructor Larry Leitzinger to take on his youngest student yet.
From there, the belt tests progressed. Taekwondo is measured by 11 belts of different colors, from yellow to purple to pure black. The highest degree black belt is ninth. Barnard said he may not reach the ceiling, but he is not bothered by the idea.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. It is characterized by a focus on kicks to an opponent's head, jumping kicks, spinning kicks and a number of fast-kicking techniques.
Barnard said taekwondo is an art of standard skills, learned patterns of conduct over time and focus. Not only is it a set of fancy moves, there are pieces of history and culture to learn.
Each belt and degree requires a promotional test. Most average an hour or more, with intense physical requirements from running to fighting. Barnard's latest promotional test lasted 45 minutes, although he said it was partially ceremonial rather than the intensity of some earlier stage promotion evaluations.
"No matter how many tests I have, I think it's natural to be nervous because you care," Barnard said. "I think (taekwondo) has helped me be a more confident person in everything I do."
As a taekwondo master, he has set a goal to teach all of his students to aim high and try hard to achieve.
Barnard has been working with his 4-year-old son for seven months. From the classroom to the taekwondo mat, he wants to pass on the gift of confidence he received in his own training.
"I've been fortunate because of the instructors I've had," Barnard said. "Now I get to take that with me and apply it to what I do, and hopefully pass along that experience to my own students."