Anika Nambiar
“I feel good to have achieved something so big. To me having a Black Belt means achieving my goal that I have been working to for a long time. I still have a lot to learn as a Black Belt. By being a Black Belt/Youth Leader I will teach other students what I have learned over the years of going to Tae-Kwon do. I look forward to being a Youth Leader as well as getting better at what I am already good at.”
Arjun Prakash
When I got my Black Belt I felt very proud and I felt like I achieved something big. I started Taekwondo when I was 5 years old. It was my dream to get a Black Belt and to be a teen leader. There were times when I had trouble and had to push myself. I had to work on my power and stance and I got it. I made it with the help of Ms.Shim and all the other instructors who helped me to get better. I love Taekwondo and want to stay longer and move on to the next Dan. I look forward to being a Youth Leader and helping the younger belts.
Prisha Nambiar
It’s been a very exciting journey from White Belt to Black Belt! Taekwondo has taught me so much from defense to discipline. There are amazing teachers and I can’t wait to help them since I’m now a Black Belt and Youth Leader! I’m really proud that after all these years I’ve finally become a Black Belt. I can’t wait to learn all the new and interesting forms! I’m also one step closer (with practice) to becoming a 2nd Dan.
Smaran Idury
I feel very proud ever since I took the Black Belt test. I felt very confident because of the advice I got from the instructors. I have worked hard to get to this level and at least during the pandemic I had something to do and used the time effectively. I felt more powerful ever since. If it weren’t for the instructors I wouldn’t have reached my goal, so I thank my instructors for teaching me how to be more powerful. In the last four years of training, Taekwondo has taught me to work consistently and patiently in achieving long term goals.
Arjun Deshpande
It has been my dream of becoming a Black Belt for the past three years now. To be a Black Belt means an achievement through years of dedication and commitment. It symbolizes hard work, self-discipline, and perseverance. Every week from the day I started doing Tae Kwon Do, it was challenging. Each time I gained a new belt and had to learn different kinds of forms. Tae Kwon Do has benefited me to increase my confidence, focus, concentration levels, and self-discipline. Tae Kwon Do has also strengthened my body and improves great coordination for other physical activities.
Now my responsibilities are higher, giving helpful feedback to the other students who are trying to earn their Black Belt. I am trying to get better at self-defense. I also want to get to higher degrees for the next few years. Thanks to the helpful instructors for teaching sparring and forms. Special thanks to Mr.Kim and Ms Shim for the extraordinary contribution.
Karthik Yeddula
I did a couple different martial arts but I never really stuck with them for long, but doing Taekwondo here in Ashland was very fun and it became something I wanted to do. I was very happy when I got my yellow stripe belt because I never stuck with a martial arts long enough to get the next belt so this feeling of progressing farther felt very rewarding. The belts only got tougher to get from there, but the harder it was the more rewarding it felt after the belt ceremony. Achieving my goal of becoming a Black Belt felt unlike any other time I got a belt. I put so much effort into getting my Black Belt, more than I have for any belt and the Black Belt ceremony felt so amazing and rewarding. I am so happy that I was able to reach my goal of becoming a Black Belt and I am so thankful for all the instructors and other students at the taekwondo institute who helped me along my journey to become a Black Belt and a special thanks to Ms.Shim, without her support and guidance I would not have achieved my Black Belt.
Likith Soma
“Earning my Black Belt has been one of the best moments of my life. During my 3 years of doing Taekwondo, I have gained more strength, speed, precision and most importantly confidence. My goal was to become a Black Belt before the age of 14. Now I have accomplished that goal and became a Black Belt and a Teen leader two weeks before my birthday. I didn’t think I would get my Black Belt during Covid-19 because I thought it would be difficult, but I learned to overcome those hardships and focus on achieving my goals. My sincere thanks to Mr. Kim, Ms. Shim and all other instructors who supported and helped me throughout the years”
Sahana Radhakrishnan
I started TaeKwon-Do at the end of 2017 when I was about ten. I never thought that I would be the one getting into martial arts. I used to come when my brother had classes and never really found it interesting. But over the few months that I watched him and the other students I wanted to have a try myself. When I started it was quite easy per say but once I became a higher ranked belt it was challenging and I lacked self motivation. Despite that the teachers and students were reassuring and motivating. So I kept going, though the techniques were harder and I couldn’t just talk with my friends. But after these three years of experience I would not wanna stop. Now that I have officially received my 1st Degree Black Belt I feel almost “accomplished” with the first phase of TaeKwon-Do and I’m onto my next. If it weren’t for coming to classes every week and watching my brother/students I would still be intimidated by everyone and everything and not be the person I am today. But this journey has made me independent and aware more than anything else.
Jae H. Kim Taekwon-do Institute 
Congratulations to each and every one of you!!!