United States Taekwondo Academy

Apr 2026

My journey to earning a black belt has been anything but linear, yet every twist in the path made the achievement more meaningful. I first stepped into the world of martial arts at the age of twelve. For several years, I trained with the kind of passion only a child can sustain — pure, eager, and unburdened. But as high school academics intensified, training slowly slipped out of my routine. Even then, martial arts never truly left me; it lingered quietly in the back of my mind, waiting for the right moment to return. It took over ten years before that moment arrived. In my late twenties, I found my way back to training, rediscovering the discipline and joy I had missed. But soon graduate school and work demanded more of my time, and once again, martial arts drifted out of reach. Another decade passed. In 2020, everything changed unexpectedly. I brought my five‑year‑old daughter to her first Taekwondo class, thinking only about her experience. On a whim, I asked whether they offered adult classes. Without hesitation, Grandmaster Atoun tossed me a uniform and told me to join in. I did — and instantly felt as though I had returned to a part of myself I had been missing since childhood. This time, I refused to let life pull me away again. Work and travel often interrupted my rhythm, but I kept going, even if slowly. Reaching black belt became not just a goal but a promise to myself. Today, I am grateful I kept that promise. I owe thanks to Grandmaster Atoun for his unwavering encouragement, and to my daughter, whose excitement at training together made the journey even more special. Together, we turned a long‑delayed dream into a shared accomplishment.

Apr 2024

My Journey to Black Belt When I got my 1st Dan Black Belt, I was so proud of myself for accomplishing this achievement by working very hard and passing challenges for 7 years. My journey began in the summer of 2017, when I was only 7 years old. I of course started as just a white belt but when I heard that a “white belt is a black belt that never quits”, I knew that if I worked hard and conquered challenges, I would become a black belt. When I got my high white belt on my 1st graduation, I knew that I was on my way to getting the black belt soon but there was a new form. I had some trouble with the stances but then I got the hang of it I knew I would soon go on to yellow belt. With every new belt came new forms that were tougher than the last but when I did red belt and High red belt but I drew pictures so I could remember it and practice it better. Deputy Black belt was by far the hardest because I needed to test multiple times to get my 4 sets of strips and I had to memorize the form very well to be able to move forward. With hard work and determination, I was able to memorize it. I did have trouble with my stances, kicks and power, but I would keep pushing ahead and not give up. Soon, the day came for my black belt. At first, I was nervous but then I remembered how hard I had worked to get here so I put in my effort and gave it my all and when they announced my name for my black belt, I was so happy and proud of myself. I knew that after all I’ve done to get here, I would keep on working to learn new kicks, new self- defenses, and new forms and now I continue my journey in hopes of receiving my 2nd Dan. I have had the opportunity to train at both locations, first at Richardson and currently at Allen, where I achieved my goal of black belt. I am grateful and thankful for everyone that has helped me and the great support and encouragement I received every day. Even when I didn't believe in myself they kept pushing me to work harder and get better and they were always positive no matter what. It's hard work but they make it fun to come in and learn everything you need to keep going. Thank you to everyone that has pushed me to get where I am today!

Dec 2021

What does it mean to earn a black belt at USTA? Becoming a black belt is not something that just comes with ease.Students whose only desire is obtaining the black belt may get quickly discouraged because it is much harder than it looks.It takes years of dedication, commitment, having the thorough understanding and demonstration of the concepts of each belt. It is an evolution that takes many years of patience, and effort. Train diligently, be respectful, don’t boast in front of your instructor or fellow peers, don’t complain about any task and have perseverance in everything you do in your life. Students who come in for practice, without concern for rank and promotion, always do well. Everyone has different expectations of what inheriting a black belt means to them. Receiving a black belt for some people may be the end of their taekwondo journey but for some it's just a beginning. Although I did put in the proper amount of time for training and mastered the required forms, self defense, sparring and arnis, I don't think those are the only things that qualified me to getting a black belt.The black belt is not just a strip of black cotton tied around your waist but it has depths of meaning. Your black belt relates to you as an individual. How you treat the people in your life, how you deal with obstacles, your goals and how you persevere in your training are all important conditions of your black belt. At the same time you become a great role model for other students and gain loads of responsibilities. I remember when I first started my journey back in 2016, I was shy and didn't really speak up. Now I feel an increase in my self discipline and self confidence. As a member of the SWAT team, I am able to lead warm ups and demonstrate in classes. I feel more the hard work, effort, and determination you put into class makes receiving the black belt more rewarding and special. I have mastered the primary concepts and am simply now starting my journey. Lastly I would like to thank my parents for bringing me to the dojo, all the instructors that have been patient with me and have taken their time to help me master all of the essentials and Master Atoun who has always motivated me to be the best version I can be. -Maryam Waqas