Screaming and cheering fills the air as a martial artist steps onto the mat. An instructor reads off their name and where they are from, and that they are competing to represent their academy at this year’s tournament. They step up to their opponent to spar. The instructor waves the flag to begin after the bow in. It is exhilarating and keeps the audience members on the edge of their seat. It goes by so fast with a competitor winning 7-1 and taking home a gold medal. This is the life of martial artists at LCM High School.
Junior Victoria Sulak and sophomores Addison LaSalle and Jaxen Coats are three students involved in various styles of martial arts. Sulak has been doing Taekwondo the longest, for about three years. LaSalle, also in Taekwondo, has been involved for about a year. Coats began Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) eight months ago. LaSalle and Sulak both go to Tiger Rock Martial Arts Academy at the Orange location. Coats goes to 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Beaumont.
Both Sulak and LaSalle started martial arts because someone invited them, and LaSalle said she needed something to do in the afternoons. Coats said his parents encouraged him to try it. He also enjoyed watching mixed martial arts like the UFC. Sulak is a first degree level one black belt, LaSalle is a level three green belt, and Coats is a white belt.
“My favorite thing about martial arts is how hard it is,” Coats said. “Whoever I am sparring [fighting] against is usually better than me and trying to strangle me. I love the challenge. Plus, Jiu-Jitsu helps me with football.”
Uniforms are usually very specific when involved in martial arts. LaSalle and Sulak essentially have the same uniform, which includes a pair of black TGRMA pants, and the student’s choice of TGRMA shirt. As well as the brand of socks. During specific times, it is required to wear a Gi, or a jacket. LaSalle’s is white because she is a colored belt, and Sulak’s is red because she is a leader and a black belt.
“My current uniform is a set of blue spats, top and bottom, with a black panther design throughout and a pair of black shorts,” Coats said.
According to Sulak, her favorite thing about doing martial arts is the sparring. Sparring, in Taekwondo, is when someone is paired up with another student in the class to either work on technique, free spar, or try to hit their opponent to get points (point sparring).
“My favorite thing about martial arts is definitely the people,” LaSalle said. “Everyone at our academy is so sweet.”
Sulak’s least favorite thing about martial arts is board breaking, which is when a martial artist uses a set of specific techniques to break a board. Coats’ least favorite thing about BJJ is getting people’s sweat on him.
“My least favorite thing about martial arts is definitely the soreness after class,” LaSalle said. “You use muscles that you are not used to using very often, so they’re really easy to pull.”
According to LaSalle, her favorite kind of class would be small, probably five to six people, and lots of sparring.
“We meet as a group, and our coach instructs us about what we will be covering in class,” Coats said. “We do about a five to ten minute warm up period. Then we begin learning the submissions and the defenses against them. We practice them with a partner. The final session is eight 5-minute rounds of grappling.”
Competitions in martial arts are a fun and exhilarating way to add to a trophy rack. They are competitive, fast paced, and always hot and sweaty.
According to Coats, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or any martial art is the best cure for stress, depression, or any bad days that he has.
“I encourage any of my classmates to try them,” Coats said. “It also teaches discipline, courage, and endurance- leadership traits that everyone needs to learn.”
