By Sosi Sengal, Staff Reporter
Junior Jason Xu is well versed in taekwondo, specifically breaking, a form of taekwondo involving the breaking of boards and other objects. Xu has placed in many state competitions and competed in national events.
Xu began the sport while living in China when his mother enrolled him in a local school that taught discipline and self-defense. After moving to the U.S. in 2016, he continued his taekwondo training at Tiger Kicks Martial Arts, a local dojang in Exton.
“My mother saw me getting bullied, so she enrolled me in this local school to learn some self-defense,” Xu said. “Over time, it kind of just became a hobby of mine.”
Last year, Xu won a gold medal in a New York state championship. He also placed second in breaking in a Virginia state championship and palced fifth overall for breaking in the 2023 U.S. Taekwondo National Championship in Florida.
Xu practices taekwondo throughout the week and trains extra hours during the competition season from February through May. He said that he manages his time between his workload and the sport.
“Usually when it’s competition season, I practice around four hours a week,” Xu said. “I usually focus more on taekwondo when it’s in season.”
Through taekwondo, Xu said that he has found not just self-defense but also valuable connections that have propelled him toward excellence in other aspects of his life.
“I went to this really prestigious seminar, and in that seminar, I met national-level coaches and competitors,” Xu said. “I’ve been in close relationships with them ever since.”
Xu’s teammate Insaaf Imtiyaz said that his expectations, work ethic and dedication to the sport are motivating
“I think we encourage each other by setting higher standards and trying to be the best each day,” Imtiyaz said. “Naturally, this makes people around you aim higher and motivate you to be better.”
In the future, Xu plans to practice taekwondo as a hobby. He is looking to possibly compete in college, but does not currently have any plans set in stone.
“It depends on the university I attend,” Xu said. “If I manage to get accepted (to universities with taekwondo programs), I plan to continue my taekwondo career after high school. Either way, I would like to keep it as a hobby and as a part-time job.”
Sosi Sengal can be reached at [email protected].
