The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the Asian American News Network or its affiliates.
He knew that the performance would be nerve-wracking, but being in the gaze of thousands of watchful eyes at the 2013 TRY ATA ESPN Martial Arts Invitational felt more daunting than he anticipated. Nevertheless, as he bowed to the crowd at the start of the music, there was no turning back…
At the moment of his cue, Lawsin took to the air, unleashing a storm of quick kicks and spins. Bo staff in hand, he took no time to transition to the main part of his performance: weapons handling. Whirling his bo staff overhead, on his back and through his legs, nine-year-old Lance Lawsin put on a riveting performance. His energy and passion were palpable: every time his foot rooted itself into the ground, the mat seemingly shook; each of his ardent yells permeated the concrete walls of the building, making himself heard to the outside world. As his recital concluded with a professional bow to the crowd, Lawsin was met with an unrivaled amount of applause. It was clear to the judges who deserved first place.
Considering that Lawsin was only nine years old— an age where many merely begin their Taekwondo careers— how did he pull off such an amazing performance?
It all started when Ms. Lawsin decided that four-year-old Lance should give a shot at Taekwondo. He was reaching the age where activity is vital, so it fit to test the waters of exercise. The waters were just the right temperature for Lawsin, who excelled in his pursuit of Taekwondo. It was only a matter of time before he was on the road to mastery, practicing three to four hours a day in a professional dojo. Through this process of intense conditioning, Lawsin effectively molded himself into a martial arts warrior by the age of nine, ready to dominate any competition he faced.
Indeed, Lawsin enjoyed great amounts of success during his Taekwondo career. Out of the four times he appeared at the ESPN ATA Martial Arts Invitational, he was crowned champion three times. Not to mention, Lawsin acquired over 30 state titles and was even recognized by Charlotte’s Kids Got Talent. Most impressively, he earned six world champion titles, an exceptional feat few others can boast. During his prime, Lawsin was a force to be reckoned with.
However, as time progressed, Lawsin’s ability to compete with others in his age group grew out of his control. As his counterparts grew in size, speed and strength, Lawsin found himself at a disadvantage. Simultaneously, the strain of maintaining his honor roll workload made Lawsin reassess the time he devoted to Taekwondo. Nevertheless, he wanted to keep the spirit of martial arts within him— it had become a defining trait of his, and to lose it was to lose part of his identity. Lawsin elaborates, “My past instructors have given me a lot of knowledge when it comes to doing your form or sparring in karate. I feel like I can’t have that information just kept in me. I have to give it to other people, and teaching was the best way to do that.” Following suit, sixteen-year-old Lawsin now instructs the youth with his years of martial arts knowledge and experience, hoping one day they will achieve the same success he had.
To lose the spirit of martial arts was to lose part of his identity
Compared to when he first began martial arts, Lawsin has noticed several changes in this diverse sport; in particular, he observed a shift from traditional to modern martial art styles. While the traditional style of fluidity and situational preparation remained, a new medium of expression emerged— a style that added a new layer of depth and intensity: “I think it’s really evolving. There are a lot more new tricks, kicks, and flips that you can do to add to your form. It’s a good way to veer off from traditional forms and weapons.”
With the recent dominance of western combat sports like mixed martial arts (MMA) and extreme martial arts (XMA), Lawsin believes the momentum to create new styles will continue. Choreographies involving extreme tricks and flips are becoming more common in Hollywood, and although some lament the gradual fade of traditional martial arts, Lawsin views it as a positive change. “Normally, traditional forms, and weapons, in my opinion, can get old. So I feel that the new style of XMA is a more exciting thing to watch and do.”
"The new style of XMA is a more exciting thing to watch and do"
As modern martial arts are beginning to overshadow traditional forms, Lawsin urges us to preserve the perennial values of discipline, integrity, and self-esteem it instills. From greeting teachers with “yes sir” or “yes ma’am” to persevering through the black belt journey, traditional martial arts foster respect and patience in trainees. Thus, if not for self-defense, he encourages future generations to take traditional martial arts for the crucial character traits they develop.
By passing down his years of mastery and learned standards, Lawsin, along with other instructors, will nurture a generation ready to continue the necessary legacy of Taekwondo. Ultimately, while the climax of Lawsin’s phenomenal achievements might have been temporary, the principles he shares will be everlasting.
To watch the full interview, visit our Youtube Channel!
Image Credits: “Taekwondo performance by K-Tigers” by KOREA.NET – Official page of the Republic of Korea is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
