Kicking down big competition

Eager but calm, senior Andrew Moss walks onto the mat to face his opponent. Their spar begins, and limbs strike rapidly as the pair try to land hits on each other. Though several hits land on him, Moss grits his teeth and perseveres long enough to claim a win.

Moss started Taekwondo two years ago, but he has already become successful in competitions. He competes every other month throughout the mid-Atlantic region and has won several first place awards, including a state title.

In order to perfect his technique for competitions, Moss practices Taekwondo six days a week. “It’s a lot of work, but it is so worth it,” he said.

One of the predominant factors that keeps Moss motivated to continue Taekwondo is the family that his martial-arts-based friendships have morphed into. “I’ve traveled through the states to go and fight, and I have met so many friends and made family through this,” he said. “Some I even call my brothers and sisters.”

Moss works as a Taekwondo instructor as well. While he has worked with many kids, working with a certain special needs child has been “the real thing that keeps me practicing.” Moss sees this boy almost every day at the Taekwondo studio. “One of the sweetest boys I have ever met. It’s ‘Hello, Mr. Moss!’ every day I come in, and it keeps me going,” he said.

Moss has come close to earning his black belt, but he has struggled with a recurring hip injury. “I never achieved my black belt, both times I re-injured myself and had to have surgery,” Moss said. He hopes to earn his black belt in the near future.

Christina Giovanazi is a Sports Editor and Ianna Pirozzi is an In-Focus Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.