From Tiny Kwon-Do to Black Belt: Zaria’s Journey

When Zaria first stepped into the Dojang at just 4 years old, she was a tiny girl in a white belt uniform, wide-eyed and ready to learn. Nearly nine years later, she stood at the front of the class, preparing to grade for her black belt – a milestone she had dreamed of since her very first class.

“For myself to become a black belt would be achieving a huge personal goal. It has always been my dream since I started.”

The Early Years

Zaria began her Taekwon-Do journey alongside her cousin Alfie in Tiny Kwon-Do, training once a week for just 45 minutes. It was a fun activity to build her confidence, coordination, and discipline at such a young age. But even then, the seeds of determination were being sown.

“When I started, I was only doing one 45-minute class a week with my cousin Alfie. Eventually I gradually started in the beginners of Taekwondo.”

She soon progressed into the main classes, moving through her coloured belts one by one. Each belt brought new challenges, new techniques to master, and a growing love for the art.

Growing Dedication

As Zaria moved up the belts, her commitment grew stronger.

“To even get into the position where I am today has required a lot of training and dedication. You simply cannot be in a position to grade unless you have put the hours in.”

Training once a week became twice a week, then three times a week, and eventually she was attending classes for up to 2 hours each session. She also started strength and stretch classes to improve her flexibility and side kicks, knowing that black belt level demands technical excellence.

“From the days of when I started as a four year old training once a week for 45 mins, to attending class 3 times a week for 2 hours a day.”

For Zaria, Taekwon-Do wasn’t just a hobby – it became a way of life, shaping her routine, goals, and mindset.

Competing and Travelling

Taekwon-Do gave Zaria opportunities beyond her imagination. She began competing locally, then nationally, and even internationally. Twice she competed abroad in Holland, turning each trip into a family mini-break but with the main purpose always clear: stepping onto the mats to represent her club.

“Due to the costs to my family, these competitions have also become short holiday breaks so that we can make use of the time… Both times that I have been abroad I have really enjoyed the time away, and again this has also been spending time not only with my family but also with my friends which has been great fun.”

She remembers her very first competition vividly:

“From my first competition in Swindon doing one of my exercise patterns as just a lowly graded tiny belt to this is amazing.”

Competitions taught her resilience, courage, and mental toughness – especially as she began to compete in bigger age groups against taller and heavier opponents.

Learning to Adapt

Zaria reflects on one of her biggest lessons:

“One change I have had to make is how I approach competitions. There have always been quite a few people competing in my group, and big numbers can seem quite daunting… I have to tell myself that if I train hard and work hard, it should not matter how big the group is as they can all be beaten.”

As she progressed into weight-based categories rather than height-based, she faced larger opponents, but learned to adapt her style and trust her training.

“This is where I will have to adapt more and listen to my coaches more than ever… It is more of a mental aspect to my Taekwondo rather than a physical one.”

She realised that being a successful martial artist isn’t just about physical power – it’s about mindset, strategy, and self-belief.

Looking Up to Others

Throughout her journey, Zaria always looked up to the black belts in her club, watching them with admiration:

“I was amazed at how many patterns that they would have to know and how long they were. Trying to remember all those moves.”

Their skill inspired her, and she dreamed of one day wearing the black belt herself, not just for the status, but for what it meant – commitment, knowledge, and the ability to give back.

Giving Back to Others

Now, as a newly promoted black belt, Zaria’s goal is to help others along their journey.

“I am looking forward to helping others… I can help them with things that I have struggled with, and I can share my experiences of where I have overcome obstacles so that I could progress to where I am today.”

She wants to pass on the little tricks she discovered – like creating flash cards to learn theory – to support the younger students coming up behind her.

“This is not only with what we learn in class, but how I found a way of learning better by creating my own flash cards, which really helped.”

The Moment of Achievement

Zaria’s essay ends with heartfelt words that capture her entire journey:

“Becoming a black belt requires hard work and dedication, you are not going to a black belt without putting the time in… If I am successful in becoming a black belt, I cannot wait to finally put that belt around my waist. It will be amazing, so many years and I have finally got there.”

A Role Model for Tiny Kwon-Do

Today, Zaria is not just a student. She is a black belt, a class assistant, a competitor, and a role model for the next generation of Tiny Kwon-Do students. Her journey shows that with hard work, resilience, and a passion for learning, dreams can become reality – no matter how small you are when you take that very first step onto the mats.