Tia Gonzalez, a 2019 graduate of Bradwell Institute, earned her 3rd Degree (Dan) Black Belt in Taekwondo on June 21. She is the daughter of Carlos and Darlene Gonzalez, both of whom stated they are proud of their daughter and her accomplishments. They said Tia’s commitment to Taekwondo aided her in conducting herself with honor, respect, self-confidence, and discipline throughout her daily life, reflecting the true tenets of Taekwondo.
After nearly eight years of hard work and dedication to the martial art of Taekwondo, Tia Gonzalez prepared herself to take the rigorous examination involving forms, breaking, sparring, kicking, self-defense, and various other techniques, according to her instructors. Gonzalez’s Black Belt test met the qualifications set forth by Kikkiwon and the Sport Taekwondo Center Associates. Kukkiwon is the World Taekwondo Headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea. It is the home of the official Taekwondo governing organization which establishes the criteria for training and promotions throughout the global Kukkiwon Taekwondo community. Therefore, Gonzalez’s test not only included her ability to perform all the movements but also her knowledge of the theory and application of the techniques.
Gonzalez said she truly believes in the teachings and life’s lessons learned through the martial arts. After graduation from Bradwell Institute, she served as a volunteer instructor for the Fort Stewart SkiesUnlimited Program as an assistant Taekwondo instructor. Her goal is to continue her journey in the martial arts as long as possible while increasing her training and helping others train. Gonzalez understands that as much as she has already learned from Taekwondo, there is yet more to discover.
Gonzalez says she and her family are grateful for the instruction and mentorship provided by Grand-Master Rafael Medina and Master Philip Konz, as well as the families and students she has worked with along the way. Gonzalez attends Middle Georgia State University in Macon where she majors in foreign language. She says she hopes to eventually earn her 4th Dan.