Martial artists give Mount Carmel students lessons in self-confidence

Students at Mount Carmel Elementary received a powerful lesson in self-confidence last Friday, courtesy of Taylor's Martial Arts Academy.

As part of an exciting school-wide event, the academy’s skilled instructors and brothers, Chandler and Landon Taylor, demonstrated not just their martial arts expertise but the transformative power of believing in oneself.

Through interactive demonstrations and inspiring stories, students learned that self-discipline, perseverance and a strong belief in their own abilities are keys to success — both on and off the mat.

“Demonstrations encourage kids to do better and really puts that positive element in their life,” said Chandler Taylor, co-owner and chief instructor of Taylor’s Martial Arts. “A lot of these kids may have bad backstories or come from rough places, and you want to be a positive influence in their life — even if it is just for 30 minutes.”

The Taylors also feel it is important because these kids are a new generation and the future.

“Starting young, instilling good character traits and values at a young age will hopefully carry on in their adult lives,” added Landon Taylor, co-owner and chief instructor of Taylor’s Martial Arts.

Chandler, a fifth-degree black belt, said that in addition to wanting to help kids find their self-confidence, he chose to teach because of what he endured growing up.

“When I was 8, I was bullied severely, and my mom got me into taekwondo and the rest is history,” Chandler said. “Now I want to pay back what was given to me.”

Taylor’s Martial Art’s mission is to provide an uplifting community where each student belongs and can safely develop the confidence, focus, discipline, respect and responsibility that comes through the empowerment of improving one’s overall health and learning the skills of self-defense.

“When we teach these kids, whether in our classes or at demonstrations, we hope they feel included and a part of something,” Landon noted. “I also hope it encourages them to carry on when we are too old and can’t do it anymore, hopefully they pick it up and continue going.”

Mainly, the brothers and instructors hope what they teach lights a fire in their students to find the self-confidence to do anything they dream.

“To have students get fired up, it’s a good thing. Even outside of taekwondo, being motivated is a good thing,” Chandler said. “My favorite part of what I do teaching is working with that one person, that one child, and watching them over months change and build confidence in themselves.”

And two of those students had the chance to come back and teach with their teachers at their former school, Mount Carmel Elementary.

Edwin Benabe and Zoey Lavender, seventh-graders from Church Hill Middle School, have been taking instruction at Taylor’s Martial Arts and were able to be a part of the teaching process this time.

“Both Edwin and Zoey are black belts. Edwin has been doing taekwondo for about four years, before the pandemic, and he’s already a black belt,” explained Edwin’s mom, Jennifer Melendez. “I feel kids are impacted by martial arts by learning discipline, self-worth, respect and self-esteem. And they learn focus through all the forms they are taught. It’s just a very worthwhile art.”

One invaluable takeaway the Taylors want kids to leave their classes with? The most important thing they could ever do is believe in themselves.

“It is the truth. When my brother and I first started, we were only 8 and 6. There was a whole big mountain we had to climb as kids to get where we are now. But we would not be here today if we didn’t believe in ourselves,” Chandler said. “It is key that you believe in yourself. Confidence must start in your heart.

"Even when you fail or mess up, that’s when it’s really easy to start doubting yourself. You must make sure that whenever you mess up, you don’t see it as a failure, you see it as a lesson and let that lesson grow you and help you become better.”