MP Warriors to represent USA in Europe

• COURTESY PHOTO

A tough pair of moms and their kids are set to represent the United States and roundhouse kick their way through a martial arts competition in England this summer.

Jennifer Giles, head instructor at Warrior Martial Arts and a fifth-degree black belt, said she is proud that her own daughter, Jadyn, won a spot on the national team that will head to the 2024 UTA British Championship in July. Jennifer said, “I’m going to be proud of her no matter what, but I think that she’s going to really feel a sense of pride with representing our country.”

Currently working on her first-degree black belt, Jadyn has been under her mother’s tutelage since she was five-years-old. Like many kids, Jadyn said she struggles with anxiety and that Taekwondo has helped her become more confident and motivates her to keep improving. She hopes that this competition will serve as another stepping stone in her growth.

“When it comes to Taekwondo, I want to improve my forms. I’ve also never been out of the country before, so I think it’s going to be really different for me,” Jadyn said.

The tryouts for the national team took place in Rockwall, back in February. According to Jennifer, there were a few hundred other kids of different ages who showed up for the tryouts. Jadyn fought her way through speed sparring and beat many other contenders in forms.

And Jadyn isn’t the only young Titus County resident to compete on the international stage. Ilee and Isaiah Morales will also be hopping on the plane to the United Kingdom. Their mother, Lydia Morales, is also an instructor at Warrior Martial Arts.

Lydia, who began her martial arts career in 2003, originally trained under Jennifer. Now a third-degree black belt and teaching alongside Jennifer, Lydia said she loves instructing and that it’s in her blood.

“It’s not just about teaching the art,” Lydia said, “It’s everything positive that comes from it. And to see that change with the kids, seeing them grow in confidence is awesome. Seeing them conquer those individual goals and maybe they thought they couldn’t, but they really develop strong character.”

Isaiah, 17, and Ilee, 15, both say they’re excited and nervous about the upcoming competition.

“It’ll definitely be interesting”, Isaiah said. “At tryouts, the other guys were much bigger. I’m around fivefoot- eight and these other guys were at least six-feet tall.”

His younger sister, Ilee, said that martial arts has ingrained her with important lessons and she hopes that the competition in England will teach her even more about integrity, perseverance, self-control, and victory.