BHS Student Danielle Starr Shines in Taekwando

Third in the nation for taekwondo, senior Danielle Starr has worked her way up to the top.   

11 years ago marks the start of an achievement of a lifetime. Starr has been practicing taekwondo ever since she realized she had the talent and wanted to show people that talent.

   Starr, who currently has a second degree black belt, worked remarkably and tirelessly for her achievements in taekwondo. Not only does she practice taekwondo at Neff Martial Arts, but she teaches it as well at Pro Martial Arts. With so much to do on her hands, Starr works six days a week, leaving one day for a break. Taekwondo is a sport of dedication, commitment, responsibility, and self-perseverance. 

   “Yes I enjoy it because I take the responsibility of my own success and my failures,” Starr said.

   In taekwondo, everything is on the player and their skills, it is not a team sport so much. If a student messes up, it’s their fault completely; and if they win it’s their success. They don’t depend on other people to catch them if they fall. Certainly the pressure is on. 

   Training for competitions is tedious and a strive for perfection. Taekwondo students work on poomse’s—which are forms, or carefully constructed sequences of moves—almost every day in order to perfect them. Poomse’s are what students perform at competitions against other students.  Fellow senior, Paige Anthony understands the dedication Starr requires. 

   “As I progressed I learned to love it more," Anthony said.

   Anthony started her martial arts in middle school, and at first had a tough time keeping up with the pace of learning the forms. But as time progressed she got better at it and learned how to love taekwondo. For everyone it starts out mildly difficult, then slowly gets less and less complicated to understand the rules and forms. 

   The next competition Starr will be attending is the U.S. Open International, in Las Vegas, any countries apt to compete will also be attending. The farthest Starr has traveled yet to a competition is Chicago. 

   Lately, Starr has had a streak of wins, being awarded multiple gold metals. She even beat her own martial arts master at her last competition, placing one above him in gold.

   Reiterating back to when Starr started taekwondo, she has really shown people her talent; something she originally wanted to do. Competing very often has shaped her skills together. 

   Practicing almost every day a week has also led Starr to perfection, every move she makes being strikingly fast, swift, and tight.

Article written by: Ashleigh Beauchamp, The BHS Times