Shannon Howe may only be sixteen, but she has accomplished a great deal since she began her Martial Arts training just over two years ago. She received her Blackbelt on September 25th, 2010. She is the first student to earn her Blackbelt at Achievement Martial Arts, where Ms. Howe trains under Chief Instructor and 3rd Degree Blackbelt Aaron Johnson. She says, of the training at AMA, "I think it is great training. It is always a lot of fun; itʼs a great workout."
Shannon became interested in Martial Arts after she went to see the movie Never Back Down. She had just quit gymnastics and had tried dance, but just was not into it. She says that she convinced her mom to let her do Taekwondo and that is where it all started.
Shannon has received several awards from competing including a Triple Crown State Title in forms, weapons and sparring in 2010. When asked how Martial Arts has helped Shannon, she said, "It is my escape from my everyday world and I am surrounded by people that love me and have the same passion as me when I walk through the doors (of Achievement Martial Arts). It is something that is mine."
Shannon said she hopes she can continue to do Martial Arts in some way, even when she goes off to college.
For inspiration, Shannon looks to other students, her instructor, Mr. Johnson, and of course, her parents who have always supported her along the way. Mr. Johnson said of Shannon, "When someone reaches their goal of Blackbelt, they are no longer just a student but someone others can look to for instruction and knowledge. That is exactly what Shannon is. She is not only able to demonstrate the physical techniques, but she is always willing to give others guidance by talking to anyone at any time about Martial Arts and life in general."
The question was asked to Shannon, what advice do you have for those students working towards their Blackbelt?
"Remember success is a journey, not a destination. You should always keep your goal in mind, but when you practice, you should focus on what you are doing at that very moment because goals do not happen overnight. Once you achieve your goal, it is not about what you can do or what you achieved, it is about all of the hard work and individual steps that got you there that make reaching your goal fulfilling."
Shannon added, "Now that I have achieved my Blackbelt, I look back at every one of my color belts and think about the challenges that they presented and how I overcame them. All of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of my journey to becoming a Blackbelt mean more to me than the Blackbelt itself."