tkd yearbook2

Dear Club,

Thanks for one of the most memorable years that I've had with MIT Sport Taekwondo. This concludes my 15th season with the club (amazing) and each
year brings its own personalities, leaders and challenges. This year, I felt that the character of the club was challenged as we had a number of notable
leaders and alumni leave or retire from competition (Matt, Machine, Lori, Stallworth, Shirley, etc.) and we had two new captains in Enrique and Andy
joining George. The club being a quiet bunch, I was hard on you but also I felt that you all responded as well. It didn't always come out in competition but I
felt that the entire year was an exercise in discovering ourselves and developing our identity and confidence, and I couldn't be more pleased about how
we ended up, as a small but cohesive unit firing on all cylinders and with fire in our eyes.

Thanks to our exec board and officers, led by Casey, Kevin, Yang, Tahin and Andy. You each were outstanding in your roles, especially in a transitional
year like this. Casey brought an efficient and to the point style of leadership that always stayed a step ahead of the club's needs. Kevin was active, helping
in many ways both administratively and also mentoring the younger members of the club. Yang managed an outstanding kickathon and expressed herself
more and more assertively throughout the year. Tahin was a steady and responsible member of the club, managing the chaotic role of tracking down
payments without getting (outwardly) frustrated. And Andy was spectacularly calm in the extremely stressful and ever-demanding role of Tournament
Coordinator.

Our three captains managed well in a year with lots of ups and downs. Enrique brought maturity and spread a consistent positivity that was just as
important to help me as much as the club. George, who was not healthy for much of the year, kept his head up and was an encouraging and down-to-
earth mentor to the junior members of the club. Andy, the youngest of the captains, led by example, working harder than everyone else on the mat in
addition to her exec duties and it paid off big at the last tournament of the year. So glad to have all of them!

Thanks to our alumni instructors this year - especially Cwilli, Tara, Machine and Tiffany. Cwilli often substituted for me when I was called away often on
other business and I know he did an outstanding job with sparring classes and was a trusted senior for everyone on the team. Tara continued her ninja
school tradition, giving our beginners a solid base, in addition to anchoring the whole league as tournament committee co-chair. Ask anyone in the league
who most embodies our ECTC spirit and it's Tara as evidenced by her cheering section at nationals. Machine came up huge at collegiate nationals the
year in forms and I know her friendship and leadership among her classmates was a big deal. Tiffany was a huge help with her consistency and was both
a friend and mentor to many in the club.

This year means the end of an era for our seniors and graduating students, but also the start of a new and exciting journey as well. I hope that all of our
departing members carry the MIT Sport Taekwondo spirit forward in whatever they do - passion, self-belief, courage and execution under fire, and
dedication and service to your teammates.

Here's to an amazing year,

Dan Chuang
Head Instructor
MIT Sport Taekwondo

p.s. Thank you to Jean for putting together what I am sure will be an awesome yearbook! I know these are a lot of work so I hope that everyone
appreciates and cherishes them.

Dan Chuang Anye Li

Rank: 5th Dan Rank: 3rd Dan
Favorite Memory: Seeing everyone's Favorite Memory: Late night
preparation, hard work and desire celebration
come together at the UVM
tournament this April. Tara Sarathi

Chris Williams Rank: 3rd Dan
Favorite Memory: Watching them be
Nickname: CWilli awesome all season long!
Rank: 3rd Dan Quote: “Never give up, never
Favorite Memory: Maria point surrender.”
gapping some girl with 4 crescent
kicks in the clinch

Andy Guatemala Aziz Abdellahi

Nickname: Angel of Death Rank: 1st Dan

Rank: 1st Dan Favorite Memory: Seeing a new
generation step up and take
Favorite Memory: Winning. On a leadership. Good job, guys!
serious note, I really enjoyed the IAP
snowboarding trips! Quote: “With hard work, nothing is
impossible.”
Quote: “Never rest, until your good is
better, and your better is best.” Maria Alexis

Enrique Fernandez Rank: 1st Dan
Favorite Memory: All the random things
Rank: 1st Dan we do, like paddleball, ultimate, conga
lines...
Favorite Memory: Watching Quote: "You can't connect the dots
everyone in the team fight so hard at looking forward; you can only connect
UVM and going to Nationals with the them looking backwards. So you have to
team. trust that the dots will somehow connect
in your future."

Tahin Syed Tam Nguyen

Rank: 1st Dan Nickname: OST 2.0

Favorite Memory: surviving my black Rank: 1st Dan
belt test with everyone supporting
and “taekwonsnow” Favorite Memory: Too many…I don’t
Post-tournament meal: Taco Bell know…does paddleball count?
grande meal after Cornell

Tiffany Chen

Nickname: OST
Rank: 1st Dan
Favorite Memory: Traveling with the
team to all of the tournaments!
Favorite kick: Scorpion kick

Favorite quote: "Do not train for
perfection, train for excellence." - Master
Southwick

Captains Executive Board Officers

Andrea Guatemala Casey Denham Jean Chow Eric Klinkhammer
Publicity Chair/ Equipment Manager
Captain President Webmaster
Meredith Benson
Enrique Gonzalez Kevin Hu Eric Chen Media Chair
Captain Vice President of External Social Chair
Relations Chris Williams
George Cheng Jessica Chen Alumni Chair
Captain Yang Dai Social Chair
Vice President of Operations
and Fundraising

Tahin Syed Olga Shestapalova
Treasurer Social Chair

Andrea Guatemala Rachel Harris
Tournament Coordinator Equipment Manager

Michelle Chen

Nickname: Machine

Rank: 3rd Dan

Favorite Memory: the new tradition of introducing oneself with one's favorite ice cream flavor

Dear friends,

I feel blessed and honored to be a part of this club for the past five years. Prior to coming to MIT, I was trying to figure out what clubs I
would join and participate in. MIT Sport Taekwondo caught my eye, but also scared me. I read all of the Tech articles about how we
dominate all of the tournaments and how fierce our members are. I was scared. At some time during orientation, I was roped in by
upperclassmen. And here I am, five years later, still a member of the club.
Sport Taekwondo has shaped who I am today. Coming in as a black belt is hard without a "true" belt group, but I've always found comfort
in the rest of the team. I've always learned from the other members whether at MIT or at CW. From our community, I learned what it
takes to excel. I’ve learned what it is to speak in front of a group. I’ve learned what it means to win for the team. Outside of the club, these past few years have been a
whirlwind being able to travel with Carissa, Miyako and Master Chuang as part of Team Kofu Machine. Even though they will not see this, I still wanted to thank them for what
we’ve done together in Korea, Bali, China and to Korea again.
This year has been a challenge for me trying to figure out where I fit in within this club. I decided to not compete in ECTC for personal reasons, but knew I had to compete at
Collegiate Nationals. I hope that everyone is willing to challenge themselves. Winning isn’t anything. Learning is everything.
I love our community and am proud of us wherever I go. People who start as white belts have suddenly become black belts. People who used to never do sports are able to
run and kick like never before.
I have made friends who I will always cherish especially because everyone is so willing to eat ice cream with me. :P But in all honesty, I am thankful for these friends who
listen to me rant about anything. Here is a short dedication to people: To George for listening to me complain about everything. To OST for feeding me food and hanging out
with me. To Tara for teaching me all along the way whether when we were team members on A1 or how to instruct the club members. To Jeanbean for being such an
awesome little. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to run, laugh and chat with. To Maria Alexis for running with me. To CWilli for being so nice to me even when I did
punch you back that one time. To Tam and Enrique - try not to work too hard. Eating ice cream is more important. :P To my little kiddies, I love you guys (Nina the Ninja,
Ashley the Assassin, Sam the Smash, Caitlin etc. - All the turtleducks) You guys rule. Keep it up. You guys inspire me to be better. Teaching you guys have been awesome.
To people who were teachers/mentors/friends before - Erika, Matt, Alicia, Rene, Shirley, Isaac, etc. To people who were not listed, I’ve been touched by every one of you guys
even if you don’t think I notice (I mean you Wesley and Ruben). A huge thank you to Master Chuang for teaching me and showing what Taekwondo can mean.
I’m going to be working in Boston so I will still see everyone around.
Keep the MIT Sport Taekwondo community strong. Love each other. Talk to each other whether through the school year, the summer or beyond. Embrace each other.
Mother Teresa once said, ““Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in
your eyes, kindness in your smile.”

Love,
Machine :)

Casey Denham

Rank: 1st Dan

Favorite Memory: Consuming large quantities of food with teammates after tournaments - everyone is tired so it's pretty
quiet and you can just see the happiness on people's faces as they eat.

I can't even begin to imagine where my MIT experience would have taken me if it weren't for the club. Since my freshman year,
taekwondo has been a constant in my life, although it continues to grow in importance. I think the biggest lesson that the club, and
taekwondo in general, teaches is to push past and grow when things are uncomfortable. Whether that's lack of cardio, losing 10 matches
in a row, moving from C team to B team, or being in a leadership position. It's not that you won't remember the times of stress, anger,
sweat, and tears, but that the times that come after have much more weight. You'll also remember the friends you had along the way,
those who trained, fought, won, and lost with you. And remember: you get out of taekwondo what you put in.

George Cheng

Rank: 1st Dan

Favorite Memory: Everything :)

Dear Team,

MIT Sport Taekwondo has been an integral part of my life throughout my time here at MIT, ever since I first started Taekwondo my
freshman year when my friends signed me up for the fall PE class when I didn't wake up for PE signups. It has been a bumpy road, littered
with success and failure, highs and lows, being healthy and having to do PT for months at a time, but throughout all of this, one thing
really stuck to me - how much like family this community is. The instructors and peers who spend time and effort to help and push you
improve are also your close friends, offering aid and advice. It was this community that taught me to have the strength to push myself
time after time I got injured, to get healthy in order to be able to kick again. AS such, I don't think I can express just how grateful I am.

Looking back, I did not at all expect to be who I am today, least of all how large a part Taekwondo plays in my life. I want to thank everyone - Master Chuang, my seniors,
instructors, and everyone else for guiding me in my Taekwondo journey, and making Taekwondo such an important aspect of my life.

Jessica Yang

Nickname: Jess

Rank: 1st Dan
Favorite Memory: Getting food on a sunny morning out in California. So beautiful, so peaceful, so delicious.

Dear Taekwondo Club,

Thank you for four heartfelt, joyful, exciting, challenging, and awesome years. These times have been some of the very best times of my
life.
There is nothing like that moment in the ring when you're fighting, you're determined, you feel so alive, and you score a headshot.
Nothing like cheering for your teammate's very first match. Nothing like making it to your dreams with the help and humor of such
amazing friends. Nothing like laughing together over food on the way back.
To my seniors - thank you. To lower belts - keep loving every moment of it! To my friends (YOU ALL) - I love you. I'll miss you. I'll be back.

Kevin Hu

Rank: 1st Dan
Favorite Memory: Consuming large quantities of food with teammates after tournaments - everyone is tired so it's pretty
quiet and you can just see the happiness on people's faces as they eat.

Hey Team,

As you probably know, I don't really like being super-emotional. So, I'd just like to thank you all for being a part of the MIT Sport
Taekwondo team that has been instrumental to my happiness in recent years. Please continue to train hard and keep our community
alive so that we may share the joy of taekwondo. I'll do my best to visit frequently next year! To our newest members: keep fighting!
Every one of the black belts that you look up to now started from somewhere - just three years ago, I was in your shoes. If you work hard
and have faith in Master Chuang and your instructors, you will see amazing improvements year to year.

Keep kicking!

Eric Klinkhammer

Nickname: Klink

Rank: Black Stripe
Favorite Memory: I really enjoyed exploring Berkeley at the 2014 Nationals with the team and all of those fun nights in Sid
Pac.

Thank you everyone for an amazing two years. I have had a great time practicing, competing, and just enjoying life with the team. Joining
the team was truly a life changing experience, and I am extremely grateful for how helpful and accepting everyone has been.

You are all truly a special group of people, and I hope you can continue making the club such a welcoming and enjoyable place.

Ajay Saini Nicholas Hensel

Rank: 3rd Dan Rank: 2nd Dan
Favorite Memory: Tournaments Favorite Memory: Receiving timeless
Favorite post-tournament meal: tattoos from Jackie, Manuel, and
Panera after UVM Tahin.

Emmanuel Hernandez Olga Shestopalova

Rank: 1st Dan Nickname: Killer
Favorite Memory: MIT tournament Rank: 1st Dan
Favorite post-tournament meal: Favorite Memory: Learning to
beginning of the year black/color snowboard over IAP!
dinner Favorite kick: any kick to the face

Renee Zhao Jackie Wu

Rank: 1st Dan Rank: Double black stripe
Favorite Memory: Jean Chow
Favorite Memory: Tournaments,
nationals, winding down after a hard Ruben Amaez
practice, sharing meals, watching
Master Chuang coach, and playing Nickname: Cannon
juice games. Rank: Double black stripe
Favorite Memory: Fighting with
Favorite post-tournament meal: Boba everyone at UVM this year.
Quote: Pain can last for a minute, an
Jean Chow hour, a day, a week, even a year. But if
you give up, that pain will last forever.
Nickname: Jeanbean

Rank: Double black stripe

Favorite Memory: Snowboarding
over IAP, Nationals, CW practices
Favorite post-tournament meal: BBQ
ribs after making weight for Nationals

Yang Dai Wesley Cox

Nickname: Potato butt Rank: Black stripe
Rank: Double black stripe
Favorite Memory: All those long bus Favorite Memory: the first time I ever
rides… medaled, which was back in C team. I
Favorite post-tournament meal: ice was only an alternate for the team
cream cone from mcdonalds that day, yet I got two matches in and
won them both. We finished out the
Jonas Helfer day winning silver.

Rank: Red Favorite kick: nada-17
Favorite Memory: Summer practices
on Kresge lawn Rachel Harris

Rank: Red

Favorite Memory: Playing frisbee,
and going bowling, and going to Six
Flags over the summer.

Favorite kick: the type that hits Cwilli
(who is really all rainbows and
sunshine) =]

Akwasi Owusu-Akyaw Lauren Huang

Nickname: Duck face Rank: Blue

Rank: Blue Favorite Memory: The Secret Santa
exchange at Winter Banquet! OST
Favorite Memory: Getting into also stands for Old Stinky Tara now.
sparring matches and hearing people
cheer each other on! Quote: "A friend is someone who knows
the song in your heart and can sing it
Favorite kick: Flying side kicks. Who back to you when you
doesn't like flying side kicks? have forgotten the words." –D. Roberts

Ashley Wang Caitlin Fischer

Nickname: Assassin Rank: Green

Rank: Green Favorite Memory: In the chilling winds of winter,
when it was (probably not that) cold, we went to
Favorite Memory: Pretty much every get ice cream after practice, then promptly
practice, even the ones where I almost decided to eat it outdoors. We huddled together
fainted. like penguins as we chatted and shivered. Friends,
Favorite post-tournament meal: HOT Taekwondo and ice cream made for a really happy
POT WITH TARA AND THE night, especially in the midst of a hectic semester.
TURTLEDUCKLINGS!
Quote: it seems like we're always in a perpetual
state of crisis here' - Master Chuang

Dabin Choe Manuel Guillen

Rank: Green Rank: Green
Favorite Memory: Being adopted into Favorite Memory: Hanging out with
the "turtleduck" group after coming everyone at Toscanini's and at the
back to the club post-nationals party & freshmen/C-
team bonding.
Mitchell Hwang
Nina Anwar
Rank: Green
Favorite Memory: Flying sidekicks Rank: Green
over the black shields. Favorite Memory: C team bonding
Favorite kick: Cut Kick and hearing stories from older team
members

Sam Amey-Gonzalez Artem Timoshenko

Nickname: Smash Nickname: Time
Rank: Green stripe
Rank: Green Favorite Memory: A-teams' sparring
at Vermont - you guys are so
Favorite Memory: Spending the weekend professional!
with everyone at nationals.
Heeyoon Kim
C-Team Outing at Allston: Nina and Sam
seeing lychees: Rank: Green stripe
S-"It looks like octopus." Favorite Memory: First off-campus
N-"These are longan and they're similar." tournament at Brown!
S-"So squid?"

Edward Vargas

Rank: Green Stripe

Favorite Memory: Post-Princeton
tournament
Quote: Don’t worry; our paths will cross
again

Banti Gheneti

Rank: Yellow

Favorite Memory: Cheering for the
MIT TKD teams at UVM.