7-year-old Bane Averitte stood across from his higher ranked opponent at the national competition in Daytona Beach, FL. The first grader at DeKalb West School had performed well in his first round of sparring in front of a crowd of 350 from 16 states, but now the purple belt student of Middle Tennessee Tae Kwon Do in Smithville, was facing a bigger competitor.
“I was a little worried about the second kid,” Averitte, 6, admits. “He was actually charging at me, and I didn’t get any points.”
Bane ended up placing second in Sparring at the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association, Inc. 2017 Edward B. Sell National Championship 50th Anniversary. During the July 20-22 event, five of the local school’s students competed under the direction of owner and instructor, George Lloyd, 4th dan or master.
Riley Fuson, 11, red belt, joined Bane in competing in the competition for ages 3-13. Amy Averitte, blue belt, Chris Caldwell, brown belt, and Cody Edge, brown belt, competed in the categories for ages 14 and up. Riley and Bane both won 1st place in Extreme Kamas, and Fuson placed 2nd in Sparring, going against an opponent who was one rank higher.
“There was nobody in his weight class and his rank, so he had to fight higher,” explains Lloyd. “He knew it was going to be harder. They’re a lot more aggressive. That’s the second rank in the advance level, so they’re aggressive and they want it. He stepped forward, and he stepped up. He accomplished going after fear, the fear of a higher rank, and the fear of everyone watching.”
“That was a challenge,” says Fuson. “That was probably the best fighting I’ve ever done.”
“I’m proud of these two,” says Lloyd of the two boys’ success. “They’re stepping into the advanced rank. They’re doing good.”
Bane’s mother, Amy Averitte, won 2nd in Forms and 1st in Sparring. Chris Caldwell place 2nd in Sparring, and Cody Edge took 1st in Sparring.
“Our green belt did a great job,” says Lloyd. “Our brown belts did good. Everyone did remarkable.”
Lloyd, who has been a student of the martial arts sport since 1980 except for a ten year break, was added to the association’s Hall of Fame at the tournament. He was named Most Talented Master Instructor and Outstanding Coach and Referee.
“Awsome! I’ll take it,” he modestly responds. “Every five years they do a Hall of Fame. I came back four years ago with gusto, enthusiasm. I started taking classes for refereeing and coaching so I can get the students [motivated] so they don’t get discouraged when they’re losing.”
Lloyd has been operating Middle Tennessee Tae Kwon Do, now located at 301 S. 3rd Street, Smithville, for the last three years. With a goal of reaching the rare accomplishment of 5th degree black belt next year, he plans to keep the doors of his teaching studio open.
“It’s much more than a sport,” he says.
“If you don’t teach, you’re not really learning because leaders are learners,” Lloyd said. “They have to constantly learn from everyone.”
Approximately 57,000 people will earn first degree black belt, but as the training toughens from there, the numbers go down with only 1,000 students advancing to second degree black belt.
To succeed, Lloyd says his students need to set goals, truly try to learn and improve, and simply show up.
“The only way to get better is to do it even if you hate it,” says Lloyd. “One of our mottos is do what you hate the most. You’ll be good at it, and you’ll never hate it later.”
For more information about Tae Kwon Do, contact Lloyd at 615-225-7493 or check his business out on the web, http://mttkd.com.
Archived News & Obituaries