A Journey Beyond the Belt: KK Aleksza

The discussion initiates with an enthusiastic announcement regarding the imminent world championships, setting an anticipatory tone for the episode. As the conversation unfolds, we are introduced to the remarkable guest, KK Aleksza, a third-degree black belt hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina. Her journey into martial arts commenced at the tender age of eight, spurred by a serendipitous encounter during a summer camp excursion. This formative experience ignited a fervent passion for martial arts, compelling her to pursue formal training at Vision Martial Arts, conveniently located near her residence. This narrative not only encapsulates her beginnings but also underscores the importance of community and accessible training facilities in nurturing young talent.

As we delve deeper into KK's experiences, she reflects on her recent season of competition, which she approached with a focus on enjoyment and personal growth rather than mere accolades. Her articulate expression of setting realistic goals resonates profoundly, as she emphasizes the significance of adapting ambitions according to one's life circumstances. This perspective is especially relevant for young athletes navigating the complexities of high school and the transition to adulthood. The conversation further explores her preferred events, notably extreme weapons, where she exhibits a commendable enthusiasm, even as she acknowledges the challenges inherent in mastering intricate techniques like the bo staff. Through her candid revelations, KK embodies the spirit of perseverance, illustrating the gradual progression that characterizes skill acquisition in martial arts.

As the episode progresses, we are invited to contemplate the broader implications of being an athlete who transcends the confines of their physical abilities. KK articulately defines this ethos as embodying a 'black belt in all aspects of life,' demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and leadership beyond the dojo. Her recent charity initiatives, aimed at providing clothing for underprivileged children, exemplify her dedication to making a positive impact in society. The dialogue culminates in a discussion about her aspirations to become a world champion and a professional martial artist, embodying the values instilled in her by her instructors. This episode serves not only as a platform for showcasing an exceptional athlete but also as an inspiring narrative of growth, community, and the pursuit of excellence in martial arts.

Takeaways:

• The episode features an inspiring conversation with KK Alekza, a third-degree black belt.
• KK discusses her journey in martial arts, starting at a young age.
• She emphasizes the importance of setting appropriate goals during different life stages.
• The podcast highlights the significance of community involvement and helping others.
• Listeners are encouraged to pursue martial arts as a career and inspire others.
• The episode concludes with an anticipation of the upcoming World Championships.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Do you guys hear that?
Do you hear that?
It's world championships rightaround the corner.
Let's get started.
Welcome to the ATA Nation podcast.
Welcome back ATA Nation toanother episode of the ATA Nation.

(00:27):
ATA Nation.
We are super excited to havewith us another amazing athlete of
the week.
Can you introduce yourself, ma'?
Am?
Yes, sir.
Hello, my name is KK Alexa.
I'm a third degree black beltand I am from Raleigh, North Carolina.
Raleigh, North.
That's the Vision Martial artsheadquarters area.
So, yeah, with Chief MasterWegman and all of those guys out

(00:50):
there, is that right?
Yes, sir, I am.
Have you been there?
Well, let's do this.
How did you get started inmartial arts?
So I got started when I wasaround 8.
We were still living incentral Raleigh at the time, and
I went to a summer camp thatwas doing field trips and we went
to a martial arts school andthey taught us, you know, basic moves,
kicks, punches, that sort of thing.

(01:11):
And I just fell in love withit and I begged my parents to sign
me up.
And then we moved a littleoutside of Raleigh and we found Vision
Martial Arts.
Had a location for fourminutes from my house.
Perfect.
Oh, my mom got me signed upand it's just been history ever since.
Been doing it ever since.
Excellent.
Well, I was just telling.

(01:31):
We had a legacy retreat theother day and I was just telling
some of my legacy students thevery first time I let met Chief Master
Wegman.
It was a long time ago and itwas a very funny story, but I'm not
going to tell it on thepodcast here.
You'll have to see me inperson for that.
Anyways, what you, you know,we just finished the season.
How did the season go for you?

(01:52):
Yes, so this season I didn'tcompete too heavily.
I was a junior last year, so,you know, starting to look at colleges,
do college tours, that sort of thing.
But my goal this season wasjust to have a lot of fun, make new
friends and see someimprovement in my competition.
Oh, see, I really appreciate that.

(02:12):
I think it is so important forathletes to be looking at the same
season of life that they'rein, to be setting goals that are
smart for that season.
You know, like you said,certain times in high school you
might be like, okay, I'm notgoing to a tournament every weekend.
It's just not going to happenthis time.
But other, other seasons oflife, you're like, hey, I can do
this.
So when you are competing,what's your like, your go to event?

(02:36):
Extreme weapons.
Extreme weapons.
What weapon do you do?
I Do both stuff.
Bo staff.
Okay, very good.
So you one.
Oh, I can see it there.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Whether you're one of the onesthat like throw it way up in the
air and it like spin 12 timesand catch it or something.
I'm not, sir, I'm not quiteavailable yet.
I can do about a half turn currently.

(02:57):
There we go.
Okay, well, you know, babysteps, Baby steps.
There's more than I can do.
I can sometimes throw it upand catch it.
That's about it.
So what is the event that,like, you know, we support all events.
We think all events are great,but if you had to, like, if somebody
was like, hey, you can't doone of the events, which event would
be the one you'd kick out first?

(03:18):
Sparring.
Okay.
I wondered.
I mean, it's funny, it seemsthat they're like, if people are
extreme or forms orientedpeople, the sparring is usually the
one that goes off.
And they're sparring oriented people.
It's one of the forms onesthat goes off.
Okay, I gotcha.
So have you done any team sparring?

(03:38):
I have not.
Not yet.
I'm thinking about it in the future.
Yeah, that's, that's good.
Okay, so, hey, what kind ofgoals do you have?
You said you were junior year,so you're getting ready to go into
your senior year this rightyear, right?
Yes, sir.
Okay, so, you know, this is,you're, you're entering, you know,
this senior year, which islike, okay, what am I going to do

(03:59):
after this?
How's this going to work?
What are you thinking about asyou think forward about your martial
arts goals?
How are you thinking about that?
What are you thinking about asgoals for the future?
So I definitely would love tobe a world champ one day.
So a title run may be in myfuture here in the next few years.
I definitely want to continuedoing martial arts as my career.

(04:22):
I actually just finished up inthe winter.
I went down to or.
I went out to Texas andreceived my advanced certification
from LEE College.
Excellent.
Okay, so you were doing theSong University?
Yes, sir.
I was actually part of thefirst cohort for that.
So that was a great experienceto get through that.
Very cool.

(04:42):
So are you, I assume you're inthe legacy program, you're training.
You know, I know Chief MasterWegman, Vision's got an amazing program
for moving up and training forcareers in martial arts.
Are you part of that whole journey?
Yes, sir, I am.
Very cool.
Okay, so your goal, you'regonna stick with taekwondo.
This is some of the Things.

(05:03):
So we're gonna see you gothrough the master's ceremony someday
and do all these things.
Oh, I love that.
That's so exciting.
Okay, Very cool.
What?
So you are a senior in high school.
What?
Where along that journey inyour martial arts training did you
think, hey, I can do this as a job?

(05:23):
Like, this is something Icould make a career.
How did you start thinkingabout that?
When did that become a realityfor you?
So you mentioned Vision has agreat staff, and that staff is very
supportive of wanting to domartial arts as a career.
So when I was younger, I hadan instructor.
Her name was Ms. Kepley.
She was amazing.

(05:45):
She was my favorite instructorbesides Senior Master Veto and Chief
Master Wegman, of course.
She was the one who inspiredme to become an instructor because
she was just so kind.
She worked with everyone so well.
She brought this amazingenergy to class and made me look
forward to going to classevery day.
So I was like, I want to be aMiss Kepley for another little girl

(06:06):
or student.
And that's when it started.
Yes, sir.
Oh, that's so cool.
I love when people areinspired by others, but then they
see that this is, like, thisis a thing you can really do, you
know, it's.
It's a real career.
You know, a fantastic.
I mean, I. I joke with peoplewhen I do, like, school programs
and whatever that I told them.

(06:27):
I tell kids, I'm like, Iconsidered going to school to be
a teacher in school, and thenI heard that you can't.
You can't kick kids in school.
And I was like, well, atTaekwondo, I get paid to kick kids,
so this is way better.
So it's a.
You know, it's a great career.
You can't go wrong with it.
Well, that is super exciting.
I am so excited to get to talkto another athlete, a leader out

(06:49):
there that is inspiring othersand going to do this as a career.
So what does it mean to you tobe an athlete that goes beyond the
belt?
So to me, being an athletethat goes beyond the belt is being
a black belt in all aspects of life.
So whether that's at schooland you're helping someone else out
with their homework, becausemaybe they're struggling a little
bit in one section, you can goand help them and be a leader there

(07:12):
in your classroom, you canalso be a leader in your community.
Community.
So I actually just finished updoing a charity drive for a local
charity in my area that helpsprovide clothes to children who maybe
need just a little bit morehelp with getting clothes for school.
You can be a leader in yourcommunity that way it doesn't just
have to be in taekwondo classat your school.

(07:32):
I love that.
You guys got a great exampleof doing some great community work
out there with Mrs. Beto.
No.
Mrs. Yeah, Mrs. Beto.
I was gonna say she's not amaster yet this year, right?
She's.
She's getting masters.
Oh, close.
She's so good.
Yes.
Okay.
I have good stories of seniormaster Beto too, but I won't tell
those either.
So that's awesome.

(07:53):
I love it.
Well, ma', am, thank you forbeing one of these athletes of the
week.
Thank you for the inspiration.
I look forward to getting tocontinue to watch you as you grow
into the martial arts career.
More and more go through themastership ceremony someday.
Are you going to go out toWorld Championships this year or
you got to stay home?
I'm thinking about it.
I'm not entirely sure yet.
Okay, well, if you're outthere, make sure you, you stop me

(08:16):
and say hi.
And again, thanks for yourtime and for your inspiration.
Thank you so much for having me.
Ladies and gentlemen, anotherawesome athlete.
I say that every time, butit's so true.
There's so many amazingathletes and in at nation.

(08:36):
And one of my favorite partsabout going to World Championships
is getting to see all theseamazing athletes.
We have some of the cream ofthe crop in the martial arts world.
So inspiring to watch, soinspiring to talk to.
I hope you guys are tuning into all of what's going to be happening
at World Championships.
If you're not able to make itand make sure you are subscribed

(09:00):
on YouTube and Facebook,Facebook, Instagram so that you're
not missing all the livevideos and using that as an opportunity
to inspire yourself and setgoals for the future.
It's all about becoming achampion beyond the belt.
That's going to wrap it up forour episode today.
Really excited about Worldscoming up.

(09:20):
We've got.
I'm going to finish recordingtwo more episodes so that I've got
them all set for one.
I'm out at World Championshipsand these are going to come out while
we're at Worlds even we justkeep trucking along.
Thank you for being a loyal subscriber.
Please share this with a friend.
It makes a great listening orwatching tool as you head off to

(09:43):
Arizona.
Hey guys, get out there.
Become a champion beyond the belts.
Be sure to subscribe and sharewith your ETA family.