Mastering the art
of Tae Kwon Do

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

He has traveled the globe, competing in international tae kwon do tournaments in Italy, Germany and Spain.
He has faced some of the toughest fighters in martial arts.
He was crowned a world champion before the age of 19.
Meet Bob Hanusey.
The black-belt martial artist discovered the world of tae kwon do eight years ago and has been working to excel in the combat sport ever since. In 2004, Hanusey participated in the World Junior National Martial Arts championship in Italy, bringing home medals in power-breaking, free-sparring, fighting and patterns.
"It was a great feeling to be able to represent my country," said Hanusey, 21. "Tae kwon do has influenced so many things in my life. I’ve learned discipline and self-control. I’ve learned to be more poised, and it increases work ethic. Of course it keeps you in shape and flexible. But I value the mental benefits more than the physical."
Despite the personal gain, for Hanusey, the most rewarding part of tae kwon do is his ability to share it with others.
"Tae kwon do is for everybody," said Hanusey, who has been teaching classes for adults and children at the Chalfont Playground for three years. "A friend of mine was teaching these classes and hurt his knee, so I took over for a while. After that I just stuck with it. I never really aspired to be a teacher, but it somehow worked out that way. I just fell into it and now I love it."
And judging by his students’ enthusiasm in class, the feeling is mutual.
"He pushes me physically and mentally every class," said Bobby Hill, who is enrolled in Hanusey’s adult class. "He is extremely dedicated and confident in tae kwon do. He is a natural."
The classes, conducted on Tuesday and Thursday nights, are offered year-round. Students are required to pay for one month of lessons, then have the option to stay or leave.
"Some kids stay for one month or two," said Hanusey. "Others really fit into it and stay. It can be very exciting to watch their progress. It’s so rewarding to see them improve and watch them compete."
While he’s the head of the class on those nights, during the day, Hanusey is a student himself, hitting the books in his second year at the Community College of Philadelphia.
"I started with liberal arts, but I decided this past summer that I wanted to do nursing," said Hanusey, a graduate of Franklin Towne Charter. "I love science and I like interacting with people, so I thought it would be a good fit.
"It works out great," he added. "I go to school in the morning, then I come here and teach. And then I go train myself over at Red Tiger headquarters."
Hanusey teamed up with Red Tiger, a martial arts school based in Philadelphia, almost a decade ago, when his father enrolled him in his first class. He has been training at the school and taking part in competitions ever since.
"My father was a salesman and stopped at Red Tiger and talked to the instructor," recalled Hanusey. "He went to sell him something and the instructor ended up selling my dad on tae kwon do."
Almost immediately, Hanusey and his sister, Ali, started lessons. And the rest is history.
"We both loved it," said Hanusey. "My sister is still doing it. She’s a third-degree black belt."
For students of tae kwon do, it takes about three years of intense training to earn black-belt status, followed by an additional two years to be qualified to test for a second-degree level of skill. Add another three years for a third-degree proficiency — part of the gradual climb to a ninth-degree mastery.
Currently, Hanusey has a second-degree black belt, but he’s not stopping there.
"I regularly train two nights a week, but once competitions get closer it becomes a lot more — usually five nights a week," said Hanusey. "It’s a lot of running, lifting, practicing . . . everything, really.
"It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it," he added. "You don’t need too much motivation when you love what you’re doing. And I love this." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com

Give it your best shot

Tae kwon do classes are offered at the Chalfont Playground, 4330 Deerpath Lane in Philadelphia, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The cost is $45 per month.
No contracts, age restrictions or skill levels are required. For more information, call 215-685-9398.