In the Clinch Vol.12

“In the Clinch”
By Coach Woodward

Welcome to ‘In the Clinch’ Vol.12, an up close, behind the scenes look at the Elite Fighting Team (E.F.T.) of Team Intense Martial Arts (TIMA). With Master Catalasan’s permission and support we will bring you inside the inner workings of the E.F.T. As we have touched down, and are now fighting at the Jr. Olympics in Orlando, Florida.

Now that we’re here in sunny, sticky Florida, it’s time to show Orlando what TIMA is made of. For those who’ve been following along thus far we thank you for your encouragement. As I write this particular blog I’m sitting in the dark in Guro’s room with most of the Elite team as they watch a ‘Chick Flick’. The subject of this blog is wisely next door asleep. Like this one, all of the remaining interviews will be posted from Florida, mixed in with our daily updates.

We hope you enjoy this blog as we attempt to make you feel like part of our family. Without your support and encouragement none of this would be possible. Today we conclude our journey which has taken us one by one into the lives of the amazing kids who comprise the E.F.T. We encourage you to share this blog with family, friends, co-workers and anyone else who might benefit or partner with us in doing what we can to give these dedicated athletes the support they need to accomplish all they’ve set out to do.

Please sit back, relax and enjoy being ‘In the Clinch’ with Austin Jacob Woodward. *Disclaimer: This kid is especially close to my heart as he’s my son. If it seems like I’m taking special liberties with him or his story it’s because I am. But he’s mine so I’ll do whatever I want with him. Which is pretty much what he’s been doing since the little terd became a teenager.

Austin is 14 years old and will be a freshman at Kennedy High School. He has been with TIMA for six years. This is his 4th year on the E.F.T. He is a blue belt (4th gup) in Tae Kwon Do. Some of his teammates, Sarina in particular, have informed him his days at Kennedy might not always be as enjoyable as he hopes. For those of you who know Austin, you know that he’s prone to pranks and practical jokes (I have no idea where he learned this). I guess she’s looking forward to evening the score on her home court. Time will tell.

Austin is a peculiar kid. He tends to be quiet and self entertaining. Getting him to talk is like pulling teeth. So, even though he’s my son, his interview went quickly as he just doesn’t like to waste energy and time talking that could be spent sleeping.

Besides training in Tae Kwon Do, Austin also does Muay Thai. He said it’s harder than Tae Kwon Do because, “There are less breaks.” If you’re keeping score, he’s the third of our twelve interviewees to mention this. Now, as someone who also trains in Muay Thai with TIMA, I don’t want to look like I’m taking sides. But three is too many to be a coincidence. I’m just saying. In addition to being Austin’s dad, I often times am honored with coaching him at tournaments. As a coach I was always on him to put a little more power into his kicks. Now that he’s taking Muay Thai that’s no longer an issue. He kicks hard.

Austin has fought in dozens of tournaments. His wall is covered in medals to attest to it. However, when I asked him his favorite memory from a tournament he said he didn’t really have one. He did mention the fights he has with a particular opponent from ‘Hahn’s Tae Kwon Do’. We faced this kid 3 times and it’s always a great fight. The thing is, I really don’t think he has a memory that stands out because he doesn’t get all ‘Geeked’ up for tournaments like most fighters and coaches do.

If you’ve ever seen him fight you know his expression rarely changes. He almost looks bored at times. However, he’s not. Since he was 6 and started playing baseball he’s never been one to let circumstances or pressure get to him. He goes in, does the work that needs to be done and lets the chips fall where they may. It’s a gift for an athlete and sometimes frustrating for a coach when you feel like your fighter doesn’t care as much as you do. But then you realize, he’s just a whole lot calmer inside than you are, or ever will be. What I used to interpret as indifference was just an uncanny ability to focus and find peace in the midst of the chaos of competitive Tae Kwon Do.

Austin listed his friends on TIMA as “Marisa, Chad, Sarina, Nathan, Nicolette, Brooke, basically the whole elite team.” His least favorite punishment is “either the wall or burpies.”
I asked Austin his favorite memory related to TIMA. In a testament to the team building skills of Guro, Austin also named this past summers’ ‘Boost’ camp for teens. When I asked him to be more specific he said, “Just everything was good.” I sensed he was being lazy just a bit so I reminded him of something that happened at Boost that made number one on Guro’s memory list.

Guro said, “I don't know if it's the best or if it's just the one I will never forget. It was when I almost went to jail for teaching him a lesson at BOOST. You gotta love it. It's not a TIMA experience without someone getting in trouble. I just didn't think that person was going to be me! Hahaha.” The event she referenced involved Austin being ejected from a boat and making his way to shore.

So, when I tried to get more out of Austin I simply asked him about, “The Boat.” He laughed a bit and said, “No, I didn’t like that part.” At least he had a sense of humor about it. His answer was also illustrative of the calm and focus I spoke of earlier. Guro’s worst memory was Austin’s best because he focused on the good memories and put aside the bad.

Austin’s worst TIMA related injury happened years ago when he was still just a yellow stripe. It also didn’t happen to him. He was sparring at the end of class with a teammate. Austin executed a roundhouse kick just as Guro called time. His opponent blocked the kick with his left arm and it broke. Funny thing is, nobody knew. Tyler was much bigger than Austin. He was also a pretty tough kid. The team bowed out and he left with his parents without saying a word. I remember the following Wednesday we were in class. I was talking with a mother during class whom I’d never met. She was telling me how much her son was enjoying TKD but that he’d suffered a broken arm and had to take time off. I asked her how he broke his arm. She told me the story I just told you, except she didn’t know the name of the student who’d broken her sons arm. I asked her to point him out to me. She said, “That skinny blonde boy right there” as she pointed at Austin. I was immediately overcome with pride that my ‘skinny blonde boy’ had the power to snap this kid’s forearm. Then I realized I was going to have to admit who I was and apologize. That was awkward I can tell you that.

Here are some fun facts about Austin you may not have known:

Favorite Fighter: ”Willie. He’s fast, strong and he has a funny yell.” (Austin then Imitated it…”husss!”

Favorite Movie: Jack Ass The Movie (To be sure, he likes this movie. However, this answer was designed to get a rise out of his mother who was in the room and a laugh out of you readers. Please don’t laugh. It only encourages this behavior.

Favorite Toy: ”If skateboard counts then that.”

Favorite Sparring Partner:”Probably Nathan cuz if I work him hard enough he’ll do the gorilla yell.”

Favorite Game: Modern Warfare 2 (Which of course is ‘Call of Duty’ but he didn’t want to say ‘duty’.

Favorite TV Show: ”Family Guy and Southpark."

Favorite Food: “Pumpkin Pie”

Biggest fear: “Drunk people and hobos.”

I asked him to share something nobody knows about him. He’s a pretty private kid so I didn’t really expect him to give me something here and he didn’t disappoint. “I don’t think there’s anything they don’t know.” I asked if it’s because he has no secrets or shame and will talk about anything and he said “pretty much.”

Knowing I wasn’t going to get what I was looking for, I pressed ahead anyway wondering who he’d come up with for a hero. “None that stand out. Everyone’s pretty much the same to me.” Along the same line of questioning Austin had this to say about who the three most influential people in his life are. “Let’s see. Um, uh, oh crap hold on. Are you writing that down? This is the part where he realized I was typing every little thing he said. His response? Awww. Ok, Steve-O, Rodney Mullen (pro skater) and Napoleon Dynamite.”

Austin’s favorite thing about TIMA is “Probably going to places with everyone.” Austin is the last of the 12 fighters I’ve interviewed. They’ve all been asked this same question and they’ve all answered in a similar manner. However, none have mentioned training, fighting, sparring or competing. They’ve mentioned the stuff that occurs outside the studio. I just wanted to point that out in case it had escaped you.

I asked Austin about any scars he might have that have a good story attached. I already knew he had many but I wanted to hear his favorite. He immediately answered, “The one on my right eye from when I ran into a weight bench when I was 3 or 4. It was Thanksgiving.” My wife and I remember that one too. She had spent over 12 hours preparing a family dinner for us and some of our extended family. She literally had to leave to take him to the emergency room 15 minutes before dinner was served.

If Austin had three wishes he said, “I’d wish for more wishes. Then anything that comes to mind after that.” I have to admit, I like that answer.

I asked him, “What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?” He said, “Got my skateboard taken away.” Mom, who was standing nearby wasn’t thrilled with his response and jumped in. “That’s the worst thing? Not Brittany?” For those who don’t know we lost our daughter Brittany, Austin’s older sister, to leukemia last year. However, being the private person he is Austin responded to his mom, “I don’t want to put that in there.” Honestly, I agree with both of them.

On a side note here, Brittany loved TIMA. She loved watching her brother’s train and she rarely missed a competition. She would always help me videotape or take pictures. Because of that when I watch back some of the boys’ competitions on video I’m treated to her voice as she cheers them on. I remember Ryan’s (Austin’s younger brother) first class. He joined TIMA a couple months before Austin because Austin wasn’t interested in martial arts. We all sat there watching Ryan. It was Debra, Austin, Brittany and I. Guro started the class with her list of rules. “Always say yes ma’am or no ma’am. No talking when I’m talking, etc.” Brittany turned to me and said, “Dad, you have to put him in this class. Please.” My wife and I actually decided that night he was going to join TIMA. Whether he wanted to or not. Initially, he did not want to do it. However, after a couple of weeks of watching Ryan he started begging us to join. As soon as the next session started we signed him up and he’s been there ever since.

I asked Austin a series of rapid fire questions which he actually gave me an answer too. Here’s Austin’s opinion about some of his teammates. Funniest is “Chad”. The one most likely to become a millionaire is Sara. The teammate most likely to be incarcerated; “Chad, Hands down.” Why is it I think if the day ever comes that Chad get’s arrested I’ll be seeing his parents at the jail bailing out there son TOO? What’s the scariest thing about Guro? “Making her mad.”

At this time I turned to Austin’s family, friends and coaches to learn a little bit more about one of TIMA’s most humorous and talented members.

I asked his mom, my wife, Debra to give us some of her stories about Austin. I asked her what was the best thing about him. She said Tae Kwon Do. After that she was at a loss. So I asked her what was the worst thing about him. Austin, listening in, said, “pushing him out.” Then he laughed at his joke. Mom, however, shot back with, “I didn’t push you out.” Austin was born via C-Section. Austin said, “I’m sorry, Yanked out.” Just a typical conversation in the Woodward household.

When I asked my wife about the impact of TIMA on her son she said, “I think it’s strengthened him as a young man.” Austin, unable to resist himself, muttered “oh ya” in the deepest voice he could muster.

I gave mom a chance to get even with Austin by recounting some of her favorite stories from his childhood. She said, “there’s too many.” But she managed to share a couple. “Oh ya, one that he won’t like. One that’s going to embarrass him. Wait, no it won’t. He doesn’t get embarrassed. I think he was around 4. I was coming home from work and all of a sudden I see a little boy running as fast as he could in his Underoo’s. Austin immediately tried to defend himself here by explaining that, “Jennifer (his oldest sister) was chasing me trying to hug me.” Mom continued,” Then I realized it was our daughter Jennifer. All he had on was his underwear.” In fact, that boy was always in his underwear.

Another story she recalled, “When he used to play baseball with anything. A paper towel roll for a bat and a cotton ball. Or a tree branch and paper wad, in his underwear. He was always just in his underwear. He’d come home from anywhere and immediately strip down to his underwear.”
Mom got back to my original question about the worst thing about Austin and the exchange was hilarious. Before she could even get out an answer Austin began laughing knowing something fun was about to happen. Mom said, “He has a bad attitude, he doesn’t listen and he has a potty mouth.” I asked Austin if he cared to defend himself to which he said, “Nah.” Mom, taking this as a sign of victory stated,”He pretty much agrees.” Austin, who will never let anyone get the last word in said, “I blame the economy.” I laughed out loud at that one. Which I’m sure is what he was going for. That’s one thing about Austin. He doesn’t talk as much as some kids, but when he does it usually leaves you laughing.

Guro said, “As a fighter, Austin is unpredictable, intelligent and daring. He'll throw shots most blue belts would be too scared to throw.” As a person Guro described him as, “random, funny and himself. He doesn't fit society's mold. He is who he is no matter who likes it or not. I respect that.” Your dad respects that too.

Speaking as Austin’s coach he can be frustrating at times. He’s so unconventional that it’s often difficult to get him to deploy simple techniques that will work. However, he usually finds a way to score. His own way. As his dad and coach there’s nothing I can really compare the feeling to. Being in the chair working together with him is an amazing gift TIMA has afforded me. I don’t think he gets it yet. But one day if he has the chance with his son he’ll understand how much it means to me.

Sara said he’s, “Peculiar, peculiar and peculiar. He’s weird, he’s really, really weird. He’s nice sometimes. Oh my God, his hair is so soft. I totally love his hair. I could totally squeal over it.” As a fighter, “He’s smart surprisingly enough. He does high kicks. He has very turny high kicks. He’s very fast.” ”One time at Sarina’s house I tried to push him into the pool but we both ended up in the pool.”

Daphne and Brooke both described him as funny and a smart, fast fighter. Sarina, relishing her chance to get even with Austin for his comments on her blog, had this to say about him. ”He’s cocky, violent, aggressive, and sassy.” As a fighter she said he’s quick and throws a lot of headshots. She was impressed with his angles, but hates his cut kick. “He’s always throwing that stupid cut kick. I hate it. Sarina’s favorite memory of Austin was just weeks ago when, “He kept on hitting me and I kept on hitting him and I got the last hit and he was a failure and I was hiding in the bathroom and he was getting all violent. Then Liz (Sarina’s roommate) was sleeping and I got in trouble. Then he stole my sandals and thought it was revenge but I still got the last hit.”

Marisa said,”He’s really good at cut kicks and his angles are good and his kicks are strong. He has really nice hair.” Seth said, “He’s funny and good at skateboarding. He has hair like a girl.” Nathan heard Seth, then laughed and said, “That’s a good one Seth.” Nicolette said, “He’s funny. He’s the one that makes me smile.”

I heard that a lot from Austin’s friends, that he makes them laugh. He did the same thing with me during the interview. It’s something he does on purpose. Sometimes it makes him come off like a goofball or a smart aleck. But at the end of the day, people usually feel better after an encounter with him. That’s a gift he gives to the world.

I hope you enjoyed being ‘In the clinch’ with Austin Jacob Woodward. In fact, I hope you’ve enjoyed all our kids’ stories as much as I enjoyed bringing them to you. It was truly an eye opening experience. As impressed as I’ve been over the years with these athletes, I now have a whole new appreciation having gotten to know them better as people. I look forward to the next batch of Elite fighters. May they uphold the legacy these kids have established and carried all these years. Perhaps, one day, you or your child will be featured, ‘In the Clinch’.

For the Team,
Coach Woodward