Duncan Ziegler has been with the Lakewood school for many years, and while his fellow black belts keep teasing him because he’s very far behind on preparing for his 2nd Dan, we are very proud of him, In addition to helping Mr. Hargrave teach the Kinder Kicks class every Saturday, Mr. Ziegler will soon be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. This is a very high honor that very few reach.

1. What got you into taekwondo?

When I was seven a friend invited me to my first class and I never looked back.

2. What’s your favorite thing about taekwondo?

My favorite thing about Tae Kwon Do is the art. Tae Kwon Do is as much an art as a fighting style and I love that perfect moment when mind body and spirit come together in harmony to create one single movement just as beautiful as a painting or concerto.

3. Have you studied any other martial arts?

No, I have never studied any other martial arts. In the future, I would like to study both Muay Thai kick boxing and Kendo.

 4. What do you do when you’re not doing taekwondo?

When I am not doing Tae Kwon Do, I am usually doing one of three things: studying for school, camping with Boy Scouts, or lazying around the house.

 5. What aspect of taekwondo have you struggled most with?

There are many difficult aspects to Tae Kwon Do. The one I struggled with the most throughout the ranks was generating power in my strikes and kicks. Breaking a board might seem easy for a large 200 pound man, but for a scrawny seven year old, it is a daunting task.

 6. Favorite weapon and why?

My favorite weapon was is and always will be the bow staff. It has grace and style all wrapped up into one seemingly harmless five foot pole.

 7. Favorite technique and why?

There are so many fun techniques to choose from, it is hard to decide. I have always liked using my knees and elbows when I can, but I also like pressure points and joint locks.

8. How has taekwondo changed you?

Tae Kwan Do has given me a huge confidence boost when I come up against a challenge, no matter what it is — from a math test to a pubic speaking assignment. I think to myself “This is nothing. I’m a black belt. If I can get my black belt, I can totally beat this.”

9. What would you tell someone just starting out in martial arts?

I would tell a beginner of Tae Kwon Do that the most important thing you can bring to class is perseverance. Like any thing else, martial arts is hard. You won’t be good at first but with perseverance, you can push through any adversity and accomplish anything.

10. What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Something that most people don’t know about me is that I am dyslexic, which is the fancy term for having a reading disability. I have struggled with reading and spelling since I was very young, but with lots of hard work and some amazing teachers, I can now cope with it and it hardly slows me down.

 11. Favorite form?

My favorite form is E Chan Shim Bu. It has a symmetry to it that I deeply enjoy.

 12. Favorite season?

My favorite season is spring when everything is coming back to life (even though it kills my allergies).

13. Favorite book/author?

My favorite book series is the Dragonback series by Timothy Zahn.

 14. Favorite movie or tv show?

My favorite movies are The Lord of The Rings trilogy.

 15. Favorite quote?

My favorite quote is “Be the person your dog thinks you are”. If you don’t understand the quote, you don’t have a dog.

16. Favorite food?

My favorite food is a good BLT, hold the T.

17. Favorite ice cream flavor?

My favorite ice creem flavor is Death by Chocolate.

18. Favorite super hero?

My favorite superhero is Green Lantern and his power, which is controlled by imagination.

19. What hobbies do you have?

My favorite hobby is camping with the Boy Scouts.

20.  Pets and/or kids?

I Have two dogs: a beautiful chow-golden retriever mix and an adorable pure blood Welsh Pembroke Corgi.

21. Vampires, werewolves, or  zombies?

Out of the choices of vampire, werewolf, and zombi, I go with the forth option of gargoyle.

 22. Ninjas or pirates?

Pirates or Ninjas?….Yes.

 23. Star Wars or Star Trek?

I enjoy both Star Wars and Star Trek, but in very different ways.

 24. Hero?

I have many heroes, ranging from Bill Cosby and Clint Eastwood to J.R.R Tolken and Isaac Asimov.

25. What super power would you want to have?

If I could have a super power it would be a green lantern ring.