THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509140149
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Doug Combs' kid can beat up your honor roll student, although she probably won't. Megan Combs is 8 years old, 4 feet tall and 50 pounds. She has big brown eyes, freckles and a shy smile. She can break a 1-by-12-inch board with a single kick.
Megan recently became one of the youngest tae kwon do black belts in the Korean form of martial arts, said her instructor Master Man Bok Chae, an eighth-degree black belt with more than 30 years of experience. He came to the United States 16 years ago.
Megan started taking tae kwon do in March 1993 and ever since has practiced three or four times a week at Chae's Academy on Holland Road. She made rapid progress through the lower belts - white, yellow, green, blue, red and brown.
Not only is the tiny black belt an ardent student herself, she has been a positive role model for someone important in her life: Doug Combs, her father.
``I watched Megan taking it for a couple of months. I decided to try it,'' said Combs, who performed some martial arts maneuvers recently at the studio with his daughter. He began studying under Chae two months after Megan signed up, in May 1993. At 160 pounds, Combs has strength advantage over his daughter, but admits she probably picks up the sport better than he does.
Megan exhibited some of her skill by delivering punches, kicks and a takedown of Dad.
The North Landing Elementary School third-grader said she originally became interested in the ancient art about three years ago, as a Montessori student.
``Some of the kids were taking it,'' she said, smiling and looking away at her dad. ``I thought it would be fun and good exercise.''
Tae means foot; kwon means fist; do means mind in Korean, said Chae. ``We don't use weapons like other martial arts,'' he said. ``Our method is defending and then attacking. We emphasize mind and body working together.''
The self-defense style was born of practical needs.
``The peasants in Asia developed tae kwon do to protect themselves about 2,000 to 2,300 years ago,'' said Doug Combs. ``Many of the peasants used farm tools to protect themselves. In tae kwon do, you the person are the weapon.''
Chae also stresses the relaxed style of the sport. He teaches proper breathing, self-discipline and respect. Students must maintain good grades to remain at the studio.
Doug Combs feels secure knowing that his daughter is learning self-defense, but he downplayed that role:
``For a long time, Megan was the only girl in the class,'' he said. ``I think it has made her realize she doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone in competing. She can do accomplish what she wants.''
The Combses will receive their black belts from Korea any day now. They will have their names, the name of the Chae Academy and Chae's name emblazoned in yellow on them.
The Combses' family only noncombatant, mother and wife Annette, doesn't practice kicks, punches and throws. She does deliver a lot of support:
``I'm so excited for them. They've both worked hard.''
Tae kwon do will become a medal sport in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by Gary Edwards
Doug Combs sets up a high-kicking target for his daughter Megan, 8,
who is r feet and 80 pounds of Black-belted tae kwon do power.
Megan Combs a North Landing Elementary School third-grader,
exhibitted some of her black belt skills by delivering punches,
kicks and a takedown of her 160-pound dad at Chae's Academy on
Holland Road.
by CNB