ARTICLE TWO: Tuesday May 22, 2001

WORK ETHIC PAYS OFF FOR TAEKWONDO’S DOIRON

By Grant McDaniel
The Reporter
Louisdale – Jason Doiron, Taekwondo fighter from Louisdale, was awarded his black belt earlier this month in Cole Harbour.

Doiron points out that the discipline instilled in him by his study of the martial arts has helped him greatly in his other ventures.

“ The year I started Taekwondo, my marks in high school improved greatly. I remember getting a 100 on one of my Grade 12 chemistry tests. I was happy that I had the discipline to study and attend classes. I learned much from my first year of Taekwondo, attaining an orange belt. My marks went up greatly and I was accepted in the Human Nutrition program at St.F.X. Going to university was a big step, and I carried some of that extra discipline with me from Taekwondo, but I still had a long way to go.”

One of the more common misconceptions regarding the martial art’s scene, according to Doiron, is the association people have between knowing how to defend one's self and wanting to move one's skills to the offensive. Prospective students with this in mind have a questionable future in the martial arts, specifically Taekwondo.

Taekwondo, Doiron points out, has as much to do with respect and humility as it does with fighting.

“The most important thing I’ve learned from Taekwondo is that the more you learn, the more there is to learn. I am very grateful to all the people I’ve sparred with especially the higher belts and black belts who were always willing to answer a question I had asked and teach me by action.”

Doiron, currently working for a Service Canada Cap Site out of Louisdale, has been studying Taekwondo for close to eight years. It hasn’t been an easy road as reoccurring ankle injuries have occasionally caused Doiron to take time away from his training. Ironically, none of the five ankle sprains Doiron has suffered had connections to his study of Taekwondo.

“I was having a lot of trouble with my form and my sparring wasn’t quite up to par,” Doiron said in regard to other obstacles he’s faced, specifically his post-university attempts to get his green belt.

“ I failed the test once and was a little discouraged, but it showed me that you have to keep at it if you want something badly enough. I continued sparring and working on my form and the next week I took the test again, and failed again.

“ I was now incredibly determined to receive my green belt. I trained for many hours on my form and sparred every class. When I took the test again, my form went well and then I sparred. This was one of the toughest belt tests I ever had, but it is also one that I am very proud of because I persevered and did not give up.”

Doiron, now with a black belt around his waist, believes there is no substitute for work ethic, particularly when matched with the direction of good instructors.

“Larry Mombourquette was one of my first instructors and I call him the chess master because he showed his students how complicated a Taekwondo match can be. I now train under Kempie Larade who was one of Mr. Mombourquette’s students. Mr. Larade is a wonderful instructor and also an inspiration because he always stays in such great shape and is a great technical and disciplined instructor. Another instructor that I’ve been fortunate enough to train with is Martin Macdougall, the owner of East Coast Taekwondo in Sydney. He is a former National champion and World’s competitor so it has been a privilege to learn from him.”

Doiron also studied under Melvin Hibbs while attending Xavier University. It was under Hibbs guidance that Doiron won his first tournament.

Since than, Doiron has competed and fared well against the best Canada has to offer, culminating with his black belt being awarded him in Cole Harbour by the best in the game, Chong Soo Lee himself. Lee is a ninth degree black belt.

Doiron remains humble in regard to his future in the sport, even though he has raised the eyebrow of Grand Master Lee.

“I know there is still much I have to learn” Jason points out, “ in Taekwondo and in life.”

For more information on Jason’s success in Taekwondo, or for information regarding what the discipline of Taekwondo means to its practioners. Jason’s website can be found at http://clix.to/taekwondocan