This is the first in an ongoing series about the younger members of our community. If you know of a young person who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in academics, sports, the arts and literature, volunteerism or other areas, let us know.
Ten-year-old Jordan Marks proudly held up a strip of fabric with his Hebrew name embroidered in yellow letters against the black background.
A moment later, he bounded away, returning in a white uniform with the personalized belt tied around his waist.
The belt Jordan displayed was no ordinary belt. It signified his rank as a first-degree black belt in tae kwon do.
All three Marks children — Jordan and his two sisters — study the Korean martial art of tae kwon do, and both Jordan and Rebecca, 14, have achieved the rank of black belt.
Rebecca recently became a second-degree black belt.
Rebecca, an incoming freshman at Brown Deer High School, celebrated becoming a bat mitzvah about 18 months ago, with a tae kwon do-themed party.
She described the centerpieces at her party, which featured a tae kwon do bobble-head figure. “It was a guy,” she said, “because we couldn’t find a girl.”
The Marks children, including seven-year-old Michaela, who is a high yellow belt, go to tae kwon do practices at least once or twice a week. Rebecca and Jordan have been studying the martial art for five years, and Michaela started as a “little ninja” a little over a year ago.
“Dad wanted to teach us discipline,” said Rebecca, explaining why she started taking tae kwon do when she was nine or 10 years old.
“The incentive I gave them to become a first-degree black belt is to get them a belt with their Hebrew name on it,” said father Mitch Marks. “I mentioned it once, and they forgot, so I surprised them with it.”
But discipline isn’t what keeps the Marks’ kids going to class. “I like going to see my friends,” said Rebecca. She added that she also enjoys chimbara (Korean sword fighting) and sparring.
Though Jordan said that going to the regular classes is the hardest part of practicing the martial art, he added, “I love breaking boards.” He and his sister agreed that wearing protective gear is uncomfortable.
Jordan began tae kwon do when he was five. He expects to become a second-degree black belt within six months. A broken pinkie finger delayed the achievement.
In addition to tae kwon do, Jordan enjoys playing baseball. He will be a fourth-grader at Brown Deer Middle School this fall.
Michaela, who recently finished first grade at Dean Elementary School, resisted starting tae kwon do at first, but now enjoys it. “I was like, ‘No way, I’m not going there!’” said Michaela. “Then they [parents] were like, ‘You have to,’ and I said ‘Fine.’”
Michaela now enjoys sparring, especially without gear, and using the kicking bag in class. She looks forward to someday attaining the rank that her brother and sister have achieved.
Having reached the rank of second-degree black belt, Rebecca credits hard work for her accomplishments.
“Anybody could do it if they set their mind to it,” said Rebecca.
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