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Athlete profile: LeAndra Shotts -- Taekwondo student
Society's stereotypical view of a girl's childhood does not often include martial arts. However, LeAndra Shotts is not your typical 9 year-old.
LeAndra is a Nevada Taekwondo DoJo member, where after two years of hard work and perseverance, she holds a high blue belt, a form of ranking. On Jan. 9, Shotts sparred in the Eye of the Storm Tournament in Joplin where she placed third ---- competing against girls who were two and three years older.
She is the daughter of Carol and Roy Shotts of rural Nevada; and is the youngest of seven children. If that wasn't a big enough family, she has 30 nieces and nephews. Roy Shotts said that they introduced LeAndra to Taekwondo for self-defense and that it "has helped with her attitude and respect."
LeAndra is a third-grader at Truman Elementary and says her favorite subjects are math and science. She loves to learn about sharks and other sea life, and wants to go to college to be a Marine Biologist.
One of six girls at her DoJo (gym), she has been taking Taekwondo lessons from instructor Lee Ogle for two years. She said her favorite things about Taekwondo are that it's a contact sport and she gets to compete at tournaments. Shotts said she is driven to succeed, and looks forward to passing the tests required to advance to a higher belt rank.
Her greatest challenge is simply keeping up with her schedule which includes school, homework, Taekwondo, and church. She attends St. Mary Catholic Church, and regularly participates in Mass as a server.
Her inspiration is Head Instructor Ogle, who himself is a third-degree black belt and black collar. Ogle said the black collar is the martial arts equivalent of a masters degree. He has been involved with martial arts since the mid 1970's and has been teaching martial arts since the 90's.
Ogle said that Taekwondo and the other martial arts have generally remained steady in their popularity over the years. A determined and dedicated student can achieve the coveted black belt in as few as two years. As a testament to those achievements, Ogle has seen people with a martial arts background be selected for job openings over other more qualified candidates based on the their demonstrated determination.
Ogle spoke highly of LeAndra, complementing her aggressiveness but emphasizing that control is essential. An unspoken but unmistakable complement was Ogle asking LeAndra to lead her class warm-up before practice this past Tuesday evening.
Eye of the Storm Tournament results for Nevada Taekwondo
Fred Geunther -- first in fighting, first in exhibition fighting, fourth in forms in Adult Mens division; Adam Geunther -- first in fighting; Faith Gilbert -- second in fighting in Adult Women's Black Belt division, she is also an assistant instructor; LeAndra Shotts placed third; Susannah Geunther -- second in fighting, and fourth in forms.