Justin Wang (Q&A - Aug. 2009)
Justin Wang, 28, of Baldwin Park, Calif., won the 1st senior male division at the 2009 U.S. National Poomsae Team Trials in Austin, Texas, and will represent the U.S. at the 2009 WTF World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 30-Dec. 2. He trains at Chin Woo Quan Taekwondo Academy under Master Alex Wang.
Justin answered the following 10 questions for this month's USAT Athlete Profile...
Q1: What TV show would you like to appear on and what role would you play?
JUSTIN WANG: MacGyver is the person I would like to be. The show (MacGyver) first appeared on the TV when I was really young. He is smart and agile. When he encounters problems or crisis, he did not panic, instead, he uses his brain to get him out of danger. Practicing Taekwondo gives me an edge on physical condition, but at the same time, brains can not be underestimated as well.
Justin (l) at the 2009 U.S. National Poomsae Team Trials
Q2: What's one value your parents instilled in you?
JUSTIN WANG: My parents taught me ever since I was little is to always give one hundred percent and do my best regardless what the challenge is I am facing. They also told me to always stay honest, live with dignity and believe in myself.
Q3: What do you enjoy doing most in your spare time?
JUSTIN WANG: I like to read all kinds of books. Books regarding psychology and child education interest me the most. I see myself not only an instructor of Taekwondo but also an educator. I want to give my students not just the knowledge regarding Taekwondo but also positive attitudes towards life. I also likes to read books regarding injury prevention and rehabilitation. Since Taekwondo is a contact sport and injuries do happen, with that kind of knowledge, I can help my students better.
Justin (center) with his friends Patrick and Kai
Q4: If you're going out for a big dinner, what would you order?
JUSTIN WANG: Porterhouse steak will be my one and only choice and I finish them at once most of the time.
Justin training at National Taiwan Sport University
Q5: Are you looking forward to traveling to Egypt for the World Poomsae Championships?
JUSTIN WANG: I will absolutely worship this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which makes all my hardcore training and sacrifice worth it. Especially, I get to represent United States of America; this is a tremendous honor I will remember for the rest of my life.
Justin (l) and students participate in a drama performance
Q6: What are your plans after your competitive career is over?
JUSTIN WANG: I would like to become a Taekwondo instructor mainly coaching younger kids. And the reason is this way I get to teach them to be respective towards life and other people. At the same time, they get to train hard and grow tall and strong both physically and mentally.
Justin at the Kukkiwon Foreign Instructor Course
Q7: What made you decide to attend Citrus College?
JUSTIN WANG: Citrus College was the logical choice I made due to its close distance to my home. I always knew that I wanted to be a Taekwondo Instructor, so I spent most of my time at the studio practicing my techniques. Citrus College offered a flexible schedule and the overall academy was good and that is why I chose Citrus College over other schools.
Justin (back row, 3rd from right) with Master Alex Wang
Q8: You've completed a sushi preparation course. What is involved in that?
JUSTIN WANG: Through this particular learning course I get to develop better patience and deeper mental focus though the food preparation stages. And something else worth mentioning is you have to always cook with your heart, which will make some of the biggest difference in terms of meal flavor and all the other end results.
Justin (third from right) at the 2009 U.S. National Poomsae Team Trials
Q9: What television commercial did you appear in displaying your taekwondo skills?
JUSTIN WANG: I appeared in all major Asian TV channels nationwide for a credit card service-related company. Please check the link shown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBAYlBThgjI.
Justin appearing in a television commercial
Q10: What was the pressure of the Poomsae Team Trials like for you?
JUSTIN WANG: It was very much like where I have been put under an extreme emergency situation. Which, if I got over panic, my thoughts will be all over the place. But if I stay calm then I would likely save myself. So the pressure was there without a doubt but I'm glad I was able to stay calm and focus, and eventually make it through.
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Past Athlete Profiles
July 2009 - Danielle Holmquist
June 2009 - Kristopher Uy
May 2009 - Chelsea Keiser
Apr. 2009 - Anthony Bell
Mar. 2009 - Amie Szymanski
Feb. 2009 - Brian Gallagher
Jan. 2009 - Shaina Krause
Dec. 2008 - Matt Dunlap
Nov. 2008 - Madison Motoyasu
Oct. 2008 - Rudford Hamon
Sept. 2008 - Alexandra Cinque
