Black Belt Girl

Debbie "freak" Thrutchley, age 15

Q: What got you to start martial arts training?

A: Growing up, just about all I watched were karate movies.

Q: How old were you when you started martial arts and how long have you been practicing?

A: My brother first taught me when I was about 5. I've practiced my whole life, but about three years ago, I seriously started training.

Q:How has martial arts training affected other areas of your life?

A:It has taught me a bunch of things, but the biggie has been people skills. That's something you really need if you're going to teach class.

When people hear the words martial arts, karate, or tae kwon do, most think of kicking butt. That's way off. Things I've learned during my many years of hard work and commitment is self control and many ways to control my temper without "openin' a can of whup ass" on someone.

First of all, just because I'm a female doesn't mean I need a big strong guy to protect little ol' me. I've sparred guys two times my weight and well... I've kicked some butt. It's not your size, though it's very helpful if you use it properly, but knowing what you're going to do, how and where you're going to do it, and what your options are if something unexpected happens.

Most of the martial artists you see on the tube or big screen don't get there for fighting well, but for moving gracefully. Martial arts "forms" are similar to gymnastic floor exercises. A lot of the forms are put to music. For example, the one I'm working on now is to the rhythm of Gravity Kills' "Guilty." A very popular song is the Mortal Kombat movie theme song. The music does not have to have a fast beat -- the old musical forms are to classical music. Forms are used to prepare for a fight scene.

During sparring class one night, this guy and I were getting ready to fight. He was way bigger than I was and most likely stronger, so he thought I would be an easy kill. We had never sparred before. We started, and about halfway through, I had him literally running from me. For about a week or so, people teased him about it.

I'm a novice black belt, assisted instructor, and a member of the demo team. Since I want to get high on the totem poll in martial arts, I have to train a whole load of hours a week. It's hard, since I'm like a lot of teenagers with a busy social calender. But somehow I get my social life, school work, time to myself, and training in. People think I'm like Superwoman because of the way I manage everything.

There's so much more to martial arts. It's worthwhile to try even though you may be small, or not that strong. There's a lot of history in every weapon and technique. Like did you know the nunchucks were orginally used to beat the grain.