A remarkable achievement.
A student from Long Island has reached a significant milestone by earning a black belt in traditional Korean martial arts at an impressive pace.
“Getting the black belt was my top priority,” said Willow Dubrovin, a senior from West Hampton Beach, reflecting on her journey in an art form that gained popularity prior to Taekwondo’s rise in the 1960s.
“I’m thrilled about heading to an Ivy League school, but honestly, this meant more to me. It’s something I’ve wanted for so long, and now I’ve achieved it,” she added.
As a child, Dubrovin faced challenges in track and field due to migraines and wasn’t drawn to team sports like soccer or basketball.
However, after trying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in high school, she encountered Master John Kim at a local studio and found her passion for Soo Bahk Do.
“I guess I’m a pretty physical person. My sister and I used to bicker a lot, maybe that’s where it started,” she joked. At 18, Dubrovin dove headfirst into training, eager to earn her black belt before graduation.
She began assisting Kim with youth classes and became a certified assistant right after securing her black belt.
According to Kim, “She was training six to seven times a week. I pushed her hard with tough drills, like executing 120 punches in about four minutes and doing a grueling six and a half minutes of core workouts for kicks.” He acknowledged that while it was a collaboration, Dubrovin’s dedication set her apart as an exemplary student.
She’s got skills
Dubrovin’s journey to her black belt over two and a half years also reinforced her overall academic performance.
“Balancing academics and my training has become easier since I started coming here regularly,” said Dubrovin, who has a 4.0 GPA, has completed 14 AP classes, and leads her robotics club that competes internationally.
“Training here helps clear my mind; when I leave, I feel focused and can accomplish tasks more quickly,” she said, as even her master expressed admiration for her impressive balance.
“We refer to her as #tripleb: Brawn, Brains, and Beauty,” Kim noted. “She embodies the complete package.”
Since December, the duo has engaged in specialized training, preparing for a black belt test earlier this month in Baltimore.
From pencils to punches
“The test lasts about three hours, and it’s really tough,” Dubrovin explained.
First, she had to learn and demonstrate all the moves in Korean, performing tasks like 120 punches and 120 kicks in just 30 seconds—half of which involved jump variations.
“The jump kick was particularly challenging for me,” she admitted. “You have to really lift yourself off the ground…it’s way harder than it seems.”
Then came the challenging hyung, a combative form inspired by animals. Dubrovin chose Passai, representing the King Cobra Snake, as it was the most difficult for her.
The test also required her to write an essay on a topic of her choice.
She penned about her life before joining Studio Moodau and how her family moved nearly 30 times before finding stability in East Quogue.
“I never quite understood what it meant to build a community,” she said. “In my essay, I talked about how this studio became my home and how I found my training partners here.”
As she looks for a martial arts club at her future college, Dubrovin aims to honor her master while continuing her training—and she’s excited to receive her first scholarship to Dartmouth.
“I’ve found it much easier to socialize since starting this journey. Training helps me handle pressure better,” she noted solidly.
“I’ve definitely grown as a person during this time.”
