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As a teenager growing up outside<br />
of Chicago, Rachel Lewe experienced<br />
bullying at school. To help<br />
combat the situation, her parents enrolled<br />
her in martial arts.<br />
“I started taekwondo the summer<br />
after my freshman year of high<br />
school,” Rachel said. “The irony of<br />
it is that I never told anyone I was<br />
involved in taekwondo, yet when<br />
I went back to school that fall,<br />
SPORTS SPOTLIGHT<br />
Master of Resilience!<br />
Perseverance Pays Off for Local Resident<br />
taekwondo,” she said. “I began<br />
training at Tiger Martial Arts with<br />
Master Chase Lee, who is one of<br />
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by Karen Nimetz<br />
has incredible energy, dedication<br />
and a positive attitude.”<br />
Rachel, a Phillips Landing<br />
resident, next set her sights on<br />
earning a third-degree black belt.<br />
Unfortunately, she ended up needing<br />
back surgery for a herniated<br />
disc from injuries unrelated to taekwondo.<br />
Most people would give<br />
up martial arts after back surgery<br />
but not Rachel. She stayed focused<br />
while attending physical therapy,<br />
never letting the setback bring her<br />
down. Six months later, Rachel fell<br />
while ice-skating and fractured her<br />
skull. Once again, she remained<br />
optimistic as she healed physically.<br />
Her perseverance paid off, and in<br />
2016, she earned her third-degree<br />
black belt. Master Lee was so inspired<br />
by Rachel’s spirit and drive<br />
that he suggested she train to become<br />
a taekwondo master. Through<br />
her training regimen and tenacity,<br />
Rachel achieved the impressive rank<br />
of taekwondo master at the youthful<br />
age of 50.<br />
Rachel is already thinking about<br />
training for a fifth belt but for now<br />
is content sharing her love of martial<br />
arts with others.<br />
“Taekwondo is a great way for kids<br />
to learn how to handle themselves if<br />
they are being bullied and to give an<br />
outlet for those who are bullying to stop<br />
the negative behavior. The kids we<br />
train learn and value our tenets, which<br />
include courtesy, self-control, indomitable<br />
spirit, perseverance and integrity.”<br />
Rachel says she hopes to inspire<br />
others, especially women who may<br />
be too intimidated to try taekwondo.<br />
“The truth is, you don’t need to be<br />
strong or athletic. It’s really about<br />
proper technique, and anyone can<br />
master that. Everyone benefits from<br />
the confidence taekwondo brings.<br />
There is a saying, ‘A black belt is a<br />
white belt that never gave up.’ If I<br />
can do it, anybody can.” ª<br />
Phillips Landing resident Rachel Lewe (middle row, second from right) achieves<br />
the status of taekwondo master at the youthful age of 50.<br />
the bullying completely stopped,<br />
because I carried myself differently.”<br />
Rachel continued to study taekwondo<br />
in Illinois for many years.<br />
In 2000, she and her husband,<br />
John, moved to Orlando with their<br />
infant daughter, Kate. Rachel withdrew<br />
from taekwondo to focus on<br />
motherhood.<br />
“When Kate was 10 years<br />
old, I decided to get back into<br />
the top taekwondo masters in all of<br />
Florida. My intention was to get my<br />
first-degree black belt and then call<br />
it quits, but my love of the sport only<br />
grew stronger.”<br />
After earning her black belt in<br />
2011, Master Lee suggested Rachel<br />
train for her second-degree black<br />
belt and to become an instructor.<br />
“I saw leadership skills in Rachel<br />
right away,” Master Lee said. “She<br />
29<br />
, 2016<br />
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