Taekwondo and Self-Defense Club packs a punch

Club aims to help students stay fit, become more confident in themselves

By California State University, Bakersfield

November 1^st, 2023

Editor's note: This article is part of an ongoing series focusing on active student clubs and organizations on campus.

Aaron Jones remembers when he first started learning the Korean martial art of taekwondo as a child.

He was around 8 years old when his parents first enrolled him in a neighborhood dojo, mostly to help him become more fit. Jones wasn’t sure about it at first, but he quickly grew to enjoy and excel at taekwondo.

“I loved everything about it — the people, the art itself,” he said. “I was constantly learning and challenging myself.”

Jones is now a third-degree black belt who is teaching others as part of a Taekwondo and Self-Defense Club that he started California State University, Bakersfield last fall. The group meets each Monday afternoon in the Solario Room inside the Student Recreation Center.

The meetings include stretches to help with flexibility, lessons on proper kicking and punching technique as well as strength exercises.

“I know it’s expensive to get into a studio, so I wanted to give back and provide a different way for people to learn taekwondo,” Jones said. “I want to have people fall in love with taekwondo like I did and have it be accessible to them.”

Jones said it was also important to him that the club include a self-defense component, as he understands that many college students have concerns about being physically assaulted while on campus.

“I try to teach how to apply taekwondo moves for self-defense in a real-world situation,” he said. “I really hope that I can successfully teach people a way to defend themselves. I know that’s a big issue.”

Anyone is welcome to join the Taekwondo and Self-Defense Club regardless of prior experience, Jones said. Its members have a range of experience, with many learning taekwondo for the first time.

“I try not to make it too difficult on the body. I want to be accommodating for people who are just starting and help them get them acclimated to it,” he said.

Fellow student Cynthia Barrientos joined the club last fall without any prior experience. She was particularly interested in the learning some self-defense techniques.

“It’s been really fun,” she said. “I’m seeing how much I’ve grown from last fall. I can see a lot of improvement in my flexibility. I feel like it’s increased my confidence. I’ve never had to put these moves to work in real life, but I feel like I could handle myself better if something ever happened.”

Maricruz Juno is a new member of the Taekwondo and Self-Defense Club, having joined just this semester. However, unlike many of the other members, she has over a decade of experience in taekwondo and has a black belt like Jones.

Juno, a Los Angeles native, said she wanted to join the club because she didn’t have close access to the dojo she attended and taught at in LA.

“I want to help contribute my teaching skills and share what I’ve learned with others,” she said. “Aaron is also teaching new things I haven’t learned, so it’s been amazing. I love that he is makes us work as a team, not just individually.”

Juno — who one day hopes to open her own dojo — encourages all CSUB students to give the club a try, regardless of experience or fitness level.

“I feel like it’s an opportunity for everyone to join and show what their skills are, an opportunity for everyone to contribute something,” she said.

Jones believes student clubs are important to have on campus because they help create camaraderie and sense of belonging.

“It allows you the opportunity to see what you like and try different things,” he said. “It’s good for students to interact with each other and build friendships.”

While leading the club has been personally rewarding for Jones, he also believes it’s helped give him skills that he could apply to a future career. He is majoring in environmental resource management and expects to graduate next academic year.

“It’s helped me become a stronger leader,” he said. “Teaching is very fulfilling, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m so happy I’ve been able to provide this to club to students.”