Roster

:: 2007-2008 Cornell TKD Line-up ::

Lightweights

Ashish Banerjee

Class of 2010 Cornell A3 Lightweight Cornell B3 Lightweight

• Why did you start TKD?
  I wanted to join a team. I realized that the things that stuck out in high school weren't academic or anything like that - what you're going to take when you walk away is something else... something you didn't have to do for credit or a grade. Something that you would only have to do as much as you wanted to instead of being forced to commit. That way, we can all be honest about how much we want it. To be honest, there's no external repercussion for not going to a team training on Saturday or skipping a tournament because you have other obligations - the only real effect that you're going to feel is in yourself. You'll know the real reason you didn't make it that day - because you didn't want it enough. And if it really bothers you, then it'll drive you to come back stronger. And if it doesn't, then you don't belong here anyways. Ultimately, I wanted to do something that I could be proud of. I do it for me and my team. Because there's no greater prize that we can win in our lives outside of respect for ourselves and others, people close to us that we'll always care about and want to see the best in. When you really think about it, what is it that pushes you one step further when your lungs are burning, your legs are aching and your vision is clouded out by sweat? It's because I want you guys to be proud of me and know that I'll always give you my all. To give yourself up to someone else like that is the greatest gift of all.
• How often do you train per week (hours/days)?
  Usually try to go at least 3 days per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). Usually go to Friday classes too.
• Will you continue to do TKD after your college career? Recreationally? Competitively?
  I know for a fact that I'll never find another dojang like I did at C.W. Whether I can keep doing taekwondo after a graduate and settle down somewhere else, I don't know if I can feel that same thrill anywhere else. But I'll never stop reliving all the highs and lows that I felt in this school, in the same way that I'll always remember my guys from ultimate in high school, regardless of whether I keep up with it or not.
• What belt rank are you?
  Infinity Dan.
• Do you consider rank a factor when sparring with other people competitively?
  Yeah - in my experience, the lower rank your opponent is, the harder they are to beat. Remember that kid I gapped in a minute? He was a third dan. The same day, a yellow belt marked 18 points against me. It was wild.
• Who is a source of inspiration for your TKD career?
  She'd be embarrassed if I said it openly.
• Who is your favorite teammate? Why?
  All my lower ranks - seeing you guys come up, looking at you when you're white belts and thinking, how is this kid ever going to throw a turning kick. Then comes the day you step up and win that big match, and you think back over how far they've come. It's made me so proud to watch you guys develop, and I know that you're going to be great - you just have to make sure that you stick with it, don't give up, stay mindful, always grow, always listen to your instincts and act smart. I know you have it in you - never give up on it.
• What is/was the defining moment of your time at Cornell?
  After losing to MIT B1 at Cornell, I felt like NYU would have been a failure if I didn't come back to beat him. Getting there itself wasn't easy - I had a hell of a match against Brown's B1 first. But I won - and then I had my chance. And it was a long, hard fight, and a really tough test of will. But in the end, I won, not because I was faster or stronger, but just because I didn't give up. It was a parallel on so many levels of things that I was going through at the time that I just couldn't handle it when things worked out in the end. And I was inspired - as long as you keep fighting, there's always a shot, no matter who you are.
• Anything else?
  I have Econ homework.

Alexander Kim

Class of 2010 Cornell A4 Lightweight Cornell B4 Lightweight

• Coming Soon

Justin Choi

Class of 2010 Cornell A2 Lightweight Cornell B2 Lightweight Currently Out

• Coming Soon

Kenkoku Seino

Class of 2009 Cornell A2 Lightweight Cornell B2 Lightweight

• Coming Soon

Kevin Kim

Class of 2009 Cornell A1 Lightweight Cornell B1 Lightweight

• Why did you start TKD? I started doing TKD in high school for recreational purposes thinking that I would be tough and not get bullied around in school. I still got bullied around in school, but that's not the point. When I came to Cornell, I kept on doing it because a girl talked me into it, go figure.
• How often do you train per week (hours/days)? Technically, I'm supposed to only be training 3 days/week. In reality with having to assist on Friday nights, black belt training, and not to mention additional help, it ends up being 6-7 days/week. It's better now since I have a summer job and my grades are better.
• Will you continue to do TKD after your college career? Recreationally? Competitively? It'd be sad to give this up after all the time you put into it wouldn't it? I'll probably open up a school with the help of some other people; hopefully they are competent.
• What belt rank are you? Red Belt
• Do you consider rank a factor when sparring with other people competitively? I don't consider rank to be a factor in sparring but I do believe that belts are. The length of the belt can quickly turn the tide of a match especially when throwing an axe kick and having a belt that is too long smack you in the face hard enough to cause serious injury. Many of these injuries occur over the course of a day and are a serious threat to the global community. Maybe I should bring this up as an issue at the next INCTL meeting. Having a standardized belt length would lead to less injuries and help eliminate the dreaded plague known as “pushing” and “holding.” If you took any of that seriously, you need to lay off the ‘shrooms.
• Who is a source of inspiration for your TKD career? Chu Mu Yen, the Lopez family, and some of the other top level competitors don't impress me as much as Gordon, Evan, and Harrison. They all had their flaws but they were the A-team that I grew up with and looked up to. People who make mistakes are a lot more interesting then perfectionists. Can you believe I'm an electrical engineer?
• Who is your favorite teammate? Why? Vivian for her ability to deal with my constant moaning about weight cutting, people not coming to practice, excuses for missing tournaments, complaining about professors, etc. I guess Scott and Harrison too for helping A-team win… maybe Lushima and Robbie too.
• What is/was the defining moment of your time at Cornell? When I was a blue belt, I went against MIT A-1 and beat him at a narrow score of 11-10. Once I got out of the ring I broke down on the floor and started crying with disbelief that I had actually beaten one of the best people in the league. I was quickly overshadowed by Harrison breaking that other kid's eye socket… jerk.
  Oh yeah, the time I got slaughtered by Tufts A-1 made me reevaluate my mental game, but that's not really something you want to hear
• Anything else? Don't let yourself be fooled. Holding and pushing are real problems. When observed, please contact your local referee immediately and apply kyoungo's liberally. Side effects may include grabbing, loss of points, heart disease, liver failure, and people in red ties pointing their fingers at you.