All five Poway family members now wear black belts

By Emily Sorensen

Family togetherness is important, and the Sanchez family of Poway has found a unique way to achieve this: by all receiving their black belts in taekwondo.

Fernando Sanchez, his wife, Zulma, and their three boys Abiel, 13, Joash, 12, and Ethan, 7, are now all black belts in the martial art taekwondo, something Abiel and Joash started practicing about five years ago, with their father joining them two months later, and their mother and then-3-year-old brother a year after that. “I think we were really looking for an activity we could do as a family,” said Fernardo Sanchez. “We thought taekwondo was a good idea we could do to stick together.”

The love for taekwondo has even spread to Sanchez’s 67-year-old father, who is now halfway to earning his black belt at the Poway ATA Martial Arts studio, where the family trains.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that combines combat and self-defense techniques with exercise.

Abiel and Joash received their black belts about a year-and-a-half ago, and now spend their time continuing to train for the next level of black belt. There are nine ranks of black belt. “Once you become a black belt, it’s only the beginning of the story,” said Sanchez. “It doesn’t mean you’re a master. It just means that you know the basics [of taekwondo].”

Despite having their black belts, Sanchez said his sons don’t brag. “They don’t publicize [having their black belts],” said Sanchez, “but those who do know think it’s cool and want them to show off their moves.”

Being an adult learning taekwondo was a learning experience for Sanchez. “It took humility to be a lower belt than my sons, and to listen to the younger taekwondo instructors,” said Sanchez.

The family bonding hasn’t been the only positive side effect of taking up taekwondo. Sanchez said he’s lost 10 pounds while earning his black belt, and has been able to keep it off.

Taekwondo has also helped his children develop social skills, respect and discipline, said Sanchez, and even helped his wife, Zulma, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. “My wife was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer,” said Sanchez. “She started chemo but kept training [for her black belt.] I think her decision to never stop going to taekwondo gave her something to look forward to. She took it as a goal, to not stop going.”

Zulma continued training throughout chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, said Sanchez. “As a matter of fact, it seemed to me that her taekwondo training actually helped her face the uphill battle with more courage and grace than we ever thought possible,” said Sanchez.”

Sanchez, Zulma and Ethan received their black belts in December, though Sanchez could have received his earlier. A year ago, Sanchez was presented with his black belt. Instead, he gave it back to his instructor, and asked to be demoted to blue belt (a lower rank), so he could train with his wife as an equal, as her fight with cancer had slowed down her training. “I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house,” said Sanchez. “Zulma didn’t know I was going to do that. I told her, ‘When we got married, I always wanted to be right next to you.’”

None of the Sanchez family plan to slow down now that they have their black belts. “Taekwondo always continues working,” said Sanchez. “The forms are both physical and intellectual. It keeps you sharp. We’re going to keep going until we can’t.”