Student Talks About Her Love of Karate
By Aisha Schor | Observer Contributor
Marie Rodriguez, Business major, practices her karate skills when she’s not studying for classes.
Rodriguez has been attending weekly karate classes for a year, and has managed to earn her yellow belt. “Karate always interested me as a kid,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez explained how the test to graduate from a white belt to a yellow belt was “intense” and “took two hours to complete.” She added that if you couldn’t keep up “you would fail instantly and be sent home because the official test afterwards was even worse.”
Rodriguez has seen improvements not only in her karate skills but her athleticism in general and said she feels, “stronger and more in shape.” She has also become an expert at squats and can now do push-ups. Her favorite moves to do in class are blocks, using her arms and legs, and punching.
Rodriguez explained that one of the most difficult parts was preparing for the classes saying, “Getting my body used to stretching was the hardest.” She also said she believes anyone can take up karate. “I wasn’t in shape before starting,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez hopes to try for her orange belt this summer and wants to continue with karate saying she will likely “take more classes in the summer when academics are less intense.” She may even try to compete in the future and work towards earning her black belt.
Rodriguez is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business. This is her third year at MWCC and is concentrating on marketing and international business.
Rodriguez will be completing both her associate’s degree and part of her bachelor’s degree through MWCC’s Bachelor’s Completion Collaboration program (formerly called the 3+1 Agreement).
The program allows qualified students to complete three of their four years at a community college and one year at a four year institute. Upon graduating, Rodriguez will have completed her bachelor’s degree in business through Nichols College. Rodriguez is very satisfied with the program saying, “it offers convenient schedules and is more affordable.”
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