By Concepcion Ledezma Riverbend News
Trevor Jenkins has one of those traits rarely seen in teenagers. Not only does the life-long Live Oak resident look to excel in everything he tries, but he strives for perfection. For starters, he's a straight A student in the Suwannee River Ridge Academy system, which is designed for homeschoolers. He's a certified welder, an accomplished marksman in shooting, a knowledgeable hunter and fisherman, has mastered the operation of a tractor and, as an add-on, he can solve a Rubik's cube in 31 seconds. On top of all those undertakings, it wouldn't be wise to pick a fight with this polite, soft-spoken young man.
Jenkins, 15, is also a competitive martial artist; he is scheduled to compete in the Dragon Invitational Tae Kwon Do tournament in Atlanta on the weekend of April 23-24. "I'm hoping to come back with a first place in sparring, and maybe first place in forms and weapons (divisions)," Jenkins said, adding that he is thrilled with the opportunity to showcase his skills following a year of competition being halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event is sanctioned by the American Tae Kwon Do Association (ATA), a nation-wide governing body of the sport founded in 1969 by the late South Korean martial artist Haeng Ung Lee (1936-2000). The ATA is made up of 130,000 members worldwide, licensing more than 800 martial arts schools in the US, including Sepulveda's ATA Martial Arts academy in Lake City, where Jenkins, a second-degree black belt holder, is honing his skills.
The academy in Lake City, currently in its 30 year of operation, was founded by its principal instructor Robert Sepulveda, who applauds Jenkins' uncanny approach to his craft. "For me, working with Trevor was great because he had a really strong foundation in the martial arts," said Sepulveda. "He had a really good instructor in the past." Sepulveda was referring to Jenkins' previous instructor Chad Hale, who operated the Champion Martial Arts of Live Oak before it closed during the spring of 2019. "Chad was one of my students as well," Sepulveda said. "He taught Trevor very well."
Jenkins still remembers when he first took up martial arts at age nine. "My mom and dad (Joseph and Tresca Jenkins) offered it," he recalled. "With Chad (Hale as instructor). My parents just said Tae Kwon Do was near. I wanted to try it out." When asked what he liked most about martial arts, he didn't hesitate to imply the contact, head-to-head aspect of it. "Sparring," he answered. "You get to hit someone, it's intense sometimes and you're sweaty."
When Champions in Live Oak closed, Jenkins didn't practice martial arts, except through video studies, for 11 months. Then, when he got the itch to return, his parents started to make the four-times-a-week, 25-mile drive to Lake City for Trevor to continue his trade. Sepulveda, one of his current instructors at Lake City, stated that besides Jenkins having received excellent instructions from Hale, the young man has a unique, business-like approach every time he comes to the "dojang," the Korean phrase referring to "the gathering place to learn martial arts."
"Trevor always applies himself as we give him material," Sepulveda said. "He learns it and he practices it over and over. He's very determined to get it right. One of his best assets is his determination. You can't teach a person determination. It's built in his character. He's a perfectionist." Jenkins is currently on track to earn his third-degree black belt. So far, he passed the first of eight strenuous tests needed to complete the requirement.
Despite his passion for martial arts, and for the other activities he excels in, Jenkins, who has five sisters (four grown) says his life is centered around his faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, he believes his multiple talents come from God. "That's what makes me the happiest," said Jenkins, who attends Wellborn Baptist Church. "(Jesus Christ) helps me keep going. If I need someone to talk to, I (pray) to Him."
Along with Jenkins, five other martial arts youngsters from Live Oak will make the trip to Atlanta to compete in the Dragon (ATA) Invitational in their respective divisions. The following will also represent Sepulveda ATA Martial Arts academy during the April 23-24 tournament; their rankings (as of April 12) are also included: Brayden Nix (first-degree black belt), Curtis Campbell (red), Jared Campbell (brown), Jessie Campbell (brown) and Joshua Ledezma (purple). Along with principal instructor/founder Robert Sepulveda, the competitors also receive their training from Laurence Whitmore (a Wellborn resident), Rick Redding and Jessie Braden. About 30 other ATA-licensed academies from the southeast United States are expected to be represented at the event, hosted by the Cobb Galleria Centre in northwest Atlanta.