Martial Arts (Taekwondo)

Michael_T

Michael_T

NU '26
Joined
Oct 29, 2020
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692
Quick rather simple question,


Is Martial Arts actually considered a sport to USMA, I am currently a Green Belt, wondering if I could put that on my application.
 
It wouldn't hurt to put it on! It's probably not considered a sport if you haven't competed in any tournaments, but it is a physical activity, and everything counts!
 
Yes, you should absolutely include Martial Arts activities. Use drop-down selection for "Other Activities" if there is not one specific to martial Arts, and in comments section explain your level of activity - especially any significant competitions/accomplishments/awards.

A Black Belt in Martial Arts = Varsity Letter in WCS points.

I don't know how less than Black Belt is scored, but Martial Arts is a respected activity.
 
jl123 said:
Yes, you should absolutely include Martial Arts activities. Use drop-down selection for "Other Activities" if there is not one specific to martial Arts, and in comments section explain your level of activity - especially any significant competitions/accomplishments/awards.

A Black Belt in Martial Arts = Varsity Letter in WCS points.

I don't know how less than Black Belt is scored, but Martial Arts is a respected activity.
Click to expand...
DS is a 2nd-degree blackbelt and USMA counted it as a varsity sport.
 
jl123 said:
Yes, you should absolutely include Martial Arts activities. Use drop-down selection for "Other Activities" if there is not one specific to martial Arts, and in comments section explain your level of activity - especially any significant competitions/accomplishments/awards.

A Black Belt in Martial Arts = Varsity Letter in WCS points.

I don't know how less than Black Belt is scored, but Martial Arts is a respected activity.
Click to expand...
Does each black belt count as one separate varsity letter? I have a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, so do my first-degree and second-degree get their own varsity letters along with the third-degree or do I just combine it all?
 
Please take a look to my response in a similar thread. In short: belts are very subjective in martial arts but competition results are the great equalizer.
 
My DS is 4th Degree Blackbelt and has many National and State Medals. It was surely counted towards recognized sports activity in the application. It is also viewed as leadership activity. Do mention all of it in your application. It will surely help towards nomination process too. WP has great TKD team.
 
ixlyn said:
Does each black belt count as one separate varsity letter? I have a third-degree black belt in taekwondo, so do my first-degree and second-degree get their own varsity letters along with the third-degree or do I just combine it all?
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I wouldn't put black belts as Varsity Letters because like @USNA_STEM_Prof said they are very subjective. Im a Blue Belt in BJJ, which gets no point on an app., but for example the TKD school in my home town gives black belts based on breaking boards. I know several people who have trained about 2 or 3 years and have their 4th degree (they said they can now teach their own class?). BJJ however takes over 10 years to get your initial black belt and is a much more all encompassing cirriculum/involves more. Army does have a good TKD team however. They also use BJJ and some Boxing techniques in the Army Combatives Program. There should be a drop down on the sports section of your CAR that lists martial arts.
 
cbasulto1 said:
I wouldn't put black belts as Varsity Letters because like @USNA_STEM_Prof said they are very subjective. Im a Blue Belt in BJJ, which gets no point on an app., but for example the TKD school in my home town gives black belts based on breaking boards. I know several people who have trained about 2 or 3 years and have their 4th degree (they said they can now teach their own class?). BJJ however takes over 10 years to get your initial black belt and is a much more all encompassing cirriculum/involves more. Army does have a good TKD team however. They also use BJJ and some Boxing techniques in the Army Combatives Program. There should be a drop down on the sports section of your CAR that lists martial arts.
Click to expand...
This is going to be true of every sport, whether in high school or outside. Think of the kid from a very small rural high school who played 3 different varsity sports for 4 years because there were no cuts and they needed bodies. Is he or she a better athlete and deserving of more consideration than the kid from a huge urban school who couldn’t make varsity until his senior year because the competition was so stiff? And then you have the kids who participate in a scrub level “travel” sport - is his or her athletic “achievements” equal to the kid who played on a national level college prep program?

Ultimately, unless you are at the level to be recruited, you are just checking a box on the application. The important thing is you were a member of a team with the challenges and teamwork inherent in a team sport. Recruited athletes are in an entirely different box. The non-recruited kids who should arguably get more points with admissions are those who participated in contact sports, because of the overlap in skills and qualities between those sports and the warrior ethos of the military world.
 
cbasulto1 said:
I wouldn't put black belts as Varsity Letters because like @USNA_STEM_Prof said they are very subjective. Im a Blue Belt in BJJ, which gets no point on an app., but for example the TKD school in my home town gives black belts based on breaking boards. I know several people who have trained about 2 or 3 years and have their 4th degree (they said they can now teach their own class?). BJJ however takes over 10 years to get your initial black belt and is a much more all encompassing cirriculum/involves more. Army does have a good TKD team however. They also use BJJ and some Boxing techniques in the Army Combatives Program. There should be a drop down on the sports section of your CAR that lists martial arts.
Click to expand...
It is subjective to a point. We made sure the school DS attended was accredited through the Kukkiwon in South Korea and was also recognized by USA Taekwondo, which is the body that creates our USA Olympic TKD Team. The certificates/belts earned in these schools are recognized by those bodies internationally so your belt goes with you when you move/transfer schools.
 
USNA_STEM_Prof said:
Please take a look to my response in a similar thread. In short: belts are very subjective in martial arts but competition results are the great equalizer.
Click to expand...
Now that is interesting.

Not everyone might bring hardware back from The Battle of Atlanta or the Diamond Nationals but when I competed there were a lot of local tournaments.

And those tournaments had a lot of divisions. And those tournaments were nothing like the major National ones.

One could develop a pretty impressive MA resume if they were willing to travel a few hours on the weekend to compete——depending on where you live.
 
cbasulto1 said:
They also use BJJ and some Boxing techniques in the Army Combatives Program.
Click to expand...
Matt Larsen, who built modern Army combatives, is the guy who promoted my current BJJ coach to black belt. Small world and yes, lots of grappling in the Army program. Boards and fancy kicks don't mean much on the ground. :cool:
 
USNA_STEM_Prof said:
I would do UFC but instead focus on math and coding 🤓
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I knew a black belt back in the day that was attempting to get a national ranking based on tournament Points. He was going to be listed in the national rankings as one of the best :) .

He competed every single weekend end he could in tournaments within a two three hour drive of baltimore.

He was never once in an actual national tournament.

The kids that come here with SA questions and have a MA belt might take heed.
 
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