When Buffalo Grove siblings Rebecca and Ben Galison fight about something, they sometimes end their squabbles by breaking boards, Rebecca Galison recently admitted.
“There’s a huge hole in the door in the shape of my foot,” Rebecca said, recounting an argument with brother Ben. “We had to call our parents, ‘Yeah, can you get a new door for us?'”
The two don’t have anger issues, she said. They simply like to put their skills in the martial arts to use.
Both earned medals in their respective age groups this year during the USA Taekwondo National Championships. Rebecca, a 12-year-old seventh grader at Aptakisic Junior High in Buffalo Grove, won gold in her division’s “forms” competition, while Ben, a 14-year-old freshman at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, won the silver medal in the board-breaking competition.
The “forms” competition is a display of the numerous techniques that high-level taekwondo students must master in front of judges, although the students don’t fight in the event.
Rebecca plans to improve upon her forms in taekwondo on Nov. 12, when she is scheduled to take an eight-hour test to earn her black belt. But she has larger aspirations in mind.
She said she would like to compete in the Olympics one day and also teach taekwondo particularly to girls who might be turned off by physical sports.
Q: Everyone knows that taekwondo can involve sparring and fighting. When you explain to friends that you’re America’s best in a taekwondo category that does not involve any combat, how do they react?
A: I’m very fortunate to have amazing friends and family, and they always compliment me. I’ve never had anybody be like, “Oh, yeah, that’s cool…”
Q: You and Ben surely get into some disputes. Do you trash the house?
A: Taekwondo teaches you perseverance and self-control. We don’t really use it at home — much.
Q: You hope to instruct taekwondo and help girls find self-confidence. How do martial arts bring out your own security?
A: You have to go from small goal to bigger goals, and bigger and even bigger. I was very self-conscious and insecure before taekwondo.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.
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