Jessie Miller, a seventh grader at Landrum Middle School, earned two medals at the ATA World Championship Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Arkansas on July 13. Miller, who is 12 years old, won a second and third place of the events of form and weapons and continued the honor of being ranked in the world’s top 10 Taekwondo champions of third degree blackbelts.
She trains at Karate America dojang located in Ponte Vedra Beach owned by Grand Master William Clark and operated by world champions black belt Master Daniel Gimenez and Master Amber Smith, and instructor black belt Justin Escarra.
Miller practices martial arts to be able to compete at the national level and remains a straight A honor roll student. She enjoys drama club, serves at church, has won multiple championships, competed in the European Championship tournament winning four medals, and was featured as one of the “18 under 18” Florida kids on the rise.
At the July 13 event, participants celebrated the 50th anniversary of martial arts beginning in the USA. Flags from 29 countries were displayed where the legacy of leadership of Taekwondo is taught under the guidance of Grand Master Lee. More than 30,000 students compete in tournaments to hone their skills of combat and concentration, and more than 130,000 students train at ATA schools worldwide.
