McConnell fighter takes bronze, despite injury

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Lockoski
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Usually people tend to stay away from the things that cause them pain. 

However, one Airman doesn't mind a little pain if it mean he gets to pursue his favorite past time. 

"Call me passionate, but if you love something so much, and you're striving to be the best you can be, it takes sacrifices and sometimes pain," said Airman 1st Class Jonathan Scherquist, 22nd Force Support Squadron personnelist . 

But his broken foot, which is the source of pain he is referring to, didn't stop him from competing at the U.S. National Taekwondo Championships in Detroit Michigan's Ford football stadium, July 2. 

The broken foot, he fought five matches with, didn't stop him from receiving a spot on the award podium where he took a bronze medal in the lightweight division either. 

"This was my seventh time I competed at nationals, and I finally placed," he said. "The last time I fought at nationals was 2003; loosing that year absolutely broke my heart. " 

Much like moving up in the military ranks, Airman Scherquist has kicked and sparred his way to a third-degree black belt by demonstrating his proficiency before his mentors. Promotion to his black belt degree has taken years of the Airman's concentration and dedication, training countless hours per day, six days a week. 

"My older brother took karate when we were younger, but I was asthmatic. I couldn't participate," he said. "We watched a lot of kung-fu movies over the years and I eventually grew out of my asthma. I started studying taekwondo at age 13 and I have been a student of the art for 16 years now." 

Airman Scherquist also pointed out it takes a lot to be at that level where competitors go toe-to-toe with the best in the country and world and "not be destroyed," but he finds through his sacrifices, the art has given him much discipline and focus. 

"I have broken each foot, hands, fingers, stretched out my knee and endured stitches, but I think I may have broken (other) people more (fighting)," he said, with a grin. 

Before entering the Air Force in June 2007, then 28 year-old Scherquist owned and instructed more than 50 students at his martial arts school, Champions Taekwondo, in Culpeper, Va. 

After joining the Air Force, he wasn't sure where martial arts would fit into his career. 

However, much to his surprise, soon after arriving here at his first duty station, he received a phone call from Brad Carter, Air Force Taekwondo team coach who handpicked Airman Scherquist from dozens of athletes trying to make a national team. 

"I called him up and told him he would be going to train among the best," he said. "He is one of the best athletes I have ever seen, and I've been coaching Air Force Taekwondo since 2000." 

Airman Scherquist went to a multi-military branch training camp and qualified for the U.S. Armed Forces Taekwondo team. In May, he and the team traveled to Seoul, Korea, to compete at the International Military Sports Council Taekwondo tournament, known as CISM, against other military teams from 36 countries. 

There, he injured his foot and didn't get a medal, but his team fought their way to a fourth place finish. 

"He is very dedicated to his training and has a very high tolerance for pain and discomfort," said Coach Carter. "You have to push your body to the absolute limits to get to this level and he is willing to make those sacrifices to push himself to the extreme. " 

"My whole life, when I fought in tournaments, I was fighting for myself," he said. "When I fought at CISM, I thought having the letters USA and the nation's flag on my arm felt amazing." 

"It even gave me chills when I walked into the arena, in a different nation, and I realized - you're it. You're representing your country," he said. "The camaraderie was amazing too, 'One team, one fight' was our chant." 

Airman Scherquist is now training for the Air Force's World Class Athlete Program. His ultimate goal is to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games. 

"Airman Scherquist defiantly has the drive to be in W-CAP," Coach Carter said. "When he is outside the ring, he is very personable and has a great since of humor. Inside the ring, when the ref says go, he is all business, and that's the way it should be."