Eight-year-old Colby Furia is not someone you want to mess with
on the school playground.
The young Healdsburg phenom is among the most accomplished
age-group competitors in the martial arts discipline of Taekwondo,
having already achieved the distinction of second degree black
belt.
Although only eight, Furia has been competing in the sport for
over half his life, beginning at the tender age of four.
Along with discipline, Taekwondo emphasizes inner strength and
humility, and a strong connection between body and spirit. The
sport has seen a meteoric rise in popularity over the past decade
and is practiced on every continent by millions of people of all
ages.
Training under the guidelines of the American Taekwondo
Association and trainer Kristin Schafer in Santa Rosa, Furia spent
much of the year practicing five days a week, averaging two hours
per day. He’s competed in tournaments all over the West, including
Arizona, Las Vegas, and Sacramento, finishing the 2011 season as
the triple crown California state champion in Forms, Weapons, and
Sparring.
On June 24 he put his expertise to the supreme test, traveling
to Little Rock, Arkansas to compete in the world finals. The
prestigious event included the top-10 ranked kids in each category
from around the world.
Furia, the number-1 ranked athlete in each event, pulled off the
remarkable feat of completing a world triple crown in capturing
individual world titles in Forms, Weapons, and Sparring.
Furia was quick to give credit to his teacher and classmates for
his recent success.
“Ms Schafer is very supportive, and that helps me dig down deep
to train so hard,” said Furia, who also gave big thanks to his
classmates who came in on their own time to help him train. “My
school is like one big family, we all support each other. This
victory isn’t just for me, it’s also for Ms. Schafer and all of the
students in my school.”
