Kicking through barriers

The room drums with energy, arms fly with assured direction, passion brims with every punch. Light spills in, illuminating the room, as the sharp aroma of sweat and wood swirls around arriving students. Ki Fighting Concepts pulses with intensity, hidden away in a mundane corner of downtown Wenatchee. At the center of this scene stands junior Marc Hernandez.

Ki Fighting Concepts

After being picked on due to his height, Hernandez began karate training on his fourth birthday. Rather than allowing the bullying to negatively affect him, he decided to turn the experience into something beneficial. He joined Ki Fighting Concepts, growing not only in physical strength but also in strength of character.

Under the mentorship of Sifu, Joseph Simonet, Hernandez has spent the last 12 years attaining his second-degree black belt. This impressive feat involves years of training, and is the second in a series of ten black belt degrees achieved by dedicating time to the program. Hernandez estimates it would take him 45 years to join Sifu Joseph in the ninth `degree.

At age 13, Hernandez decided to take his karate to the another level. He now instructs a variety of ages three days a week. When asked about his teaching ability, students provided a variety of awestruck responses, but the common thread was his speed. Students and coaches agree that he’s quick in combat, making even the hardest sets look simple.

When he’s not teaching classes, Hernandez is personally coached by Simonet. The instructor co-owns Ki Fighting Concepts with his wife Addy Hernandez, a fourth-degree black belt. The couple has trained for years, teaching all around the world. They have been individually awarded Man and Women of the Year (2006 and 2008 consecutively) by “Inside Kung-Fu Magazine”. Despite his instructor’s extensive careers, Marc Hernandez’s talent still manages to stands out.  

“At one point Sifu Joseph said he was probably pound-for-pound one of the best students he’s ever had,” noted Addy Hernandez, “which is a lot to say because we’ve taught thousands and thousands of students.”

Since he was a toddler, Marc Hernandez has also pursued boxing but had to temporarily stop due to a football concussion his sophomore year. He’s now actively practicing the sport once again. Omar Padilla, one of Hernandez’s colleagues, is working toward a certification in amature boxing. Padilla’s mentorship would give Hernandez the ability to pursue a long time family tradition. Hernandez’s great uncle was a professional boxer and mentored Hernandez’s father. “I have plans to train Hernandez to a degree in which he can outstrike anyone at the dojo,” Padilla said, “instructors included”.

Scholarly Success

Martial arts have now become an essential part of Hernandez’s scholarly success. “Karate is really the only reason why I’m successful in school, particularly because it taught me to be focused,” he said. “It taught me to be passionate about what I’m doing.”

Hernandez is no stranger to difficulty, coming from a low-income family, but he refuses to let lack of money prevent him from achieving a college education. “First generation students always have something to prove,” he says, when asked about the four AP classes on his schedule. These classes, along with multiple scholarship opportunities, will help to relieve the cost of his schooling.

Although his schedule keeps him busy, Hernandez still manages to work part-time teaching karate and is looking to apply for a second job. He doesn’t let adversity limit his achievements and is determined to seize every opportunity to support his family and make them proud.

“Your parents give you all the tools to be successful, and you really don’t want to let them down,” Hernandez says.

Plans for the Future

Hernandez is considering a major in engineering and a minor in either psychology or physical therapy. He also plans to pursue karate indefinitely, as the sport has permanently altered his life for the better. He’s considering the possibility of owning his own gym, for no matter what path he chooses, karate will always play an essential role.

When asked if he would recommend karate to others, Hernandez says, “It’s not for everyone. Some people like to work harder than others. But if you have the will to push yourself farther than you usually would, it’s definitely a great experience.”