Malaki's Hootworthy Mindset: From Doubt to Dominance in Taekwondo

Malaki didn’t jump into Taekwondo with big dreams of championships—he barely wanted to start. When his dad first found a gym and signed him up, Malaki wasn’t interested. But his dad pushed him to give it a shot, and pretty soon, he had a solid group of friends, started improving, and realized–he was actually really good at it.

Now, just over a year later, he’s an undefeated state and national champion with a 6-0 record.

Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. At Nationals in Florida, Malaki had only one match—one shot to win. Lose, and that was it. The pressure almost got to him. He wanted to give up. But his dad had been in his corner since day one, and Malaki refused to let him down. He dug deep, pushed through the nerves, and walked away a champion.

Taekwondo has given him more than just medals. It’s built his confidence, sharpened his focus, and helped him step outside his comfort zone. The biggest surprise? Just how exhausting it is. The drills, the fights, the need to keep going even when your body is telling you to stop—it’s taken everything in him to push past his limits. But that’s what keeps him coming back.

So what’s next? A black belt, more tournaments, and more proof that quitting isn’t an option.

And if he could pick anyone to fight in a Taekwondo match? Chris Tucker. Just for the entertainment value.

Huge shoutout to his dad, mom, sisters, Green Martial Arts Academy, his teammates, and his instructor for getting him where he is today.

Stay Hootworthy, Malaki.

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