Have Black Belt,
Will Travel
West Allegheny freshman and martial artist Colin Rakolta places
8th in the world competition in his age group with the bo.
BY W.B. FRESA
I
t takes 16 years to earn a driver’s license, and 18 years to vote
and serve in the military. But it only took only seven years for
14-year-old Colin Rakolta to become a world champion.
The freshman at West Allegheny High School has earned
two back-to back world titles in Tang Soo Do, a branch of
Korean Karate, and can now add Team USA athlete to his list of
accomplishments.
A student at White Viper Martial Arts, Colin is a second-
degree black belt and has worked in various types of martial arts,
learning hand and feet basics as a beginner and moving up to
sparring and traditional and creative weaponry.
“I tried team sports when I was young. I like baseball and
soccer, but they weren’t really my thing. Then my dad found
White Viper not far from us and I really like it,” says Colin.
Young martial arts students begin as a white belt. In just a few
short months, Colin met the requirements to move on.
“Everyone starts as a white belt and then moves to yellow,” he
explains. “I earned my yellow belt in about three months. The
movements progress from there by being able to master and
sequence them together. That’s how you keep moving forward to
earn a black belt.”
“Tang Soo Do has given me a lot
of skill and competitiveness that
I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I
encourage kids who don’t care for
team sports to try it.”
Eventually, as Colin continued studying Tang Soo Do, he
tried some weapons classes. He admits he doesn’t yet know
everything about the art form, but feels he’s good at a few things.
“I’m not too bad when it comes to the nun chucks and I like
sparring, too,” he notes, “but I chose to focus on the bo, which is
a long piece of wood that can be used in self-defense.”
In the past seven years, Colin has participated in more
than 30 competitions. Most have been part of the National
Blackbelt League, which holds regional and national qualifying
competitions for all age groups. In 2016 and 2017, he won
his first two world titles, coming in first place back-to-back in
Traditional Weapons with the bo.
“It was pretty awesome,”
Colin recalls. “But having
competed in that circuit
before, I knew a lot of the
athletes and they’re really
good. They come mostly
from the U.S., Canada and
South America. I worked
hard to learn as much as I
could for those meets, and it
paid off.”
Moving into 2018, he
decided to take on a new
challenge and switch circuits
to compete against new
athletes.
“The World Karate and Kickboxing Commission held its
series of competitions in early 2018,” he explains. “I competed
regionally in Toledo with the bo and earned a spot to go to
nationals in Detroit. At that meet, they take the top three
point earners. I got third place and represented the U.S. at the
international competition in Dublin, Ireland. It was so exciting
for me and my parents.”
In Ireland, Colin earned 8th place in the world competition
in his age group with the bo. “It was pretty cool,” he says. “We
got to parade out holding the U.S. flag and our shirts had a patch
of the American eagle on it. It felt good to know I was there
representing my country.”
Colin’s mom, Chris, agrees. “The Ireland experience was
phenomenal. We had a terrific time and Colin was happy with
where he placed. Eighth in the world is pretty impressive and
we’re so proud of him. We celebrated with a nice dinner and
sightseeing in the beautiful Irish countryside.”
For Colin, the sky’s the limit as he journeys his way through
high school. “I’m so glad I found this sport and have been
successful in it, but I do have other interests, like track and cross-
country,” he says. “Tang Soo Do has given me a lot of skill and
competitiveness that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I encourage
kids who don’t care for team sports to try it. You never know
how far it might take you.” n
WEST ALLEGHENY
❘
SPRING 2019
11