Martial arts help boy, 9,
to overcome asthma
By
Dan Muckelbauer
Milwaukee Sentinel
Saturday, July 27, 1985
Cudahy - Peter Sorce Jr., a severe asthma sufferer, could not do a sit-up or push-up three years ago. Now he can leap past six crouched-over adults and snap a board with one swift kick. His mother, Colina Sorce, calls it his “flashy move.” Despite his asthmatic condition, Peter, 9, has earned a first-degree black belt in tae kwon do, a Korean type of karate. He happily shows off five other belts, along with 42 trophies won in tournaments.
When
he was 6, Peter’s asthma prevented him from running or jumping or doing
most outdoor activities, Mrs. Sorce said. Doctors had suggested that some
type of indoor physical exercise program could help improve Peter’s
condition. Peter became interested in karate after watching a demonstration
at Summerfest. Since his karate training, he can ride a bicycle around the
neighborhood and play a little outdoor soccer, said his father, Peter Sorce
Sr.
Mostly he enjoys breaking boards, performing the sport and helping teach it to other children at D.A. Yun’s Black belt karate school, 3974 S. 27th St. Mrs. Sorce smiles proudly as Peter whirls gracefully about their living room, demonstrating “tornado kicks.” “Those are kind of hard to do, and he can do them now,” she said. Not only has Peter improved physically, but so has his self-image, Mrs. Sorce said. “The way he thinks of himself now, he does think he’s crippled.”
He also has self-control, she said, adding that karate instructors have complimented him on his ability to ease up on kicks and punches against lesser opponents. David Chung, 19, Peter’s chief instructor, said Peter differed from other children because of his obedience and perseverance. “He does what he’s told to do. He keeps going until he reaches perfection. I enjoy teaching him. When I teach Peter, he improves every time,” Chung said.
Peter practices at least three times a week at the karate school. He said he really liked performing Taekwon-do He also has become a better student at Lincoln Elementary School. He won the third-grade spelling bee and was named the most improved student at the school. Peter said the memorization of Korean words and concentration required in karate helped him in school. He also said he needed good grades to test for a black belt.
He said he was eager to earn his second-degree black belt, for which he becomes eligible to test in two years. Noting that Taekwon-do will become an Olympic sport at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea, Peter said he might like to compete in the Olmpics someday. Peter also has more pratical goals. "I want to get my own karate school or either become a doctor or a lawyer," he said.
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