Competitor Spotlight

Spotlight Archive (By Last Name)

A-Z (simple right now, isn't it!)

Noel Koder

Competitor:               Noel Koder

Rank:                         6th Kyu (Gup) Green Belt

Age:                          7 Years Old

Team:                        Team Illuzion (Juniors)

Base Style:                  Tang Soo Do

School:                     Yowell Karate, Jacksonville, Arkansas

2006 AKA Titles:       Sparring 

When asked what Noel likes most about Tournament Competition, she will quickly tell you that it is “being able to see all (her) friends.”  When asked about her trophies, she will most often simply shrug and tell you that she has been collecting her Uncle’s trophies ever since she was little and another one is no big deal.  For Noel, it is all about the joy of competing and a chance to talk shop with the other competitors in her age group.  Albeit, the conversation does not necessarily involve martial arts. 

Noel started Martial Arts at the age of four, in her Uncle’s Karate Studio.  She has a genuine love for all things Martial Arts and is constantly striving to learn new things.  When asked what Noel’s greatest weakness might be, her grandfather and co-instructor smiles and shakes his head before replying, “Well, she is always ready to move on to the next thing, often before she is actually really ready to move on to the next thing.  Noel is learning patience and spending more time of late perfecting her basics.  She just has such a great enthusiasm for learning new things, it is sometimes hard for her to wait.”

In addition to being a Martial Arts champion at the age of 7, Noel is also at the head of her class at school, earning straight As and participates in the GT

 program. 

When asked her goal for this competition season, Noel states, “I want to be able to do a musical sword form.  My mom is helping me pick out my music.  It will be really, really good.”