KAUKAUNA, Wis. — A local woman has kicked and punched her way to a black belt at age 78.
"I'll tell you, when we were presented our black belts, I never felt so proud," said Barb Estabrook.
She told us her journey with martial arts started 16 years ago when she took it up with her grandson.
For the last three and a half years, she's been working towards her first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
"I usually come twice a week, but when I was training for my black belt, it was three nights a week. I needed it," said Estabrook.
She said to earn her black belt, she had to do ten forms consisting of 19 to 38 moves, nearly an hour and 15 minutes of kicks, line drills, and self defense moves.
Estabrook added that the only thing she can't do is board breaking or sparring because she has osteoporosis, but even with that, she said she's grateful for her health, allowing her to do what she loves.
"I feel very good that I can keep up pretty well with the younger people," said Estabrook, "I hardly miss, too. I mean, it's important to me, and, you know, I like to set an example, too, to the younger ones. You know, if you're going to take Tae Kwon Do or any martial arts, you've got to be pretty dedicated to practice."
Now, Estabrook said she's working on the next level of her black belt.
"As long as my health is good, I will be here. As long as I can do it, I will continue to do it," she said.
Estabrook added that if she gets to the point where she can't practice, she still wants to help others with their practice.
