A Brazilian’s quest for Taekwondo perfection
Ms. Marrianne Hormann is a crusader who fights to empower women in Taekwondo and to improve the sport.
Brazil has emerged as a force in martial arts, producing some of the world’s best UFC and Taekwondo competitors. I have been lucky to learn Taekwondo from Marrianne Hormann, who is one of the top competitors in the country.
Ms. Hormann can be a force when she concentrates her energy on a target. One day, she focused a kick on a block hanging, flew in the air, and demolished her target. Pieces of the crumbled block were flying all over the air.
The show of force was impressive. That’s when you know — do not pick a fight with her.
A black belt in Taekwondo, Ms. Hormann is based in Sao Paulo, Brazil and has studied many martial arts. She is an Olympian athlete who has also international championships. Her passion for her sport shows when she talks about it, but she is modest with her achievements.
Ms. Hormann is also an advocate for women’s equality in Taekwondo, which has come into focus in recent years as Taekwondo gains in popularity worldwide. She has campaigned for more women to learn Taekwondo and to learn self defense.
As a woman, she has had to overcome many hurdles in the sport, but has come out on top. She doesn’t give up easily.
She has also been invited by some top UFC and MMA fighters in the world to study Brazilian Jujitsu. They saw the potential of Ms. Hormann competing in MMA tournaments. Brazilians are naturally known to be top competitors in full-contact martial arts, so the fact that she was invited is an achievement.
She is modest and doesn’t think of herself as a role model, but she has been an inspiration for people new and learning Taekwondo.
I am one of those who have had the privilege of learning from her. Ms. Hormann has helped me improve my breathing and movement techniques, and I am able to move faster. Her experience as a competitor has helped develop these skills that she is now passing on to others.
She has also inspired me to commit to Taekwondo for a long period and to earn my black belt. She has also helped me with my hand-eye coordination, which I struggled with after a major surgery. Today, I am much better with punches and kicks thanks to her.
Ms. Hormann’s lessons are also meditative. It reveals a level of patience rarely seen in this fast-paced sport. As she pushes the boundaries of Taekwondo further, the sport will benefit.
