TRUE TO FORM: Noah Sidabutar is a three-time taekwondo world champion

West Orange Times & Observer
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COMPETITION CATEGORIES

Creative Form: Taekwondo practitioners must demonstrate their techniques by choreographing their own form, usually with music. For this form, they cannot do a move that involves more than 360 degrees. Acrobatics are not allowed in this form.
Creative Weapon: The same rules of creative form apply to this category, with the difference that taekwondo practitioners are able to use a weapon. In the ATA, the weapon cannot be released or thrown into the air. However, neck rolls, back rolls and strikes are allowed.
Xtreme Form: Competitors have to demonstrate a form that reflects the essence and values of ATA-Xtreme, and at least 50% of the form must be original. All types of kicks and combinations are allowed, as long as they are approved by the instructor regarding safety. The first aspect evaluated is the quality of the taekwondo technique. The second aspect includes five categories— creativity, difficulty, presentation, attitude and for Xtreme Weapon, control of the weapon. Music is allowed but not mandatory.
Xtreme Weapon: The competitors have to demonstrate a weapon that reflects the essence and values of ATA-Xtreme, and at least 50% of the performance must be original. For this form, there is no limit to the number of tricks that can be performed, and the competitor is allowed to release the weapons. Music is allowed but not mandatory.
Traditional Form: For second-degree black belts, which is Noah Sidabutar’s belt, the ATA form is called Jung Yul, which translates to, “With your noble character, you will develop a new permanence in your life.”

Horizon West resident and Ocoee Victory Martial Arts student Noah Sidabutar became a three-time taekwondo world champion after competing at the Tournament of Champions July 13 in Phoenix, Arizona.

“It feels great,” he said. “A lot of my friends, they sit at home and play video games, and it’s very awesome to know that I’m not sitting at home being lazy during the summer but instead I am training. I am practicing, and this is going to help me set up a good future for myself.”

Last year, Noah attended the Tournament of Champions with his family. This year, it was strictly a “business trip” — he only went with his mother, Juliann Sidabutar.

As a member of the demonstration team, Noah arrived to the convention center a day early to practice with the demonstration team and to go over his routine prior to the competition.

“It’s better if you go last at worlds,” he said. “Because the judges, if you are the last one, they have you fresh in their memory when they are deciding who will win.”

An American Taekwondo Assocition Martial Arts Organization competitor, Noah participated in several tournaments this year that earned him top ranking spots prior to competition at the ATA World Championships.

For Creative Form and Xtreme Form, Noah was ranked No. 2, so he went second to last. For Xtreme Weapon, he was third in the world but because of a tie, he went fourth to last.

THE BEGINNING

Before taekwondo, Noah, 12, tried myriad sports — including baseball, basketball, soccer and swimming. But, nothing resonated with him quite like the martial art form, which he discovered at age 7 as a student at Victory Martial Arts in Altamonte Springs and then in Ocoee.

“I liked it from the first class; I was pretty good so I kept going with it,” he said.

Noah is not the first in his family to practice the martial arts. His father, Immanuel Sidabutar, used to practice Indonesian taekwondo when he still lived in Indonesia, prior to moving to the United States in 2002.

At first, taekwondo was just a hobby to Noah. However, he snagged two second-place finishes — one in Creative Form and the other one in Traditional Form — in his first tournament. At his second tournament, Noah won his first gold medal.

“(That’s when) I said, ‘I really want to do this,’” he said.

It took Noah three years to earn his black belt. In June 2021, he achieved his second-degree blackbelt.

“You have to undergo two years of curriculums,” Juliann Sidabutar said. “Then, you also have to do four midterm tests.”

Noah said midterms are always harder than the actual belt test. The belt test is structured to fit every taekwondo student, but the midterms are tailored to the school’s standards and students’ abilities.

According to his mom, Noah’s world championship title did not come without sacrifice and dedication.

“Three years ago, he couldn’t even earn a district title,” Juliann Sidabutar said. “And then we started going to several ATA national tournaments, and he couldn’t even get a gold. … And we said, ‘Keep going, keep grinding, we support you.’”

When COVID-19 hit, Noah’s family became a huge support system. They helped him cover the entire living room with mats. His parents enrolled him in classes at Orlando Parkour in Longwood, so he could practice his acrobatics.

“It’s been a lot of time (put in), a lot of money, a lot of energy, a lot of sacrifice,” his mom said. “His sisters have also sacrificed a lot (by) just waiting at the tournaments.”

Both, Juliann and Immanuel Sidabutar are part of the staff at People of Faith Lutheran Church.

Two weeks prior to worlds, Noah needed a bigger space to practice, so his parents helped him set up at the church and put the music on the speakers.

“My dad (also) helped me train,” Noah said. “He woke me up at like 6:45 (in the morning) and said, ‘Go bike 6 miles,’ so I biked 6 miles. Then he told me, ‘Go run a mile,’ so I ran a mile.”

Looking forward, the Sidabutars are looking to grow within the martial arts world. They currently are gathering information about the North American Sport Karate Association, to help Noah with his pursuit of new opportunities that may arise in the future.

author

Andrea Mujica

Staff writer Andrea Mujica covers sports, news and features. She holds both a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Central Florida. When she’s not on the sidelines, you can find Andrea coaching rowers at the Orlando Area Rowing Society in Windermere.