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“I wanted to attend virtual school so I could have a more flexible schedule and ultimately go to martial arts all day, every day.”

16-year-old Enzo LaFont is back in school following a whirlwind experience over the summer representing the U.S. at the Cheongju World Martial Arts Masterships in South Korea.

Enzo is an 11^th grader at Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA).  Along with four other U.S. teammates, Enzo took part in the Olympics-style martial arts competition, participating in the hapkido tournament. Enzo’s team was the first American team to compete in the tournament’s history.

Enzo enrolled with WAVA at age 13 because he wanted a school experience with a scholastic program that also gave him the ability to study martial arts.

“I wanted to attend virtual school so I could have a more flexible schedule and ultimately go to martial arts all day, every day,” Enzo said.

His mother, Kelly LaFont, appreciates the curriculum quality WAVA has provided.

“I appreciate the classic literature that is still being used in the curriculum,” Kelly said.

“Online school enables Enzo to keep his grades at an acceptable GPA for college entrance and also study his martial arts for a minimum of four hours a day,” Kelly said.

At the Cheongju World Martial Arts Masterships, the hapkido self-defense event had five rounds total, and Enzo advanced to the second round.

“It’s what we aimed for since we only had three months of training,” he said. “Although in speed kicking, I ended up winning a gold medal.”

Enzo performed more than 100 kicks in a minute to win the speed kicking contest.  He also made it to the semifinals in the high jump kick category.

On a personal note, Enzo explained that his time in South Korea was a life-changing experience and he was thankful for the opportunity to compete in a foreign country.

“I had the time of my life in Korea,” Enzo said. “I met so many amazing people and achieved so many of my dreams. I met the U.S. ambassador in Korea and I also met one of the heads for the tournament.  I also met so many amazing athletes. There truly was not one part I didn’t love!”

Enzo has already thought about the next World Championships in 2018.  “My goals are to medal in hapkido because I have experience now in a tournament, since the 2016 World Championship was the very first tournament I have ever competed in,” Enzo said. “I also intend to make more friends and achieve more and more of my dreams there and develop into the person of integrity I strive to be.”