Dartmouth-bound black belt kicks butt in martial arts — and in the classroom

New York Post

16-05-2025

She's the best around.
A Dartmouth-bound Long Island high schooler is kicking the competition by earning a coveted black belt at an accelerated pace — all while keeping a 4.0 GPA with tons of extracurriculars in the mix.
'The black belt was at the top of my list and what I've wanted the most,' Westhampton Beach senior Willow DuBrovin told The Post of her major milestone in the traditional Korean martial art of Soo Bahk Do, which was popular before the rise of taekwondo in the 1960s.
'I'm ecstatic to be attending my Ivy League school, but I didn't think about college like I did with this. It's the longest time I've ever wanted something and successfully got it.'
As a child, DuBrovin had a hard time in athletics because of migraines — and a lack of interest in team sports like soccer and basketball.
However, after dabbling in Brazilian jiu-jitsu early in high school, she met Master John Kim of Westhampton's Studio Moodo and fell in love with Soo Bahk Do.
'I'm a very physical person, my sister and I used to fight a lot, so maybe it came from there,' joked the 18-year-old DuBrovin, who will study physics on a pre-med track.
DuBrovin quickly soared under Kim, and the master realized she could be fast-tracked to vie for a black belt before the end of high school because of her dedication.
She even helps him with youth classes and will become a Jo Kyo (certified assistant) after the paperwork for her black belt is processed.
4 Willow DuBrovin works out with master instructor John Kim at Studio Moodo in Westhampton on Long Island.
Stephen Yang for New York Post
'She was coming here six, seven times a week,' said Kim, who ran DuBrovin through brutal drills such as throwing 120 punches in half a minute — about four per second — or holding a plank for six-and-a-half minutes to strengthen her core for kicks.
'It was a partnership, but she's the one who showed up … she was the perfect candidate to motivate and push.'
She can kick it
DuBrovin's two-and-a-half-year journey in fighting bolstered the rest of her extremely well-rounded curriculum vitae, she said.
4 Willow DuBrovin, who has a 4.0 GPA, received a black belt at an accelerated pace.
Stephen Yang for New York Post
'Since I started coming here regularly, balancing my academics and outside life has been a lot easier,' added DuBrovin, who took 14 AP classes, writes a column for Dan's Papers, was president of her robotics club and helped lead her business club to an international championship.
'When you come here, you work out your mind and your body, but when you leave, you relax, have a clear head, and I can kind of get everything done really quickly. … I was able to increase my workload a lot.'
Even her master can't help but marvel at the impeccable balance DuBrovin has achieved.
'My nickname for her is #TripleB: brains, brawn and then her mom added beauty,' Kim said. 'She's like a perfect package.'
4 Willow DuBrovin, 18, received a black belt in Soo Bahk Do, an ancient Korean martial art.
Stephen Yang for New York Post
Since December, the inseparable pair went into specialized training to prepare for her first — and only — attempt at the black belt in Baltimore earlier this month.
From pencils to punches
'The test is about three hours long non-stop … it's brutal, absolutely brutal,' DuBrovin said.
For starters, she had to memorize all the moves by their Korean names and then rigorously demonstrate tasks such as the 120 punches in 30 seconds and 120 consecutive kicks, half of which involve variations of jumping.
'The jump kicks were very hard for me,' she said. 'You have to really lift yourself up off the ground … it is a lot harder than it looks.'
4 Willow DuBrovin works out at Studio Moodo in Westhampton on Long Island.
Stephen Yang for New York Post
Then comes the grueling Hyung, combative dances that evoke the nature of certain animals. Naturally, DuBrovin chose the passai, or king cobra snake, to push herself as it is the most challenging.
The trial also tested DuBrovin's mind as she was required to write an essay on a chosen topic.
She penned a passage on her life before Studio Moodo and how her family moved to nearly 30 places over the tri-state before settling in East Quogue.
'I never really got to like hold on to community growing up,' she said. 'My essay was about how I found a home in the studio and the people that I train with every day.'
Next, DuBrovin is looking into a martial arts club on campus to continue her training and making sure her master, who is giving her an inaugural scholarship toward Dartmouth, remains proud.
'I find socializing a lot easier, I find working under pressure a lot easier, all thanks to my training,' she said.
'I've definitely grown as a person here.'