STARKVILLE — Nestled between a law office and boutique on a one-way street, 9-year-old Ashley Sharp enters a martial arts dojo.
She”s diminutive in stature, weighing no more than 45 pounds. Among adults and other kids twice her height and weight, Sharp stretches her angular frame as if she”s a seasoned yoga instructor.
Chatty, with an ear-to-ear smile, Sharp looks like a typical 9-year-old girl as she continues her Judo warmup. It takes one hip-toss and foot-sweep to remind everyone in the dojo of her burgeoning ability.
“I”m good at the foot-sweep,” Sharp chuckles. “It does surprise some people.”
In Judo, quality points trump quantity; it takes just one well-executed throw to score major points and end a match. Mastering patience and maintaining focus through countless hours of repetition is necessary to capitalize on an opponent”s mistake. For a 9 year old, it isn”t impossible, but it”s uncommon, Starkville Martial Arts Academy owner and instructor Dr. Chris Dewey says.
“How quick someone can grow depends on their age, motivation and their willingness to do the things you don”t want to do,” Dewey said. “She”s willing to do all of it. She”s grown tremendously.”
Sharp, in just one year of Judo lessons, has become a state champion and earned multiple tournament wins. An orange belt in Judo, Sharp earned a gold medal at the State Games of Mississippi in June.
A year ago, her previous experiences with sports either resulted in injury or lack of satisfaction. She tried basketball but “kept getting hit in the face” with the ball. She loved jumping on the trampoline, but like many adventurous she kids realized backflips don”t always go as planned.
“I had an accident and I”m pretty scared to try one again,” Sharp said.
It wasn”t until Sharp”s mother, Vickie, brought her by Starkville Martial Arts Academy that she found her niche. Fascinated by the quick, rhythmic movements of the other martial arts students, Sharp jumped right into lessons and hasn”t looked back.
“She always liked to play rough,” said Vickie Sharp. “To a degree, it all seemed natural to her.”
Sharp and her classmates will compete in a double-elimination Judo tournament beginning today at 9 a.m. at Starkville Martial Arts Academy. Twenty kids, some from Birmingham, Ala., and Biloxi, are currently signed up.
The adult tournament will begin as soon as the kids tournament and award ceremony ends. Saturday”s Judo tournament is one of four martial arts tournaments Starkville Martial Arts Academy hosts each year.
Based on her current form, Sharp feels good about her chances of taking home a trophy today. However, Sharp is more of a cerebral martial artist. She”s concentrating on techniques and application of leverage against opponents of different height and weight. She”s also anxious to try two new moves.
“I really want to try a sacrifice throw and a shoulder throw,” Sharp said. “I”ve really been wanting to use those in a match.”
Confidence wasn”t always one of Sharp”s qualities. Her father, Greg Sharp, remembers a shy, modest 8-year-old girl peeking through the dojo window just one year ago.
“Her self-confidence has benefited tremendously,” Greg Sharp said. “When we brought her up here, we had no intention of her becoming a state champion, much less ever competing. She loves it.”
Dewey, who holds black belts in four different martial arts, said he usually can take a student from novice to black belt in four years. That road to success depends on ability and dedication to the art. Typical black belt students are older, but Dewey believes Sharp is on the right path.
“We”ve gone from being not too certain about Ashley to being very sure of her ability,” Dewey said. “Obviously, she”s gone from novice to state champion. I would say our personal discipline and drive are to thank for that.”
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