by Ashton Eley.

Senior Vanessa Griffin is not your typical female high school athlete. Griffin practices taekwondo at ATA in Bryant.

Griffin had just quit studio dance about a year and half ago when she decided to try martial arts.

“I quit dance, and I started taekwondo after I saw the ‘Karate Kid’movie,” Griffin said.

Griffin said she does taekwondo to relieve stress and stay in shape.

“It’s a stress relief just to go in there and hit something,” Griffin said. “I’m not a violent person or anything. It just feels great to accomplish something.”

Griffin does not only practice taekwondo, she also competes in local, state and worldwide competitions.

Throughout the year Griffin practices Tuesdays and Thursdays, but when it is competition time, she hits the gym four to six times a week.

“When training for a competition, you can only hope for the best,” Griffin said.

Griffin said she plans to continue and extend her knowledge of martial arts in the future.

“I plan on doing Brazilian Jui-Jitsu in college,” Griffin said. “I love it.”