Episode 160
From Black Belts to a Grand Master: A Family's Martial Arts Odyssey
Michael and Shaynee Sustaire provide an insightful exploration into the life of martial artists who have been molded by their unique upbringing in a family dedicated to Taekwondo. Growing up under the tutelage of their father, who has recently attained Grandmaster status, the siblings discuss the profound impact that this environment has had on their lives. Michael reflects on his nearly two decades of martial arts training, while Shaynee shares her experiences of over twenty years in the discipline. Their familial connection is palpable, as they recount the ways in which their father's journey has inspired them to pursue excellence in their own martial arts careers.
The conversation delves into their competitive endeavors, as both siblings recount their achievements during the current season. Shaynee expresses her excitement for the upcoming World Championships, discussing her focus on combat sparring and team events, while Michael shares his own goals for success in forms and sparring. They highlight the camaraderie that comes with competing as a team, emphasizing the support and encouragement that they offer one another. This segment of the episode showcases not only their individual talents but also the shared commitment to their craft that binds them together as siblings.
In conclusion, the Sustaires articulate their aspirations for the future, setting their sights on advancing to higher ranks and eventually taking over their family’s martial arts schools. They recognize the importance of longevity in the sport, discussing their commitment to diverse training regimens that include strength and flexibility exercises. This episode ultimately encapsulates the values of dedication, family, and community that are central to their martial arts journey, providing listeners with a compelling narrative of perseverance and aspiration.
Takeaways:
- Michael and Shaynee Sustaire have grown up immersed in martial arts, significantly shaped by their father's journey to Grandmaster.
- The Sustaire siblings highlighted the importance of perseverance and dedication in their martial arts training and competitions.
- Both siblings are currently preparing for the World Championships, aiming to excel in their respective events and showcase their skills.
- Michael and Shaynee expressed their commitment to achieving higher degrees in martial arts, aspiring to carry on their family's legacy.
- They emphasized the need for physical fitness and cross-training to ensure longevity and success in their martial arts careers.
- The episode culminated in a celebration of their father's recent promotion to Grandmaster, marking a significant milestone for the family.
Transcript
We have two awesome athletes of the week this week.
Speaker A:Their dad is becoming a Grandmaster at Worlds.
Speaker A:Now let's get started.
Speaker B:Welcome to the ATA Nation podcast.
Speaker A:Welcome back.
Speaker A:It's episode 160 of the AT Nation.
Speaker A:Super excited.
Speaker A:We have two guests today.
Speaker A:I guess you guys have to share the athlete of the week.
Speaker A:I don't know if that's fair.
Speaker A:I, I don't know.
Speaker A:That seems unfair to me, but let's go ahead.
Speaker A:Mr.
Speaker A:Sister, can you introduce yourself first and then we'll go to your sister.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:My name is Michael Cest.
Speaker B:I'm a fifth degree black belt from Allen, Texas and I've been training for about 19 years.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker A:Probably since you were like born basically.
Speaker B:Pretty much, yeah.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:And Ms. Estaire, what about you?
Speaker C:My name is Shane, sister.
Speaker C:I'm also a fifth degree black belt from Allen, Texas and I've been trained for about 22 years.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker A:The last name sounds familiar.
Speaker A:I believe, actually, by the time this comes out, I believe your dad will be a grandmaster.
Speaker A:Is that correct?
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:So I.
Speaker A:Either one of you, you tell me who wants to go first, what's it like growing up in the martial arts school, gonna have a grandmaster as your dad?
Speaker A:What's, what's that whole experience like?
Speaker C:You want me to go first or you?
Speaker B:You go first.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:I know for me, because, you know, we were kind of born into this growing up in the school.
Speaker C:We, we've been around this since we were born.
Speaker C:I know for me this is just, this is all I've known.
Speaker C:This is where I've made longtime friends.
Speaker C:You know, watching my parents run two successful schools and then watching my dad test last year for his ninth degree, that just kind of showed us, you know, we can follow in their paths.
Speaker C:And they, they showed us you can be successful doing this and kind of said that, you know, y' all can do this as well.
Speaker C:And you know, especially with my dad session for ninth degree, you know, none of us thought that would happen.
Speaker C:So with him doing that, it's like, all right, we can do this too.
Speaker A:Awesome.
Speaker A:Mr. Stair, what about you?
Speaker A:What's it been like?
Speaker B:Yeah, so I just remember, you know, my, both my parents going through six degree, seventh degree, eighth degree, and when they got to eighth degree, I was like, well, that's pretty cool there.
Speaker B:I guess that's as high as it's going to go.
Speaker B:And then when I found out my dad was testing for 9th degree, I was pretty surreal.
Speaker B:I was like, all right, that's pretty cool.
Speaker A:Yeah, pretty exciting.
Speaker A:Get to see this Cool.
Speaker A:Black and gold uniform come in.
Speaker A:Oh, man, it's gonna be fun.
Speaker A:So was there ever a time either of you guys were like, I don't know if I want to keep doing this martial arts thing.
Speaker A:Have you guys gone through those times?
Speaker C:I know for me, not really.
Speaker C:I think if anything, I've been like, all right, this is just, you know, this is part of it.
Speaker C:You know, you're gonna have ups and downs, but if it's something you're really passionate about, you just.
Speaker C:You have that fire and you just want to keep going.
Speaker A:Awesome.
Speaker A:What about you, Mistress?
Speaker A:There any.
Speaker A:Any times that you were like, I just don't know.
Speaker B:I tried a couple other sports.
Speaker B:I played hockey a little bit and tennis and school, but the passion was always there for Taekwondo.
Speaker B:Just seeing all the futures that I could have, and it's just always been there.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker A:Okay, so let's get to the athlete, the competition side of things.
Speaker A:How'd this season go for you guys?
Speaker A:What, you know, what have you accomplished this season?
Speaker A:And then maybe like, what are you looking for?
Speaker A:Maybe at World Championships.
Speaker A:Mrs.
Speaker A:There.
Speaker C:I've done pretty good this season.
Speaker C:My main focus this year has been, well, three things.
Speaker C:Combat sparring, team sparring, and then creative forms.
Speaker C:So this year I'm hoping to do good.
Speaker C:We're hoping that we can pull out teams again this year for our.
Speaker C:Both of our teams.
Speaker A:That would be awesome.
Speaker A:Mr. Sestaire, what about you?
Speaker A:How's the season going?
Speaker B:It's gone pretty good so far.
Speaker B:Wasn't in top 10 for forms and sparring, but I managed to win a district.
Speaker B:So in that now.
Speaker B:So in training to do well in that this tock and.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker A:Very cool.
Speaker A:What.
Speaker A:What are you guys favorite?
Speaker A:I think I can probably guess, but favorite competition to do.
Speaker A:Mrs. Sarah, what about you?
Speaker B:A good main focus for us also.
Speaker C:I'd have to say team events, because when you're in individual, you know, there's a lot of pressure on you, but I feel like with teams, you can kind of lean on each other to be like, all right, we got this.
Speaker C:Let's do it together.
Speaker C:There's not just you.
Speaker C:It's a team effort.
Speaker A:Very cool.
Speaker A:What about you, Mr. S?
Speaker A:Favorite event to compete in.
Speaker A:How do you like that fifth degree form?
Speaker A:I love.
Speaker A:I love the fifth degree.
Speaker A:I think it's my fav.
Speaker B:Although I'm not the best at it.
Speaker B:I. I do enjoy doing just forms and sparring a lot.
Speaker B:I'm still working on getting better at it, but those are two of my favorites.
Speaker A:To do?
Speaker A:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:I do like it.
Speaker B:It's a good form.
Speaker B:I was trying to decide what I was gonna do.
Speaker B:I think I'm just gonna stick with fourth degree, but I might do it for every time a little bit.
Speaker A:What would that be?
Speaker A:I'll start with Mr.
Speaker B:Probably XMA weapons has never been my best event.
Speaker B:I do it.
Speaker B:I have a form and I usually do it almost every tournament just there.
Speaker A:What about you?
Speaker B:I'm not a big gymnastics or flipper guy, so I usually try to make up with it and tricks.
Speaker C:Probably weapons or.
Speaker B:It's probably not my favorite, but I still enjoy doing it.
Speaker C:It hasn't always been my forte.
Speaker C:Been more sparring.
Speaker C:Combat.
Speaker A:Gotcha.
Speaker A:What's.
Speaker A:What's the weapon that you.
Speaker A:When you compete in weapons, what's the weapon you like to.
Speaker A:To compete with?
Speaker C:I used to do song knots and then I switched over and started doing sword and learning from my brother.
Speaker A:I was going to say your brother.
Speaker A:I've seen he's part of that.
Speaker A:The a gumdo program.
Speaker A:So I'm guessing Mr.
Speaker A:Sister Sword is probably your weapon of choice.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Have you, in your.
Speaker A:In your gumdo training, have you done much of the.
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:The mat cutting or the archery stuff?
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:The other cool things that you don't get to do at tournaments?
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:I've been doing that for her on.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I practice the mat cutting a lot.
Speaker A:Very cool.
Speaker A:Did you.
Speaker B:I started doing the archery.
Speaker B:Not very, but I've been practicing that.
Speaker A:Did you start the gumdo program at your school, like having students and stuff too?
Speaker A:I thought I saw.
Speaker B:And I'm working on the cutting and the archery to work towards my second degree.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:How's it.
Speaker A:What's it been like three or four months ago?
Speaker B:You know, it's different than what you've.
Speaker A:Kind of grown up with doing.
Speaker A:I mean, we've done weapons, but it's.
Speaker B:A different kind of thing.
Speaker A:What's that been like?
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, I always tell my students it's like an entirely different martial art pretty much.
Speaker B:So it's.
Speaker B:You got to go in with a white belt mindset and be open to learning and changing.
Speaker B:Maybe how you did sword before and coming in with like a white belt mindset.
Speaker B:So that was different.
Speaker A:It was different everything basically in years.
Speaker B:And then going and teaching a new pretty much future.
Speaker A:I mean with a lot of Korean too.
Speaker B:There's a lot of Korean terminology ahead.
Speaker A:Looking at that master.
Speaker A:Continue teaching schools whatnot.
Speaker A:So tell us just a little bit about what your goals are.
Speaker A:As you look towards the future Mrs. Mrs. Why don't you start with.
Speaker C:Well, I test for sixth degree in three years, so that's the first thing I'm looking at right now.
Speaker C:It's just for sixth degree.
Speaker C:That'll be really cool getting to that level and that mastership we have a picture of.
Speaker C:When my dad tested for 6 degree, he had his white silks and we had like little mini silks made that I wore like as a 2 year old.
Speaker C:So I kind of look forward to having grown up silks and then kind of recreating that picture as an adult.
Speaker C:But I'm excited to take that step forward to testing up as one of the higher ranks at 6 degrees, getting my mastership, you know, eventually taking over the school in the next couple few years.
Speaker A:Fantastic.
Speaker A:That'll be awesome.
Speaker A:Mr. Shuster, what about you?
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Yeah, mastership is a big goal of mine too.
Speaker B:I still, I got five years now before that, but that's a big goal.
Speaker A:Of mine, learning more how to learn schools.
Speaker B:I've learned a lot.
Speaker A:Does it mean to you guys to.
Speaker B:Be an athlete beyond the belt, managing the schools a little more?
Speaker B:So I'm excited.
Speaker C:Keep continuing to training.
Speaker C:You know, my dad and my, both my parents always told us if you want longevity, you need to be doing outside training, you know, doing weights, doing cardio, doing all different stuff to help you have longevity within the sport.
Speaker C:Because if you don't, I feel like you do have a harder time.
Speaker C:So it's better to start preparing now, you know, to get muscle and strength and flexibility.
Speaker C:So again, like I said, you have that longevity and you can keep doing this for a long time.
Speaker A:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker A:Just like, I mean, I want to be, you know, as, as good as your dad someday.
Speaker A:And, and you know, he's a few years older than me.
Speaker A:Not.
Speaker A:Not a lot.
Speaker A:Mr. Shisht.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Yeah, so for me, it's, you know, taking a lot of the things I learned from teaching when I'm a student myself, things I learned tournaments.
Speaker B:I'm really, it's a great line figuring out how I can apply that.
Speaker A:Congratulations.
Speaker B:Different lessons I learned from those.
Speaker A:Inspiration for other, you know, kids in the ATA that, that maybe have parents going through, you know, just, you know, a lot of people out there have watched you guys from a younger age to now, and it's been an inspiration.
Speaker A:So thanks so much for your time today.
Speaker A:We really appreciate it.
Speaker C:Thank you, sir, for having us.
Speaker B:Thank you for having us.
Speaker A:I am pretty excited that not only did we have these awesome athletes of the week, but their dad just became a Grandmaster just days ago.
Speaker A:What's this?
Speaker A:This is Friday.
Speaker A:This is coming out.
Speaker A:And Wednesday night, new Grandmaster sister.
Speaker A:Pretty awesome.
Speaker A:Obviously, you can see these awesome instructors are following in their father's footsteps.
Speaker A:What great inspirations.
Speaker A:Cool things to see.
Speaker A:That's going to wrap it up for us today.
Speaker A:Again, it's World Championships week.
Speaker A:We've got lots going on.
Speaker A:Super busy.
Speaker A:Make sure if you see me at Worlds, stop me, say hi, and make sure you hit that subscribe button.
Speaker A:Until next time, get out there and.
Speaker B:Go beyond the Bells ATA Nation podcast.
Speaker B:Be sure to subscribe and share with your ATA family.
