Life can be turned upside down in an instant, but many say that what happens next depends on how you respond to those changes. I spoke to a 19-year-old girl who faces challenges head-on with discipline and determination. That girl is Anastasia Savchenko, and she is only 19 years old. She is truly a champion. I am a nine-time national champion, a five-time World Cup winner, and a European champion for over a decade. Savchenko was trying to make a name for herself in her home country, but on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and we had to flee the country. She had to leave everything behind. I came here and felt like I had nothing and was nothing, but that didn't last long. She is a very good student. She is motivated and smart. She understands the martial arts of her new country. Savchenko found familiarity here at the Skoda Karate Academy. When she comes to practice, she forgets everything that is going on outside. If she went from taekwondo to tansu, many would complain, but it doesn't matter. I have to learn everything again. She accepts it. Learns a new martial art. She accepts the challenge. But step by step, it comes back. That's what martial arts has always taught her. I just remind myself, I'm a black belt. I took the challenge and I overcame it. So now I know that I have the strength within me to endure. Even if everything changes, the strength remains. Everything on the outside is so fragile and can change in a moment. But inside me, I had this. I don't know if I have a very, um, strong foundation, but no matter what happens, I'm still okay. It's a wonderful thing. A young woman. Savchenko is also a student at Furman University. She is studying mathematics, economics and data analysis, aiming for G.
19-year-old finds love for martial arts after fleeing Ukraine
The 19-year-old Ukrainian taekwondo champion was forced to flee Ukraine with her family, and now she's finding her love for martial arts.
Updated: July 19, 2024 at 11:07 PM EDT
The 19-year-old Ukrainian taekwondo champion had to flee Ukraine with her family. Now she finds her affinity for martial arts at the Upstate Karate Academy. Anastasia Savchenko started taekwondo when she was eight years old. Now, not even 20 years old, she is a Ukrainian national champion. “I've been a nine-time national champion, I've won the World Cup five times, I've been a European champion,” Savchenko says. But two years ago, when she and her family had to leave the country, Savchenko had to leave everything behind. “I never thought about living in the United States, but on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and we had to flee Ukraine,” Savchenko says. “It was not a decision I wanted to make, because in Ukraine I had everything there: career, friends, education.” But she quickly found something familiar at the Upstate Karate Academy. “She's a very good student. She's motivated, she's smart, she understands martial arts,” said Joe Scota of Scota Karate Academy in Taylors. Savchenko isn't practicing taekwondo, but rather learning a new type of martial art. “But I don't have a problem with her switching from taekwondo to tang soo do. A lot of people would complain, 'Oh, I have to learn it all again,'” Scota said. “She embraces it.” Savchenko has accepted the challenge and is looking forward to competing in tang soo do. Meanwhile, she's also a student at Furman University studying mathematics, economics and data analysis. She hopes to go on to graduate school in statistics or analytics. And while she continues to learn new martial arts and adapt to life in a new country, she does so with the perseverance and determination that martial arts taught her. “I remind myself, well, I'm a black belt,” she said. “I took the challenge and I got through it. So now I know I have the ability within myself to get through it.”
The 19-year-old Ukrainian taekwondo champion was forced to flee Ukraine with her family, and now she's finding her footing in the martial arts at a karate academy in upstate New York.
Anastasia Savchenko started taekwondo when she was eight years old.
Now, not yet 20 years old, she is the Ukrainian national champion.
“I'm a nine-time national champion, a five-time World Cup winner and a European champion,” Savchenko said.
But two years ago, Savchenko and her family were forced to leave the country, leaving everything behind.
“I never thought about living in the United States, but on Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, so we had to flee Ukraine,” Savchenko said. “It was not a decision I wanted to make, because I had everything in Ukraine: my career, friends, education.”
But she soon found something familiar at an upstate karate school.
“She's a very good student. She's motivated, smart and understands martial arts,” said Joe Scota of Scota Karate Academy in Taylors.
Savchenko is not training taekwondo, but rather is learning a new type of martial art.
“It's not a problem that she went from taekwondo to tansudo. A lot of people would complain, 'Oh, I have to learn it all again,'” Sukota said. “She embraces it.”
Savchenko accepted the challenge and is looking forward to competing in Tan Su Do.
She is also a student at Furman University studying Mathematics, Economics and Data Analytics, and hopes to attend graduate school in Statistics or Analytics.
And as she continues to learn new martial arts and adapt to life in a new country, she does so with the perseverance and determination that martial arts taught her.
“I just tell myself I'm a black belt,” she said. “I've faced challenges and I've overcome them, so now I know I have it within myself to overcome it.”
