Alexandria Taekwondo instructor to close business after 34 years

Senior Master Carol Rousseau got an email from a parent thanking her for teaching a class on stranger danger at her Taekwondo studio on Jackson Street, Master Rousseau’s Taekwondo.

“She said she did everything that we taught her to do in class and whoever was attacking her left her alone,” said Rousseau. She likes knowing that students have the skills and tools that can help them out if they ever find themselves in such a situation. And that they could at least know to do something that will help them get away and get help.

Taekwondo is a martial arts form that originated in Korea.

"Taekwondo means ‘way of hand and foot’ and we use our hands and feet to defend ourselves. Taekwondo is known for their kicks. It’s a basic kick, punch block style, but it's known for all the kicks that we do," she said.

Rousseau has been in the business of teaching taekwondo for 34 years. Now, she plans to close it because she decided it was time.

She began teaching after she bought the business from her instructor who was from Little Rock, Ark., the headquarters of the American Taekwondo Association.

“They came down here and they bought the school. They stayed a couple of years and then they wanted to go back home to Little Rock,” she said. “Nobody bought the school. So I decided to buy it. I liked it so much I bought the school. I didn't want it to close.”

She first got hooked on Taekwondo 37 years ago when her father took classes.

"He showed me some moves. He showed me how to punch and kick and I liked it,” she said.

Her father didn’t allow her to take classes then since there were no kids’ classes and the classes available were all men. As she got older, taekwondo classes for kids became available and she joined. And the rest is history, said Rousseau.

In her years of teaching, Rousseau liked to watch her students grow in the martial art form. She’s always enjoyed the activity and the physical exercise and mental discipline that come from it.

Patty Malone first met Rousseau in 1996 she signed her son up for classes. She later took and achieved a second-degree black belt.

“Master Rousseau always encouraged me to reach my personal goals. She sweated with me and took pride in my achievements,” said Malone.

Nicole Babin started taking Taekwondo in 2015 when she was 38 and obtained her first black belt at 41.

“In self-defense, I gained confidence by sparring with men to simulate what an attack may be like, we trained in situational awareness, multiple attackers, and ways to neutralize a threat. Women are often targeted so knowing a few fast and quick moves can change the outcome of a bad situation. The confidence I have gained and the friendships along the way are irreplaceable,” she said.

Babin has competed and won titles at the state and regional levels in her division.

“In regards to advancement in the ranks Master Rousseau taught me hard work, perseverance, and dedication pay off,” she said.

Rousseau and the rest of their team are like a second family to her.

“Being a part of the adult program was fun and exciting. We have become lifelong friends,” she said.

Rousseau is closing the studio and has retired from competing, but she will continue to train others.

"Like if somebody wants to do a self-defense class, I'm still open to do self-defense class, like stranger danger or bully, but it will have to be at their facilities,” she explained.

She will still teach self-defense and karate online for Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville.

Rousseau is an 8th-degree black belt in the style of the American Taekwondo Association. She said there are a number of 8th-degree black belts in their style but just a few women.

“In Louisiana, I'm the only one. The only female 8th-degree black belt in our association, ATA,” she said.

Rousseau tested for the 8th-degree black belt but opted out of chief master training. She would have been called chief master had she opted for the training.

"When you're 6th degree black belt you can train for master. When you're 7th-degree black belt you can train for senior master. When you're in 8th degree, you can test for chief master training. I tested for 8th degree but I didn't do the chief master training. I wasn’t able to go. I’ve got this grandbaby that I’m taking care of,” she explained, as to why she is still called senior master as opposed to chief master.

During her time competing, she was the state champion in ATA style Taekwondo about 10-15 times in different categories, she said.

“I got world champ in weapons in 2017. That was a that was one of my goals before I stopped competing was to get world champ,” she said.

Rousseau is having a going out of-business/garage sale to get rid of the office supplies and martial arts equipment on June 10 and June 17. May 31 will be the last full day in business at Master Rousseau’s Taekwondo, 3330 Jackson St.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Alexandria Taekwondo instructor to close business after 34 years