TKDI interviewed Carissa Fu, a force to fear in both Poomsae, and Sparring.
Name: Carissa Fu
Birthday: July 7, 1989
Competition Weight: Bantam
Height: 5’3
College: Princeton University
Coaches: Master Rex Hatfield, Master JiHi Choi
(TaeKwonDo Insider News): What first got you into TaeKwonDo?
(Carissa Fu): My father did judo when he was growing up, and he wanted to enroll me in a martial art. Taekwondo was one of the options in my neighborhood so my parents signed me up at the age 7, and I continued training until was 15. Our family moved to Beijing when I was 14, and I found a place to train outside the city for the first year I was there, but I wanted to focus more on academics junior and senior year of high school. Once I entered college, I started training again.
(TKDI): You won 1st place at Collegiate Nationals again this year in Poomsae, how do you alter your training to achieve such success with your Poomsae?
(Fu): I do not alter my training habits, but I do change my mindset. I try not to fall content with how I am currently performing, but I train to bring out the essence of each set of movements in the form and perform to the best of my ability.
(TKDI): What is the key to a great poomsae?
(Fu): I would not say I know the key to a great poomsae but attention to every detail and capturing the flow and spirit of the form are some of the most important aspects of making a poomsae look both graceful and powerful.
(TKDI): You are also a double threat as you were selected as an ECTC Allstar, and also finished 3rd at Collegiate Nationals in sparring. How do you juggle training for sparring along with poomsae?
(Fu): During our normal workouts, we focus on sparring for the first 2/3 of class then work on poomsae the latter 1/3. I always felt like training for poomsae helped in sparring and vice versa. Building up strength and speed in sparring can help make poomsae movements stronger while building up balance and precision in poomsae can help improve agility and accuracy in sparring.
(TKDI): Do you have any pre-competition routines, or superstitions?
(Fu): I don’t have any pre-competition routines but I do have a little superstition where I don’t let anyone touch my sparring bag before I spar.
(TKDI): What is a typical training week like for you?
(Fu): When I’m at school, I try to train 5 times a week. We typically have 3 days where we work on sparring drills and poomsae, Fridays are solely for sparring, and Sundays we hold a team stamina workout.
(TKDI): You competed at both Pan Am’s and also the Summer World University Games, what were these experiences like?
(Fu): Competing at Pan Am’s and the Summer World University Games was one of the best experiences of my life. I had the incredible chance to meet and watch many amazing athletes which has inspired me to continue working hard throughout my college and graduate school years. I hope to represent the US again in future international competitions.
(TKDI): What was the most memorable competition moment so far?
(Fu): My most memorable competition moment so far was winning Poomsae Individuals, and thus a spot on the Collegiate National Team, at Team Trials. After I won this position, my entire team ran up and enclosed me in a group hug. Before coming to university, all of my competition experiences have been solely based on my own performance, but competing with a team at the collegiate level has brought greater joy to this sport than I ever could have imagined. When I won the spot on the team, I felt as if Princeton Taekwondo won because without my teammates’ continual support and motivation, I could not have accomplished this feat.
(TKDI): What was your favorite location you visited for competition or training so far?
(Fu): My favorite competition location so far has been Belgrade, Serbia. However, I enjoy every competition I attend with my university team because we have unforgettable experiences when we travel together. I cannot imagine college without my incredible teammates and the fun times we have shared.
(TKDI): What are your thoughts on the ECTC and Collegiate Taekwondo as a whole?
(Fu): The people in ECTC and Collegiate Taekwondo are one of the best to either continue or begin your taekwondo training. The ECTC is a great environment with strong and dedicated athletes who love Taekwondo and the added team component has brought a whole new facet of sport taekwondo. Competing on a regular basis with this league has taught me countless lessons about leadership, teamwork, and the spirit of competition. Additionally, the incredibly high level of competition in Collegiate Taekwondo pushes athletes and coaches to work hard and improve on a daily basis.
(TKDI): If you could give one tip to up and coming athletes, what would it be?
(Fu): Never lose sight of your goal.
(TKDI): What do you do for fun outside of TaeKwonDo?
(Fu): At Princeton, I am involved in a few other student groups. Over the fall, I help coordinate a bazaar which sells handicrafts from developing nations to raise funds for non-governmental organizations in nations such as Cambodia, Morocco, and Argentina. I also tap dance in our university tap dance company, TapCats. Moreover, I am an officer in P-UNICEF and an international group on campus which helps promotes our international programs and internships. Aside from participating in student organizations, I like doing all the things that a regular college student does: hang out with friends, watch movies, travel, read, etc.
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