To be called a third-degree black belt or an aspiring weightlifter is pretty impressive.

But to boast both of these titles like junior Kristen Bondoc can at only 16 years old is an accomplishment in itself.

Bondoc is a skilled third-degree black belt in taekwondo who recently began pursuing weightlifting. Her athletic career began about 12 years ago when she first started taekwondo. She began as a white belt at the age of four and by eight years old, she had earned her first black belt.

Getting a black belt might seem like the end, but it was just the beginning for Bondoc. When she was 10 years old, Bondoc attained her second-degree black belt after passing a test that required board breaking, completion of taekwondo forms, sparring, and memorizing studio rules and the tenets of taekwondo.

Five years later, after constant training and an even more intensive test, Bondoc acquired her third-degree black belt.

“[Kristen] was pretty dedicated to get her third degree belt,” said Tricia Bondoc, Kristen’s mom. “She did a lot of practice, going almost every day, five days a week at 7:30. It was usually an hour class, sometimes two hours.”

Bondoc participated in many competitions with destinations ranging from Vallejo and Reno to Los Angeles and even Texas. Taekwondo competitions usually include two categories: forms and sparring. Forms are defined patterns of defense and attack motions while sparring is a ‘fight’ between two members who wear protective gear and spar each other for points.

In both forms and sparring, Bondoc usually placed first or second, but achievements in competitions weren’t all taekwondo had to offer for Bondoc.

“My biggest accomplishment in taekwondo was when one of my student’s parent asked me for one on one coaching classes for his daughter,” said Bondoc. “I was able to coach her for a few weeks leading into her tournament.”

In high school, Bondoc participated in throwing shot put and discus for Cal High’s track-and-field team. About a year ago, track-and-field throwing coach Rob Blackwell  discovered her talent for weightlifting during a mandatory weights class.

Blackwell brought her to his gym, California Strength in San Ramon, and between her freshman and sophomore years, Bondoc began lifting weights.

Bondoc took a break from taekwondo to pursue weightlifting and has been doing so for the past year. She is one of around 30 members on the California Strength weightlifting team and is also one of the eight junior lifters on the team.

Currently, she goes to practice at the gym two hours a day, six days a week.

“[Weightlifting] is very mental so you have to have mental toughness to be able to fight through some pain and ultimately work hard,” said Blackwell, who coaches athletes 18 and under at California Strength. “It’s a special sport because the one who wins is the one who works the hardest and who lasts the longest.”

Bondoc performs the snatch and clean and jerk movements in weightlifting competitions. The snatch comprises lifting the barbell from the ground and holding it overhead in one motion, while the clean and jerk requires weightlifters to lift the barbell first to their shoulder and then overhead.

“[Kristen]’s one of the hardest workers I know for her age,” Blackwell said. “She’s very disciplined not only from her workouts but also to her recovery and overall everything.”

Despite having only participated in weightlifting for a year, Bondoc has already been to several local competitions and even placed sixth in her weight division at the National Youth Championships in Minneapolis last summer.

At this competition, Bondoc lifted 53kg (117lbs) for the snatch and 68kg (150lbs) for the clean and jerk for a total of 121kg. Bondoc said just competing in her first national competition is her biggest accomplishment in weightlifting so far.

Bondoc has also qualified for the National Junior Championships in February, but she is currently looking to lift heavier weight in order to qualify for the American Open this December.

Bondoc’s current personal record total is 130kg and she needs a total of 137kg to qualify.