Woodburn Independent Online

A competitor — both in and out of the pool

Jacob Bonham is a standout swimmer and enjoys Taekwondo

• By: Garrett Rudolph  
• Published: 3/9/2010 10:05:05 AM
• Last Updated: 3/9/2010 10:35:24 AM

Photo By: Garrett RudolphJacob Bonham
Not only is Woodburn junior Jacob Bonham a member of the Bulldogs water polo and swim teams, but he is also actively involved in martial arts. Bonham said swimming helps keep him in good condition for Taekwondo.

WOODBURN — The truth is, Jacob Bonham doesn’t really enjoy swimming.
 
The Woodburn junior was part of the relay teams which qualified for two events at the Class 5A state swim meet, and broke school records six times during the course of the season. Bonham, along with teammates Kyle Wicks, Bogdan Shevchuk and Mitchell Shepherd, eventually placed sixth in the state in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
 
As a team, Woodburn’s seventh-place finish out of 21 teams was one of the best in the Bulldogs history.
 
Still, Bonham isn’t likely to flaunt his swimming accolades and achievements.
 
“I’m sure it means a lot to the other guys, but I’m just kind of passive about it,” he said. “I’m glad I could help them achieve that, because it really means a lot to them.”
 
While Bonham was integral to the success of the Woodburn swim team this season, the effort he puts into the pool is really just preparation for his true passion: martial arts.
 
He first began studying martial arts during the summer after his freshman year of high school, focusing primarily on Taekwondo, and it has quickly developed into more than just a passing hobby. He was drawn into the sport not just as a method of self-defense and activity, but also because of the spiritual and philosophical aspects of it.
 
“I’ve always been kind of fascinated by different cultures and traditions and stuff,” he said, pointing out that someday he hopes to be able to travel and study martial arts abroad.
 
“I plan on doing this for the rest of my life,” he added.
 
In the past, he has participated in tournaments, which feature competitions for sparring, form, and breaking boards or bricks.
 
However, being a three-year member of both the swimming and water polo teams at Woodburn, Bonham found high school sports have taken up a great deal of his time.
 
Now that the swimming season has concluded, he hopes to be able to find time to get back into tournament competition.
 
Juggling school work, high school swimming and water polo, and martial arts training hasn’t always been easy, but Bonham finds time to put in three to four days a week at Counter Point Martial Arts in Hubbard.
 
While Bonham has tried out a variety of different dojos, he said he particularly enjoys the broad range of instruction he receives at Counter Point. Instead of focusing solely on one style of martial arts, Bonham said Counter Point combines different styles and teaches a variety of techniques.
 
“They all just take different concepts and bring them together and find what’s most practical,” he said. “A lot of dojos stick to one style and that’s it. Counter Point is more open, and my instructors really push me to do the best I can.”

  (log in to rate)