84-Year-Old Earned Taekwondo Grandmaster Title
From Wadena, a small town in the state of Minnesota (USA), the story of Lolita Myers has inspired the Taekwondo world. At the age of 84, she earned the title of Grandmaster, proving that passion, discipline, and perseverance have no age limits.
From Wadena, a small town in the state of Minnesota (USA), the story of Lolita Myers has inspired the Taekwondo world. At the age of 84, she earned the title of Grandmaster, proving that passion, discipline, and perseverance have no age limits.
Inside a modest gym in Wadena, Minnesota, an 84-year-old woman adjusted her dobok, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. In front of the testing panel, Lolita Myers had successfully completed her 7th Dan examination, officially earning the Grandmaster title after more than four decades devoted to Taekwondo.
The event was not just a technical test — it symbolized resilience. Three years earlier, Myers had suffered a fractured hip, and doctors doubted she would ever return to the mat. Yet the martial art that had shaped most of her life became the very tool that helped her recover.
“Taekwondo gave me the strength to keep moving. It helped heal both my body and spirit,” Myers said after receiving her title.
A Lifetime on the Mat
Lolita Myers had started training in the 1970s, during the rise of Taekwondo in the United States. Since then, she had trained, taught, and promoted the values of the Korean martial art within her community, combining traditional practice with her personal philosophy of consistency, respect, and self-confidence.
Over the decades, she had trained dozens of students in the region, many of whom continue teaching or competing at a national level today. Her final test, held in front of masters from multiple states, crowned a lifetime dedicated to passing on Taekwondo as a way of life.
Age Never Stood in Her Way
For Myers, age had never been a barrier. After hip surgery, she used Taekwondo movements as part of her rehabilitation, adapting techniques to her pace and physical condition.
“Every movement hurt at first, but I knew that stopping meant giving up — and I wasn’t ready for that,” she explained.
Today, at 84, she continues to teach both children and older adults, spreading the message that discipline and indomitable spirit can overcome any obstacle.
Her story went viral in Minnesota’s local media and quickly spread online, inspiring Taekwondo practitioners of all ages worldwide.
Living Example of Taekwondo Values
Lolita Myers embodies Taekwondo’s core values: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. Her achievement proves that these principles transcend competition and age — the true black belt is worn in one’s attitude.
Her journey also highlights Taekwondo’s role as a practice for health, resilience, and intergenerational connection.
Original story by Nicole Stracek for Wadena Pioneer Journal. Adapted and expanded by MASTKD for an international audience.
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