Student view: Finding purpose and empowering others through Taekwondo

Jogi Katende is a fourth-year Honors College international student from Uganda studying finance and economics through the Broad College of Business and the College of Social Science. He is a member of the Uganda National Olympic Taekwondo Team, preparing to compete at the 2025 World Taekwondo Championships and serves as a teaching assistant for Kinesiology 102k: Taekwondo 1. Katende also is a member of the Michigan State University 2025 Homecoming Court.

When I first arrived at Michigan State University, much of my life had been devoted to competing in the Olympic sport of Taekwondo. Every day, I focused on my personal training to advance my goals in the sport. As a result, the first club I joined on campus was MSU Taekwondo Club. I did not know what to expect my first day and had questions ranging from the size of the club team to the skill level of the instructors.

When I entered the Taekwondo room, I was warmly welcomed by Ronald Southwick, or Master Southwick, a faculty member at MSU and the head coach of the Michigan State University Taekwondo Club. I quickly learned about Master Southwick’s prominence and involvement in World Taekwondo, from being an avid competitor to a reigning world champion.

What surprised me most, however, was that despite his numerous professional commitments and while training to represent Team USA globally, Master Southwick devoted himself to teaching beginner-level Taekwondo through the Taekwondo 1 class four days a week. For him, teaching was not a distraction from his goals of competing at the highest levels; it was a key part of his mission. He found more joy in empowering Spartans through Taekwondo than in individual success on the world stage.

Inspired by this belief, I requested to join the teaching team for Taekwondo 1. As I started teaching, I quickly understood why Master Southwick never stopped. Like him, I had experienced the life-changing impact of Taekwondo and martial arts. Sharing those lessons with Spartans filled me with purpose and immense joy. I learned that my personal goals in Taekwondo were inseparable from a greater responsibility to my community.

As the semesters passed by, the belief that true success comes from sharing with the community, shaped my Spartan journey. I have continued teaching Taekwondo 1 every semester since, sharing with over 250 students the discipline, confidence and communal spirit central to martial arts. Beyond Taekwondo, I have carried this commitment to other leadership roles, including classroom teaching experiences, serving as a Resident Assistant and now my role on the 2025 Homecoming Court. 

Reflecting on my Spartan experience, I see this community spirit everywhere at Michigan State University. Students, faculty, staff and alumni dedicate themselves to empowering others. It is our Spartan way. For me, it all began in Kinesiology 102k, where I first saw how deeply Spartans are committed to our community. And my experience is not unique — there are numerous “beginning” kinesiology courses available, from judo to dance, which offer the same opportunity to be taught by Spartans dedicated to empowering one another. I encourage every student to try one; it can shape your Spartan experience in ways you never expected. 

This story originally appeared on the International Studies and Programs website.