Our Black Belt of the month is — Maximilian Hauenstein! Max, for short, started as a Taeki back in April 2013. Remembering Max running up and down the bleachers back then, doing his homework while Dad was taking his adult TKD classes, seems like a lifetime ago. Now this young man is fearlessly in the ring or on the mat, fighting for gold in whatever tournament he goes to. Always with a smile on his face, it is a joy to see him come in with a sense of expectation that this is going to be another great taekwondo day.
A 2nd Dan Black Belt, a Leadership awardee and a Fight Team member.. Let’s get to know Maximilian Hauenstein in a more personal note.
How old are you now and at what age did you start taekwondo? — “I started taekwondo when I was 4 years old. I turned ten in February and in 4th grade at school.”
What is it that you like about taekwondo and what is your ultimate goal as a taekwondo athlete?— “I like to spar with my friends. My ultimate goal in taekwondo is to continue enjoying taekwondo and keep doing it.”
Tell us about a peak moment in taekwondo, one that you are especially proud of and will never forget. — “I am not sure if I had a peak moment yet. Most memorable time was probably my 2nd dan black belt test. With the training, the fight team practices and the test, it was the toughest time for me in taekwondo.“
In all the tournaments you have competed in, what match stands out the most for you that you would consider as the most challenging one? — “The AAU competition last year. I was losing in one of the sparring matches with something like 10 points behind but caught up and won the match. I ended up winning gold. Master Vargas was happy that I was still calm and could pay attention to what the coach was saying even when I was behind in points.”
Other than being a multi-medalist in sparring, and poomsae please share with us your other accomplishments outside of taekwondo. — “Last year when I was in the 3rd grade, I came in the 3rd place in the chess tournament competing against 5th graders. I like playing chess.”
What advice would you give a beginner student who wants to be a black belt someday? — “An advice I would give to a beginner student is not to give up and make friends at Taekwondo which helps you enjoy when you to come to the class. ”
What is your favorite school subject and what do you like about it? — “My favorite subjects in school are math, science, and reading. I like math because I like using my mind to calculate math problems. I like science because I like learning about technology and physics of how things work and how it happens. Finally, I like reading because I can just sit and relax my mind. When I read, it feels kind of like I’m in a different world and imagining what is happening in that story.”
What are Maximilian’s favorite things? — “When the weather is not bad and not windy, I like flying our drones with my brother Lukas. I like taking walks early in the morning and watch the sun rise. I like watching Japanese animes (Naruto Shippuden, One Piece, etc.) in Japanese. On weekends, I like playing games on my iPad.
I also enjoy our regular visits to Japan and Germany spending time with the families there.”
How about pet peeves…what are things you just dislike? — “I don’t like people who are rude and bossy, and I don’t like red-velvet cake.”
If you were a fictional character who or what would you be and why that character? — “If I could be a fictional character, I would want to be Uzumaki Naruto, because he never gives up, he is strong, and he is kind and cares for others.”
Please finish this sentence: “Most people don’t know that … . I am trilingual, I speak German, Japanese and English. I have 3 passports. I have been enjoying horse riding since I was 5 years old and am very good at it. I can even stand on a horse while riding (but my mom does not like me doing that). 
If your friends and family were to describe you, what adjectives would they use? — “Funny, smart and kind.”
If there is one famous person you could spend the whole day with, who would that be, and what would you talk about? — “I think I would like to meet Albert Einstein. I would like to talk with him about the possibilities of space travel, travel above light speed, the possibility of time-travel back in time and history, the possibility of traveling through space time wormholes like in the movies. With today’s advances in technology and our science capabilities, a person like Einstein could probably make many more amazing science breakthroughs. So it would be very good to meet him today.” 
What do you think is the #1 thing that young people these days should learn as they’re growing up? —“I think the number one thing young people should learn is that school work is very important and if you don’t focus on it you will get bad grades and won’t get a good job.”
What words of wisdom can you share with other young men your age? — “What you are is what you have been. What you will be is what you do now.”
Lastly, tell us about your most important wish at this moment. Maybe someone who’s reading this (like Mom and Dad) can make that come true for you. — “My most important wish at this moment is to get my PhD in Physics (like my dad), work and earn a lot of money and help this world from any big problems to small tiny problems. And you can do that by working hard in school, getting good grades, and become really smart.
And… I want Aibo! It is very cute. You can check him out. https://direct.sony.com/aibo-ERS1000W/
And there you have it… Maximilian… Up close and personal, and hopefully “Aibo” will be a part of the family.
To say that Max is a beaming ray of sunshine is not hyperbole because he is! You will never see him grouchy, grumpy, or with any kind of attitude simply because he loves taekwondo, and he is indeed smart, funny and kind.
Not only that, having a loving and supporting family is the strong foundation that anchors him. With his visions and aspirations, we may just see another Einstein in this generation! These are the kind of Black Belts we strive to produce here at Quest.
We have another outstanding Black Belt to feature next month, so please check in or subscribe to our blogs. If you’re in the South Bay area, swing by Quest Taekwondo and watch these amazing young Black Belts and future Black Belts train. We have every taekwondo and fitness program to suit every age group and physical profile. Check out our home page for new promotions and offers.
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