Normally, the chance to compete at the national level would be too enticing to resist.
After winning two silver medals at the Southern Regional Championship for tae kwon do, Bailey automatically qualified for the National Championship in June.
But Bailey has other priorities.
Bailey, currently a red belt in the Moo Sul Kwan school for Tae kwon do, has his sights set on becoming a first degree black belt.
“If the national championship interferes with the test for the black belt, I’ll forfeit,” Bailey said. “I’ve passed it up twice because I wasn’t ready.”
Bailey said his test for the black belt will require him to perform around 15 exercises in form technique, 25 one-step sparring exercises and board breaking exercises.
Bailey, who started Tae kwon do in 1997 and came to Mississippi State in 2001, said he wanted to learn the martial art for self-defense purposes but others have worse motives.
“You are supposed to learn it so you don’t have to use it,” he said. “But there are people that learn martial arts to hurt people.”
That was the case when Bailey at 125 lbs. faced off with a 215-pound opponent.
Bailey took a kick to the nose but brought home the medals.