Community Corner
Faces and Places of Foster City: Herb Perez
Herb Perez is a 1992 Olympic gold medalist in Taekwondo and the owner of Gold Medal Martial Arts.
Name: Herb Perez
Age: 51
Occupation: Owner and lead instructor of .
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How long have you lived in Foster City? 6 years.
What do you like best about the city? The families, safe streets, clean and nurturing environment.
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How did you first get started in Taekwondo? I was a young New York City kid from a single parent home. My mom worked at 5 a.m., so I needed self defense to protect myself and my sister on our way to school.
What do you love most about the sport? It is a lifeskill-building sport that is physically challenging and provides the physical and intellectual skill sets to succeed at any sport or vocation.
How did it feel to win a gold medal? It was the most rewarding feeling to win a gold medal for the USA and my mom. I was the only American to win in our sport.
How often do you currently train? I train everyday and cross train in boxing, Judo and cycling. I train three hours per day.
What advice can you give to young martial arts athletes? You must be disciplined, committed, and focused. You will need patience, determination, and perserverance.
