Help Jax Compete in Puerto Rico – A Taekwondo Journey in Honor of His Mentor

Hi, my name is Tom Borchard, and I’m asking for your support on behalf of my son, Jax—a dedicated young martial artist who has been invited to travel with his Taekwondo club to compete in a tournament this October in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.

⬇️READ THE STORY AND HEAR IT IN JAX' WORDS⬇️

We’re raising $3,500 to help Jax cover the costs of this amazing opportunity. He’s working hard to fundraise and make this trip happen, and I couldn’t be more proud of the young man he’s becoming.

Hear about the Journey In Jax Own Words

From White Belt to Black Belt

Jax began his Taekwondo journey at the age of 7 as a white belt at Sioux Falls Taekwondo Club. From his very first class, he was trained and mentored by 6th Degree Black Belt Master Troy Vink—a teacher who made a lasting impact on every student he met, especially Jax.

Over the years, Jax grew through the ranks and earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in June of 2024. But what really stood out during his time with Master Vink wasn’t just his discipline or technique—it was his heart. Jax loved assisting with the “littles” during color belt classes, always stepping up to help teach and encourage the younger students.

Master Vink’s influence on Jax extended far beyond the mat. He instilled in him the five tenets of Taekwondo that Jax still strives to live by today:

One of Troy’s favorite sayings still echoes in our home:

“A black belt is just a white belt that never gave up.”

Honoring a Mentor’s Legacy

In January 2025, Master Vink passed away at the age of 57. The loss was hard for our home. But rather than letting it stop him, Jax chose to carry forward everything Master Vink had taught him.

A New Chapter with Maka’s Taekowndo

Jax continued his training with Maka’s Taekwondo in Tea, SD—a larger school with a competitive focus. While he no longer plays the same teaching role he once did, his dedication has only grown.

He’s been putting in extra time, focusing on sparring, and really pushing himself to improve. After one recent tournament where he faced a tough defeat, his coaches praised him by saying:

“He’s a great student—very coachable, he’s like a sponge, he just soaks up everything we teach him.” – Sarah Smith

He may not be on a “national stage” just yet, but he’s ready for greater challenges, and this upcoming trip is exactly that.

Jax is very proud that he is continuing on his training. Of his original class of more than 50 students, he was the only one to make black belt. And of the last black belt class of students of Master Vink's, he is the last one still training. #NeverGiveUp

About the Trip

Taekwondo Tournament in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico

✨ In Jax’s Own Words

Before earning his black belt, Jax wrote an essay to Master Vink that still resonates with me as a parent. In it, he said:

“Just because I’m teaching people doesn’t mean I know everything... It is okay to accept help no matter what belt you are.

Sometimes Taekwondo can be a struggle—and that’s okay. Not everything you do is going to be a piece of cake. You just have to put more effort into the harder things…

I just want the ranks below me to know that if you put all the effort you can into it, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

How You Can Help

We’re aiming to raise $3,500 to help cover:

Any contribution—no matter the amount—means the world to us. And if you’re not in a position to donate, simply sharing this campaign is just as appreciated.

Thank you for helping a young man keep growing, keep learning, and keep carrying forward the lessons of a great teacher.

“A black belt is just a white belt that never gave up.” – Master Troy Vink

With gratitude,

Tom & Jax Borchard

You can reach out to Tom directly for offline cash/check donations, also accepting Venmo @bymmot