An achievement, nine years in the making

Last month, Patrick Jones of Seeley Lake was awarded his black belt in taekwondo at the Missoula Taekwondo Center. The ceremony marked a height of achievement, nine years in the making. 

Earning a belt in taekwondo is a test of self discipline and dedication for anyone, but for Jones, who has Down syndrome, it's an even greater testament to perseverance.

"He loved it from the very first time he went," said Jones' mother Mary Lynne Jones. "A lot of people go 'okay, yeah, he's got Down syndrome. So they just kind of gave it to him.' But no, he absolutely earned every single belt that he got."

Jones grew up in Seeley Lake where he graduated from Seeley-Swan High School  and became somewhat of a local legend for dancing his way between one job at the Valley Market and his next shift at Rovero's.

"He would put on his headphones and he would boot scoot down the walkway," his mother said. 

"Everybody knows him. Everybody loves him. Patrick is the town's kid."

Patrick loved living in Seeley Lake and recalls having many friends in high school and at his two jobs. But after graduating he found the small town a little under-stimulating.

"The difficulty in Seeley Lake was there weren't a lot of opportunities for Patrick," said Mary Lynne. "He went to school there. He graduated from high school there but after that, there was nothing for him to do."

Patrick was accepted into a group home in Missoula where he currently lives and is an active member of the theater community, working as an usher and occasional actor with the Missoula Children's Theatre. 

Bigger cities bring more activities and Patrick was drawn to the idea of martial arts training.

He took an interest in taekwondo which his aunt, uncle, and cousin had all trained in before him.

"It helps with my anger and my frustrations," Patrick said. "The only way to do that is to break boards and mostly kicking paddles and punching bags. That helps with all that frustration and anger."

Patrick has found a purpose in taekwondo and the ways it makes him feel better about himself and the world around him.

"He really had no conception about earning a black belt, but over the years seeing the progression of the various belts and becoming so much stronger, mentally, emotionally and physically gave him the added drive to continue," said Susan Freeman, Patrick's aunt and a fellow black belt. Just after beginning his training with Master Robarsky at the Missoula Taekwondo Center, Patrick started experiencing chest pains and was taken to the emergency room where he expressed to a doctor that he may have hurt himself doing kicks in training. But, after some exams and X-rays it was discovered that Patrick had actually come down with a case of double pneumonia and a chest cavity infection known as empyema. He spent 18 days in intensive care and underwent two major surgeries, barely surviving the first one. When he was released from the hospital he was hindered by stitches and chest tubes. He wasn't able to engage in the physical aspects of training -  but he attended every practice from a seat in the bleachers, listening to the lessons and watching his peers.

"He's had multiple surgeries during that nine year period where he has missed out on a lot, but he never, never gave up," Mary Lynne said.

He attended taekwondo training every Monday and Wednesday for those nine years, taking to heart and exemplifying the five tenets of the martial art: Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and most of all an indomitable spirit for which Patrick received a special merit. 

"Your perseverance far exceeds anyone else I've ever met," Robarsky told him at the black belt ceremony, which is itself an eight hour long test performed in a single day.

Although a black belt is further than Patrick had first envisioned, he still plans to continue his training and see how far along he can get.

"He's just gotten this whole sense of self worth," said his mother. "Everything about him is just centered."

Patrick continues to visit Seeley Lake in the summer when his mother, a self-professed "snowbird" is back in the area. He hopes to see his old friends whenever he is back in town.