WEST COLUMBIA (WACH) - Nathan Bouknight has been training at the Karate Dojo in West Columbia for more than 5 years.
Tuesday, years of hard work paid of for Bouknight as he earned one of karate's highest honors - a black belt.
Bouknight is proud of his aclompishment, however he says that without karate, he would be a complete different person.
"I would probably be over 350 pounds if not 400. I would be a lonely, shy person who did not want to talk to anybody, which is what I was 6 years ago," said Bouknight.
Before joining the dojo, Bouknight weighed more than 300 pounds.
He says what started off as a way to lose weight quickly became a passion.
The discipline Sensi Brian Pena taught was the drive Bouknight was missing in life.
"Being over weight and being lazy the two go hand and hand," said Bouknight. "It's sad that they do but they do, if you can find that drive to lose the weight a lot of the laziness kinda goes away."
Bouknight's father also noticed the change in his son after he started training.
"He wouldn't talk to anybody, nobody. He would stand behind me or his mother and just stand there and look," said David Bouknight.
David Bouknight says martial arts has shaped his son into a new person.
The once overweight, shy kid is now a fit, confident man.
Over the last several years, Bouknight has experienced tough times. In 1993, his dad had a stroke, and 2 years ago his mother died from a rare heart condition.
"She's probably looking down from up there smiling, probably the same thing running through my mind proud," added David Bouknight.
"My one wish today is my mother could've been here for this, that's the only thing that I regret. I think being a black belt would've made her proud," said Bouknight
Bouknight is now a confident, proud man ready to take on life, all thanks to karate.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH