Tears Are for the Living Part 1

July 22, 2024 Buffalo Latino Village

I often highlight the Uncrowned Queens & Kings within our Community. They are typically with us here on Earth, among the living. The recent transitions of two individuals from the physical to the spiritual realm on June 4th have profoundly affected our interconnected community, with some impacts still unknown.

Uncrowned Queen SaSeongNim Nancy Maria Fernandez, a 9th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, is the first Boricua woman to attain this level of recognition. Within our Jami Masjid Community of students, it was shared that she embraced Islam on July 19th, 2013, finding numerous similarities between the principles of Taekwondo and Islam, thereby also becoming the first Muslimah to reach this rank.

Throughout her years teaching in Buffalo’s community centers, her latest Tiger TKD classes were held at PUSH Buffalo & Jami Masjid to serve both the East and West Sides. As her health declined, she received assistance from her cherished companion, Boo Sabumnim Smith, and her beloved only son, Sabumnim Ogbe Naheem Shabazz Fernandez.

SaSeongNim Fernandez came highly recommended by my dear friend, George Nash. She was his babysitter during his childhood. He assured me that I should have her teach my son because of her firm yet loving approach. I can affirm that all who attended her classes, and whose children were under her tutelage, would agree. When my son Asheem and I started classes at Jami last fall, it felt as though I had known her forever, despite most of our interactions happening on Facebook over the past three years. I recall her saying, “Well, it took you long enough to bring him!”

She had a unique way of conveying that you were wasting her time while also expressing her love. You learned to adjust your behavior without feeling bad or guilty. She wasn’t interested in excuses, only in seeing a change in your actions—like attending class, arriving on time, and not delivering lazy kicks or punches. Reflecting on her life as a mother of three, with grandchildren, and the dedication required to reach the status of a Taekwondo Grandmaster, it’s evident that her teaching style is deserving of immense respect.

The thought of her competing with men because no woman matched her level truly crowns her as a Shero in my eyes, filled with tears. After class or during phone conversations, SaSeongNim would open up about her personal life, and I would reciprocate by sharing mine. Now, I cherish the pearls of wisdom she imparted to me over the past months. Her words echo in my mind: “I don’t have a lot of time to waste!” Initially, I believed she meant we should focus more in class. It became clear her health was failing, but I couldn’t accept that she was hinting at her imminent departure. During her final classes at Jami, she arrived with a large plug-in oxygen tank, taking a seat to direct us. Subsequently, she phoned me to discuss creating a flyer for the upcoming tournament/competition, emphasizing the inclusion of PUSH BUFFALO & JAMI MASJID as sponsors. I presented it to her at her bedside during our farewell.

I expressed to her my desire to make her proud. I believe we all share this aspiration. I distributed the flyer among her children, trusting that our Taekwondo community and everyone who knew her will ensure this tournament is unforgettable or remembered. — ÀSÉ.