Whiz Kid: From Self-Defense to Fighting Cancer

While the year is winding down for most students, Naugatuck High School Freshman Troy “TJ” Bond Jr. is in the middle of quite a busy week.

Last weekend TJ earned his 3rd degree black belt in Ketsu-Ka Karate. At 15 years old, he is one of the youngest to have done so. Now, just a week later, he is hanging up his belt in favor of a helmet to take part in a 50-mile bike ride for charity. 

As extraordinary as his achievements are, they are not so different. TJ's passion for martial arts and helping others stem from the same core values, said his instructor and father, Sensei Troy Bond Sr., an 8th degree black belt with more than 25 years experience in martial arts.

“The purpose of martial arts is empowerment and enlightenment of your self,” explained Troy Sr. “Part of that enlightenment is to help. Only though helping of others do we grow as people.”

“I have a really big heart,” TJ said. “I love to help people, I love to teach people. I love to just do anything I can to help a person.”

And helping, he is.

Last year, TJ raised more than $2,500 for the Angel Ride, the fundraising event sponsored by the Angel Charitable Trust, a non-profit dedicated to helping children with terminal illnesses and their families. The funds go toward supporting The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut, a camp that offers no-cost services to those children. 

TJ has continued his fund raising efforts in anticipation of this weekend’s Angel Ride. Though he has not yet tallied the funds he has raised, he believes the total may be in the thousands again. Because his younger brother Logan will be joining him for Angel Ride this year, the two of them will be splitting the fund they raise.

The Angel Ride The event starts in the Northwest corner of the state on Saturday, giving riders a unique tour of the state as they travel to their overnight stop in Ashford and continue on the next morning to the finish line in Mystic. Riders have the option to register for the full 85-mile weekend adventure or to start their one-day journey in Ashford to complete the final 50 miles of the ride, as TJ, Logan and a few friends have done.

“I love to ride my bike and I love to help kids,” TJ said, “so I gladly volunteered myself.” He talked of how blessed he feels to have been presented with so many opportunities and to have had the support of people who love him, and he feels like he should give back to those who are not as fortunate.

It’s a small price to pay to help the kids, he said. So small, in fact, that TJ isn’t even worried about completing the race.

“Hopefully by next year I’ll be able to do the full two day ride,” he said. The only real sacrifice, in his eyes, is the 6 a.m. wake up time, he joked.

When he is not teaching or taking classes at the Bond School of Self Defense on Rubber Avenue or training for the race, TJ liked to entertain.

“Aside from martial arts, I’m a big time performer,” he said.  He is a member of the NHS drama club and performed in their play last month. He is also a member of the NHS choir, and says he enjoys singing, acting and dancing in general.

“I’m a big fan of Michael Jackson,” he said proudly, “He is my favorite artist in the entire world.” He often impersonates the King of Pop to entertain others.

“He is a Michael Jackson fanatic,” his dad agreed. “Every function that he can get his little sequin glove on he will go do a Michael Jackson lip sync.” TJ will have that opportunity again next Thursday at a concert at the high school, and he is already beginning to prepare for that, he said.  

Whether he is teaching in the studio, riding on the street or performing on the stage, TJ said, “I always surround myself with something I love.”

Those interested in donating to riders in the 2011 Angel Ride can do so online at www.Angelride.org