ORMOND BEACH, FLA – “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight. It’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
Mark Twain’s famous quote serves as the inspiration for underdogs all over the world. In Ormond Beach, nine-year old Earnest “Lenny” Fingers embodies those sentiments.
A fourth-grader at R.J Longstreet Elementary School, Lenny is your typical All-American kid.
“Earnest at home is my sweet little nine-year old lovable boy that plays with his dog and throws the football in the yard,” says mother Corliss Fingers.
“He gets outside. He’ll be rolling around in the dirt digging up worms, chasing lizards,” said Lenny’s father, Earnest Fingers. “He’s all boy.”
In most ways, Lenny is like most other boys his age. That is until the belt comes on.
“People may be scared sometimes when I say I’m really good at taekwondo,” Lenny said. “That’s why not a lot of people bother me.”
“As soon as he bows in at the front door. He turns into beast mode,” Corliss said. “It’s a totally different kid.”
At nine years old, Lenny is already one of the most accomplished martial artists for his age in the world. Already a World Taekwondo Expo Champion in combat weapons sparring, his list of accomplishments continues to grow. Earlier this month Fingers claimed his first-degree black belt.
“He’s like a machine inside a little boy’s body,” said Ormond Beach Karate for Kids Chief Instructor Joe Halpin. “When he’s out there, it’s kind of like you get into your zone. So when he’s put into that situation where it’s time to shine, he shines.”
“At the age nine you’ve jumped into a small category of people in the world who have been able to achieve a black belt,” said Earnest. “He’s had to sacrifice so much for this and he’s showed a lot of patience and discipline.”
The patience has paid off thus far for Lenny. Patience will have to be his biggest strength moving forward with more targets in sight.
“I’d like to maybe go for sixth degree,” Lenny said. “Maybe my sixth degree black belt.”
“He wants to take it all the way,” Corliss said. “When he sets his mind to something. He conquers it.”
Lenny has already begun training for his next black belt. He is hoping to compete at the Spring Taekwondo National Championships in Las Vegas.
