"I like taekwondo because it pushes your body to the limit. I also like the philosophy of it," Justin Lazarz said. He's 38, a world champ, and kicking aside expectations of what it means to lead in Taekwondo.

"Taekwondo is a way of life—so that's your eating habits, your drinking habits, the way you act around other people," Justin Lazarz said.

Master Justin Lazarz, a 6th-degree black belt from Park's Taekwondo, kicked off a performance at the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Tournament—he showed me some moves that earned him a world championship title among elite athletes from nearly 38 countries.

"The main Kawan team was there. There were some of the bests in the world. It was just a phenomenal act to watch." Lazarz says that while he took first place, the competition was filled with champions in their own right.

"The competitors practiced probably just as hard as I did. They were all really good on their technique and style and form, but I just edged them out just a little bit. They brought this to the U.S. for the second time ever, so this was a really good opportunity for us to go," Justin Lazarz said.

This year's event welcomed more than 5,000 participants and was held in the United States, instead of its traditional home in South Korea. Lazarz credits his 20-year background in taekwondo for the win—but says it's his daily training and dedication to teaching that made the real difference.

"I started at 18, and I studied under Master Park." Master Park, owner of Park's Taekwondo, joined Justin on the journey and watched him claim the title firsthand.