Taido's Carter Brunelle looks to make NFL Combine after Senior year at Baylor
Taido black belts Carter Brunelle and his sister MacKenzie have been students of the Taido School for over 10 years. Carter has been a black belt since he was 16, and was a Varsity Football standout at Wesleyan High School in Norcross. Recently, Black Belt Musashi Uchida caught up with Carter Brunelle, who is now a Senior offensive lineman at Baylor University, to find out what his plans are after this season and how Taido continuously plays a big role in his life.
How has Taido helped you physically compete at the top levels of college football?
Carter: Taido has helped me tremendously in my football career, in fact I use Taido in not so obvious ways everyday. In the physical sense, I approach a long snap (field goal and punt) the same way I approach Hokeis (Forms practice). Very calm and undistracted, and I try to focus as much as I can to where I can't hear anything but my own thoughts, and it works very well for me.
How has Taido helped you mentally as you have gone through the rigors of balancing studies with long practices, and big time games?
Carter: Since I was cut the first time I tried out for the team, I had to rely on the persevering attitude that had been instilled in me by my Taido Senseis to bounce back and work even harder to show that I did in fact belong on a college football field. Most importantly but again not as obvious, the most useful thing taido taught me that carried over onto my college playing experience is to always be prepared for the unexpected and be able to respond appropriately to the unexpected without giving an excuse (i.e. my black belt test). Crazy things happen on the field that you didn't plan for like bad weather, loud fans, and hits you don't see coming!!!
What are your future plans after you graduate from Baylor?
Carter: After I graduate in December 2009, my main goal is to be one the few snappers invited to the 2010 NFL scouting combine at the end of February, and ultimately be invited to tryout with a professional team in April, and then we will see what happens after that!!!
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