By Cindy Ziervogel

Some words you don’t hear everyday from a typical 13-year-old girl: I like the boot camp aspect. I like to take orders. I like the discipline.

Yet, Coco Stobart, a First Colony Middle School seventh-grader who might not be your typical 13-year-old, said those exact words when explaining why she ’s interested in a career as a firefighter.  

“It’s a lot of physical activity. I like a sense of danger. I like to save people,” Coco added.

Liking discipline is also what has enabled Coco to excel at karate, an ancient martial art that emanated from ancient (Okinawa) Japan. It ’s a sport that is estimated to be practiced by 50 million people worldwide. Karate is as much about self-control as it is self-defense.

And while Coco is sweet, fun-loving and empathetic to a fault, don’t let her age or personality fool you because she is also serious and focused when she needs to be. This summer, Coco earned a gold medal in karate at the Junior Olympics in Las Vegas. She won the 12-and-under girl ’s division in Kata, a solo performance of form and techniques. Katas are the rigorously practiced defensive maneuvers that begin each of the series of practice techniques. They are the building blocks of karate.

“Most people think karate is all about fighting,” said Coco, now a black belt.  “It’s not all about punching and fighting.  There’s also softness and balance.”

Ramon Veras, owner and Sensei (martial arts teacher) of Traditional Karate Center in Sugar Land, where Coco is a member, was not surprised his student of

“Coco is very serious, very respectful and dedicated. I tell her what to do and she delivers. I wish I had more kids like Coco. ”

Coco was born in Melbourne, Australia, and then lived in London. She moved with her family to Sugar Land as a preschooler. Although Coco spends a great deal of time practicing karate, fun-loving hobbies like playing the electric guitar and skateboarding also excite her. And summers are spent surfing in Hawaii on family trips with her mom, Linda, dad, John, and four siblings: Ruby, 31, Ella, 17, Tansy, 15, and Rory, 10.

Linda owns BodyCirque, a Pilates studio in Sugar Land. And while Coco believes Pilates is a little too slow for her liking, she attends her mom ’s movement class that takes actions from tai chi, dance and martial arts.

Whether it’s excelling in karate, her plan to be a firefighter or in between with her desire to join Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) when she gets to Clements High School, Coco has the same reasons for choosing these tough paths. These mentally and physically demanding activities that might make someone else turn the other way and run: boot camp type activities, taking orders and discipline, are what make this sweet, fun-loving teen a success.