SAUGUS — When 83-year-old Saugus resient Virginia “Ginnie” Rooney dropped her grandson off at Sun Taekwondo Academy in Danvers, she never thought she’d be getting on the mat, let alone earning a 2nd-degree black belt.

“I sat there 45 minutes every class twice a week watching him. And he was really good. Master (Soon Woo) Hong had him doing splits against the wall. And they had a Christmas party and said they were looking for people for Mom’s Club,” Rooney said.

Rooney had recently turned 70, and after inquiring about whether Master Hong thought she could do it, she was told: “You’re never going to know unless you try.” Rooney showed up on Saturday, and the rest is history.

“I threw up after every class for the first month. I really did. But then it was like, ‘Oh my God, I can do things,’” she said.

At 75, Rooney decided to try out Taekwondo and fell in love with the sport.

Despite the difficulties, she continued to move forward, earning her belts and reaching a 2nd-degree black belt this year.

When asked what her favorite thing to do was, she enthusiastically said breaking boards, and even broke a 1-inch board with an axe kick to show her skills.

“Being here gives me energy. I’ll be 84 in December. I don’t want to stop. The only time I miss a class is if I’m really sick in bed. I think I’ve missed maybe three classes in eight years,” Rooney said.

She said the best thing the classes have taught her is how to stand up straight, adding that they teach you how to fully throw your shoulders back and keep good posture.

Rooney said that her husband and son had been against her taking Taekwondo lessons, but she looked at them and told them, “I don’t care.”

Rooney was grateful for Master Hong, Master Ray Muldoon, and fellow 2nd-degree black belt Ivy Muldoon for helping her achieve her 2nd-degree black belt.

She joked that she hasn’t been able to convince any of her friends to join the class, saying that she has tried in the past but was turned down every time.

“If you don’t put your foot forward, you’re never going to get anywhere. And that’s it. If you don’t try, you’re never going to succeed,” Rooney said.

She said that she plans to continue doing Taekwondo until her body and doctor won’t let her anymore.

“My doctor thinks it’s the best thing I ever did for my body. I can do more now than I ever could. … Yes, it’s very physical, but it’s also very spiritually based. It’s a full body experience,” she said.