October Testing of 18 Black Belts

Kicks snapped out and boards were demolished as a record 18 martial artists earned new or higher black belts in testing at the YMCA recently.

Father-daughter pair Vern and Chelsea Lovejoy advanced to the fifth degree black belt rank as they performed the sipjin form and advanced kick combinations. Vern Lovejoy spoke about creating a shock wave when breaking concrete and then wowed the crowd with a palm heel break through five concrete bricks. Chelsea Lovejoy talked about the importance of the family element and the quality time spent working out with her father and sisters. She then broke a succession of three boards with a roundhouse, a 360 roundhouse and a spinning hook kick.

Eric Eberhardy, Michael Nepper and Shawn Strunsee earned fourth degree black belts and the title of “master” as they each shattered 4 concrete bricks with a palm heel strike. in testing which included advanced kicks demonstrations, the pyongwon form and oral presentations.

Edward Baringer moved up to third degree black belt following his demonstration of the taebek form, advanced kick and block combinations, and a switching axe kick board break.

Four students moved up to second degree black belt in impressive testing which included advanced kick combinations, sparring and the keumgang form. Stephen Decker, Mickey Held and Ben Nummelin used spinning sidekicks to smash two-inch boards, while Trisha Nepper broke a board with a skipping sidekick.

Elizabeth Lovejoy, Dan Majewski and Mark Stenerson joined the ranks of first degree black belts with their skills demonstrations in board breaking, sparring and performance of four taegeuk and the koryo forms. They also passed an oral examination by the high ranking black belts on the tenets, techniques and history of taekwondo.

Siblings Riley and Max Held, Jonathan DeGroot, Justin Sorenson and Ross Wieloch earned their deputy black belts with impressive board breaking, sharp kick and sparring demos and performance of five taegeuk forms.

The new black belts and masters

More than sixty other students tested successfully in the color belt promotion. New blue belt Charles Elliott Schofield won the first place trophy, high green belt Arrington Polnan the second place and blue belt Chase Anderson took home third.

The Stevens Taekwondo Academy testing was judged by Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, Senior Master Mark Henkel and Master Bill Dragolovich.

>>>>>>>>>>>BLACK BELT NEWS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Details of the annual black belt Christmas party are being worked on and invitations will be mailed soon. The date is December 8, so plan to be in Stevens Point for that evening. The December testing is the following day.

Third dan Donelle Ostrowski is teaching taekwondo Monday and Wednesday at the Sun Prairie Athletic Club. Be sure to stop by or recommend her classes to any friends or relatives in the Madison area.

No YMCA taekwondo classes will be held on October 30, November 1, or December 18 through the end of the year. 2008 classes appear to begin Jan 3.