Sharp skills and power board-breaking highlighted the belt promotion testing for Stevens Taekwondo Academy at the Stevens Point YMCA Sunday.
Five students earned new or higher black belts, including two advancing to master level. Richard Klapoetke and Dan Zierke demonstrated advanced kick combinations, the pyongwon form and delivered a speech as they successfully tested for fourth degree black belt level.. Klapoetke, whose son Kevin is a fourth degree black belt and daughter Karen Poirier a second degree black belt, spoke about the importance of regular workouts to avoid diabetes and to improve overall health. Klapoetke smashed a three board stack with a spinning side kick. Zierke talked about the place of awareness and attitude in self defense. Zierke combined a palm thrust board break with a back spinning sidekick on a second board.
Ryan Zorn earned a second degree black belt with his performance of the keumgang form, demonstration of advanced kick combinations and sparring. Zorn shattered a two-inch board with a working step back spinning side kick.
Entering the black belt ranks as deputy black belts, Ross Alff and eight-year-old Arrington Polman performed five taegeuk forms, sparred and advanced kick combinations. Alff broke his board with a back spinning side kick, with Polman using an inside crescent kick into a back spinning side kick.
High green belt Kim Regnitz won the first place trophy for excellence in the color belt testing. Sara Schuler, high white belt, earned the second place trophy with blue belt Dylan Regnitz, son of Kim, taking home the third place trophy.
The testing was judged by Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, and taekwondo masters Matthew Ford, visiting from Cinncinnati, Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich.
Five students earned new or higher black belts, including two advancing to master level. Richard Klapoetke and Dan Zierke demonstrated advanced kick combinations, the pyongwon form and delivered a speech as they successfully tested for fourth degree black belt level.. Klapoetke, whose son Kevin is a fourth degree black belt and daughter Karen Poirier a second degree black belt, spoke about the importance of regular workouts to avoid diabetes and to improve overall health. Klapoetke smashed a three board stack with a spinning side kick. Zierke talked about the place of awareness and attitude in self defense. Zierke combined a palm thrust board break with a back spinning sidekick on a second board.
Ryan Zorn earned a second degree black belt with his performance of the keumgang form, demonstration of advanced kick combinations and sparring. Zorn shattered a two-inch board with a working step back spinning side kick.
Entering the black belt ranks as deputy black belts, Ross Alff and eight-year-old Arrington Polman performed five taegeuk forms, sparred and advanced kick combinations. Alff broke his board with a back spinning side kick, with Polman using an inside crescent kick into a back spinning side kick.
High green belt Kim Regnitz won the first place trophy for excellence in the color belt testing. Sara Schuler, high white belt, earned the second place trophy with blue belt Dylan Regnitz, son of Kim, taking home the third place trophy.
The testing was judged by Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, and taekwondo masters Matthew Ford, visiting from Cinncinnati, Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich.
Black Belt News:
Several senior black belts, including Dr. Matt Ford in from Cinncinnati, relaxed the evening before the testing, gathering for a corn roast at the Henkel place in Rudolph. There is talk of making a corn roast an annual event for black belts.
