More than 65 students of Stevens Taekwondo Academy earned new belts, including three black belts, in the promotion testing held recently at the Stevens Point YMCA.
Matt Moore earned a second degree black belt with demonstrations of kick combinations, sparring and the keumgang form. Moore powered through a two-inch board with a jump spin side kick.
Ryan Franckowiak moved up to first degree black belt following his testing which included advance kick combinations, performance of koryo and four taegeuk forms, sparring, and a lengthy oral examination on the tenets and history of taekwondo. Franckowiak split a board with a back spinning hook kick.
Thomas Lisack entered the black belt ranks as a deputy after his performance of five taegeuk forms, kick combinations and sparring. Lisack smashed through his board on the first try with a working step back spinning side kick.
New high red belts Bryant Hedrington and Sam Smith took home the trophies for excellence in the testing
Grandmaster Dwight Stevens judged the testing, assisted by Masters Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich. Masters Eric Eberhardy and Shawn Strunsee, from the Milwaukee Southwest YMCA participated.
Matt Moore earned a second degree black belt with demonstrations of kick combinations, sparring and the keumgang form. Moore powered through a two-inch board with a jump spin side kick.
Ryan Franckowiak moved up to first degree black belt following his testing which included advance kick combinations, performance of koryo and four taegeuk forms, sparring, and a lengthy oral examination on the tenets and history of taekwondo. Franckowiak split a board with a back spinning hook kick.Thomas Lisack entered the black belt ranks as a deputy after his performance of five taegeuk forms, kick combinations and sparring. Lisack smashed through his board on the first try with a working step back spinning side kick.
New high red belts Bryant Hedrington and Sam Smith took home the trophies for excellence in the testing
Grandmaster Dwight Stevens judged the testing, assisted by Masters Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich. Masters Eric Eberhardy and Shawn Strunsee, from the Milwaukee Southwest YMCA participated.
Black Belt Christmas Party
Information about the annual party will be coming to all on the active black belt list soon. Meantime, plan on December 13 in Stevens Point and please send any ideas about gifts or contributions for them to Master Karen Johnson or Master Hilde Henkel.
Black Belt News
Third dan black belt Donelle Ostrowski captured the grand championship of forms, and a four-foot-tall trophy, for a record-setting fourth year running at the Mid-Wisconsin Taekwondo Championships in Wisconsin Rapids. The event is hosted by the Park Institute and Master John Chrystal.
Masters John Henkel and Andrew Williams participated in, and survived, an ambitious six-hour taekwondo workout in Madison Wisconsin recently.
Robert Konopacky, the father of black belts Kevin Konopacky and Jill Reed, and grandfather of black belts Bethany Reed, Krysti, Kolby and Kahner Konopacky, died recently. The entire family has the sympathy of the black belt family.
