August 2009 Testing & News

Four Stevens Taekwondo Academy students earned new or advanced black belts in testing Sunday at the YMCA.

Cory Lesperance achieved third degree black belt with his demonstration of the taebek form, advanced kick combinations and a spinning hook speed break. Lesperance also sparred several times, showing knowledge of control and appropriate techniques for opponents of varied skills levels.

Nine-year-old Arrington Polman advanced to second degree black belt after performing the keumgang form, demonstrating kick combinations and sparring. Arrington broke his boards with a back spinning side kick and a skipping side kick.

Annika Polman and Thomas Lisack earned full first degree black belt status after oral examination on the history, tenets, symbols and goals of taekwondo, in addition to performing koryo and four taegeuk forms, sparring and kick combinations. Aniika, sponsored by her brother Arrington, broke her board with a back spinning side kick. Lisack, sponsored by assistant instructor Mark Henkel, broke with a working step back spinning side kick.

Two sisters took top honors in the color belt testing. Lydia Kelley , high green belt, won first place, with Anna Kelley, green belt, earning second place. Green belt Isaac Williams took home the third place trophy.

The testing was judged by Grandmaster Instructor Dwight Stevens and his assistant Mark Henkel.

Schedule for YMCA Classes and Testings

July 28 First class of new session

August 9 1 p.m. belt promotion test, APR at YMCA

August 13 8 p.m. make up testing, APR at YMCA

September 3 Last class of session

NO CLASSES SEPT. 8 & 10

September 15 First class of new session

September 26 NOTE NEW DATE

2009 U.S. Tournament of ChChampions , Concordia University, St. Paul, MN, To register call: 763-559-7091

October 11 1 p.m. belt promotion test, APR at YMCA

October 22 Last class of session

NO CLASSES OCT. 27 & 29

November 3 First class of new session

December 10 Last class of session

December 12 Black Belt Christmas Party (tentative)

December 13 1 p.m. belt promotion testing, gymnasium

Also, Dr. Stevens is planning a pressure point seminar, tentatively set for mid October.

Watch this site for details and date!

Black Belt News:

Senior Master James Henkel completed his doctoral work at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is now located in Silver Spring Maryland with wife Kayme. He is a postdoctoral fellow at Uniformed

Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda MD.

In addition to earning his first degree black belt, Thomas Lisack successfully defended his dissertation this spring and earned his doctorate in educational leadership.

Third degree black belt Bridgette Magno graduated from Western Technical College here in La Crosse, with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiography, or in simple terms, an X-ray tech.

Master Hilde Henkel taught two "Intro to Taekwondo" classes for Wood

County Extension’s “Something for Summer” in June with pleasant and eager children.

Twenty black belts attended or participated in the wedding

of Master Chelsea Lovejoy and Master Andrew Williams in July. Congratulations to the newlyweds and thanks for a wonderful occasion to gather folks together. One of the highlights of the event was the bride’s dance with her father, Master Vern Lovejoy which included a well-choreographed sparring sequence. The kung fu dancing was special too!