Pressure Points and Grand Champs

Pressure Points Seminar

Twists, takedowns and a few tumbles were on the agenda October 24 as more than fifty martial artists and law enforcement personnel attended a pressure points and hapkido seminar at the Stevens Taekwondo Academy.

Dr. Dwight Stevens, a certified instructor in the INAYAN Pressure Sensitive Nerve Areas techniques, began by reminding participants that "Everyone has the right to be safe."

Pressure points can be used to control opponents and defend oneself, said Stevens, as he demonstrated the specific areas which can be accessed for control. Student located the pressure sensitive areas and preacticed each technique.

Guest instructor Fred Carsky, Wauwatosa police detective, taught hapkido moves which can be used to control, gain leverage and subdue aggressive opponents.

Participants came from all areas of the state for the seminar, including Milwukee, Eau Claire, the UW-Stevens Point taekwondo program and the Stevens Taekwondo Academy schools in Stevens Point, the Stevens Point YMCA and South Wood County YMCA.

Tournament Champions

Local martial artists fared well at the 29th Annual Mid-Wisconsin Taekwondo Championships at Midstate Technical Coole in Wisconsin Rapids, bringing back a dozen trophies and grand championship trophies for sparring and forms.

Second degree black belt Kyle Mealy dominated the men's black and red belt division, winning first place in board breaking by smashing two boards with a 540-degree back spinning sidekick and snappling another board with a back spinning hook speed break. Mealy won first place in the sparring for the division and then took the grand championship in sparring, plus placing third in forms competition.

Donelle Ostrowski, third degree black belt, won first place in sparring, second place in forms and earned first place in board breaking using a tornado kick, a back spinning sidekick and a palm heel hand break while doing the splits to break three boards in the women's red and black belt division.

Second degree black belt Mark Stenerson took second place in forms for the men's red and black belt division.

Lauren Shimulunas, high red belt, earned third place in sparring and board breaking for the women's red and black belt division, breaking one board with a roundhouse and two boards with a spinning sidekick.

High green belt Matt Lopas excelled in forms, winning both first place in the men's blue and green belt division and the grand championship in forms. He also placed third in sparring.

Isaac Williams, green belt, swept the micro pee wee intermediate division, grabbing first place in forms, sparring and breaking, where he broke two boards using a back spinning hook and a switching axe kick.

High yellow belt Gage Goretski placed second in board breaking in the yellow and white belts mini pee wee division, breaking with a sidekick and a switching axe kick, also placing fourth in form competition.

The tournament, sponsored by Master John Crystal and the Park Institute, drew more than 75 competitors.