PLEASE NOTE YMCA schedule change: The YMCA class for August 23 will be held in the gym and the class for August 25 is postponed to September 6, due to repair and refinishing work at the Y.
August Testing
More than thirty Stevens Taekwondo Academy students successfully tested for new belt levels Sunday at the YMCA, including three for black belt levels.
Eleven-year-old Arrington Polman earned his third dan black belt as he demonstrated the taebek form, sparring, and kick combinations before snapping a board with a back spinning hook kick.
Sister Annika Polman, 14 years old, tested for second dan black belt as she performed advanced kick combinations, sparring and a very sharp keumgang form. She will break at a future time.
Thirteen year old Riley Drechsler moved into the black belts ranks as a
deputy black belt, following her demonstration of five taegeuk forms, advanced kick combinations and sparring. She broke her board with a 360 roundhouse.
Two trophies for excellence in testing were awarded. Green belt Eric Hendrickson took first place and high green belt Matthew Whitley earned second place.
The testing was judged by Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, and masters Mark Henkel, Bill Dragolovich and visiting master Dr. Matt Ford of Cincinnati.
Other News
Krazy Days Demo: This outdoors demonstration, led by Master Kim Buehler and Master Karrie Lane, on an extremely hot and humid day, included an abbreviated warm-up, combos, bag techniques, poomsae, sparring and board breaking. The participants were: Mandi Hoppa, Bridgette Williams, Kaitlyn Faulks, Bryant Hendrington, Ben Strojny, Annika Polman, Arrington Polman, and JP Bunn.
Healthy Heros Mini-Class: Master Kim Buehler led mini-classes two days at the Central Wisconsin Children's Museums for their Healthy Heroes week. Participants were: Lauren Shimalunas, Annika & Arrington Polman, Isaac Williams, Shelby Finnessy, and JP Bunn. Maste
r Buehler included a quick warm-up, basic kicks, bag work, demonstration by red and black belts of more advanced kicks on the focus paddle,. Tap-tap sparring finished off the class.
Cody Olski in Taekwondo Junior Olympics: Nine-year-old Cody Olski was the only Wisconsin competitor the Taekwondo Junior Olympics (for 6 to 17 year olds) this summer. Olski, a blue belt student of Mr. Stephen Decker in Port Edwards, traveled to San Jose California to compete in sparring. On June 28, Cody‘s first match went into sudden death overtime, with a loss only 15 seconds before the end of the match.
Showing indomitable spirit, Cody was not crushed by the defeat.
"When I first started, I didn't think I would make it this far," Cody said.
After the event, Cody was featured in a news piece on WAOW, Channel 9. He had qualified for the tourney at the Minnesota State Championships sponsored by World Taekwondo Academy.
Dr. Tom Lisack featured in Wausau Daily Herald: Second dan Dr. Tom Lisack was featured in the Wausau Daily Herald on August 5 In the interview, Lisack spoke of how he worked out in taekwondo during his work on his doctorate in English education, finding it to be a physical test and good escape from that work. See the whole article by Jake Miller at:
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20110807/WDH04/108070341/Boomer-Q-Educator-follows-own-advice-sets-high-goals-himself
Senior Master John Henkel married: Many STA black belts were in attendance when John Henkel, son of senior masters Mark and Hilde Henkel, married Evelyn Williams in Minneapolis July 9. John’s brother, senior master Jim Henkel was the best man. The bride is a black belt through the UW-Madison University Taekwondo Club. The reception was enhanced by the couple’s performance of koryo and the opportunity to break a board as the trigger for the couple kissing. Black belts assisted in instruction and board holding for non-martial artists. The couple will live in Palatine IL, where John is an engineer in research and development for Motorola. Evelyn is completing her doctorate in botany this fall.
Steve Decker now a Dad: Third dan black belt Stephen Decker took on a whole new role on August 7 with the birth of Timothy Stephen Decker, who weighed in at 8 lbs and 4 oz, and measured in at a whopping 22 inches long. Both Timothy and mother Brooke are doing fine and attended the beginning of testing to show us their family addition.
Next Generation: The children of masters Justin and Kim Buehler and master Karrie and Jeff Lane also participated in the board breaking at the Henkel wedding. They broke boards very credibly!
