More than ninety Stevens Taekwondo Academy students achieved new belt levels in testing held recently at the YMCA. The large December turnout included nine martial artists of all ages earning new or advanced black belts.

Earning bo dan (deputy) black belts were Dennis Freund, Al Jankowski, Andrew Krause, Brian Gibbs, Alexander Prevost, ten-year-old Bryton Stewart and nine-year-old Macey Shutter. Their testing including performing advanced kick combinations, sparring and five taegeuk forms. Freund, Jankowski, Krause, Gibbs and Stewart all succeeded in breaking boards immediately with back spinning side kicks. Bryton Stewart is the grandson of black belt Guy Stewart. Shutter and Prevost showed perseverance with their kicks, breaking boards with a back spinning hook and back spinning side kick respectively.

Kimberly Nummelin, bride of third-degree black belt Ben Nummelin, and Benjamin Goodberlet earned first-degree black belts with impressive performances in advanced techniques, sparring and koryo and four taegeuk forms. Nummelin snapped her board easily with a flying side kick, jumping over three people, and Goodberlet used a back spinning hook kick in a speed break. The duo also answered numerous questions on the history of taekwondo and its tenets in public examination.

Three color belt students were recognized from the large number testing as performing with excellence. New blue belt Katie Heath won first place, new green belt Cally Baroni took second place and Julia Neufeld earned third place and high green belt.

Vern Lovejoy, fifth-degree black belt, was selected as black belt of the year. In his absence, his daughter Elizabeth, third-degree black belt, accepted the plaque honoring the memory of M. J. Attoe, from Attoe’s mother, Joyce Kavalaskas. Other nominees for the award were Steve Decker, instructor at both Port Edwards and Wausau schools, and new black belt Dennis Freund.

The martial artists at the testing included students from the UW-Stevens Point taekwondo program, YMCA Stevens Taekwondo Academy and STA branch schools in Stevens Point, Port Edwards and Wausau. The testing was judged by Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, assisted by senior masters Mark and Hilde Henkel.


Black Belt News

The annual Black Belt Christmas party was held the evening before testing at the Boston School forest. In addition to the friendship and great food, the fascinating displays of knot, tree types and stuffed wildlife (even a musk ox!) were very interesting, and the crackling fire set a very nice mood.

Despite a lack of snow, Santa visited the party, to the delight of the smaller guests, who asked Santa for an assortment of gifts, ranging from a bike to a candy cane! This year’s piñata resisted the efforts of the youngsters until Ben Strojny helped them out with a powerful kick.

Many black belts contributed to the gifts for Dr. Stevens, and Sr. Master Karen Johnson made all the arrangements for the location. Thanks and Merry Christmas to all.