Dan Zierke achieved fifth degree black belt level with his performance of the sipjin form, a demonstration of self-defense techniques and breaking two boards using first a palm heel thrust and then a knife hand. Zierke and the other black belt candidates also demonstrated advanced kick combinations and hand techniques.
Tom Lisack and Bridget Williams moved up to third degree black belt after performing the taebeck form and sparring. Lisack executed a back spinning hook kick for his board break, while Williams snapped her board with a back spinning hook kick in a speed break.
Mark Regnitz, Evelyn Williams, Laura Borth, Ben Strojny and Seth Zorn all earned second degree black belts following sparring and performance of the keumgang form. All five successfully broke two-inch boards using the spinning side kick. Williams, the wife of senior master John Henkel, also performed five taebek forms.
Hilary Bilbrey and ten-year-old Isaac Williams joined the black belt ranks as deputy black belts with their demonstration of five taegeuk forms and sparring. Bilbrey broke her board with a jump spinning side kick, while Williams used the autobahn kick to snap his board.
Three trophies were awarded for excellence in testing. High red belt Shelby Finnessy won first place, red belt Laura Krings earned second place and new blue belt Emma Kempen took third place.
Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, director and founder of the Stevens Taekwondo Academy network of schools, judged the students, assisted by senior masters Mark Henkel, James Henkel and Bill Dragolovich and visiting master Matt Ford of Cincinnati.
Contributing Rightly:
Masters Kim Buehler and Jill Reed led a team of dedicated martial artists in a demo at the very hot July Krazy Days in Stevens Point . The students demonstrated an abbreviated warm-up, combos, techniques on the heavy bag and focus paddle, poomsae, sparring and board breaking. Kudos to the participants for sticking it out in the heat...heat all around and stage was nearly frying level! Those participating were: Tom Oakland with Jacob and Elizabeth Oakland, Jen Wilkinson with Travis and Theo Wilkinson, Daniel Perez and Thomas Meronek.
In August, masters Kim Buehler and Karrie Lane, assisted by black belts Jeff Lane and Karen Poirier, presented a taekwondo demonstration for the Boys and Girls Club at Jefferson School.
Black Belt News
Senior master James Henkel completed his post-doctoral position in Maryland and has moved to Sussex, Wisconsin. He will be teaching biology and microbiology at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He and Kayme Henkel are expecting a second daughter in October.
At the end of June, third dan Stephen Decker assisted refereeing at the USAT National Championships in Dallas, where he met several Olympians.
