Saturday, April 16, 2016

April 2016 Testing

Clohan, Salm, Bunn Dr. Stevens



Sharp board breaking, intense forms and enthusiastic sparring  highlighted martial arts skills in spring promotion testing at the Stevens Point YMCA recently.  Two dozen Stevens Taekwondo Academy students earned higher belts, including three at black belt levels.

John Paul Bunn achieved third poom black belt as he demonstrated the taebek form, sparring skills and advanced kick combinations.  Bunn used a back spinning hook kick for his speed break.

Amanda Salm earned full first degree black belt status in extensive testing which included sparring and advanced kick combinations and performance of koryo and four taebek forms.  She was sponsored for black belt by senior master Mark Henkel.  Salm answered a wide range of questions covering the history, terminology, symbolism, tenets and olympic connections of taekwondo, and smashed her board with a spinning hook speed break.

Thomas Clohan gained deputy black belt rank with his demonstration of five taebek forms, kick combinations and sparring.  Clohan shattered his board using a roundhouse back spinning side kick.

Linzmeier, Shelton, Alkaswari
From the color belt ranks, green belt Jillena Linzmeier won a first place trophy, high yellow Ian Shelton earned second place and young high yellow belt Ahmed Alkaswari was awarded third place. 

The testing was judged by master instructor Dwight Stevens, assisted by senior masters Mark Henkel, Bill Dragolovich, Ron Locascio and Jerry Hajewski of Milwaukee.
 

Hajewski, Dragolovich, Dr. Stevens Henkel, Locascio
Scheduling Reminder:

Spring II session at the YMCA begins April 19th---please register in advance!
The session runs to May 26, Tuesday and Thursdays at 7 p.m.
**no classes May 31 and June 2**
Summer session begins June 7 with the next promotion testing June 12.