August 2018 Lots of news!

August Testing

A local martial artist recently earned her second degree black belt at the YMCA, and color belt students were promoted.

Alicia Rucker, 14, demonstrated the challenging keumgang form, advanced sparring and kick combinations and then used a spinning side kick to smash two boards as she earned the new rank of second degree black belt.

From the color belts testing, Marcus Studinski, red belt, earned the trophy for excellence on the same evening.

Senior masters Mark and Hilde Henkel and Karen Johnson judged the testing.

 Class Changes

As of Tuesday, August 28, the taekwondo classes will move to the All Purpose Room on the south end of the YMCA.  This location is quieter, does not compete with the basketball folks for space and has bathrooms right across the hallway.  The YMCA is arranging for the hanging bag mounting to be moved as soon as possible.

The summer session II ends on September 6, with the usual one week break.  When fall session I begins on September 18, class will return to the traditional time slot.  This means class will begin at 7 pm and end at 8 pm, which is surely a benefit for the younger students during the class year.

Promotions

This month, head instructors Masters  Mark and Hilde Henkel, with their sons Masters James and John tested successfully for seventh dan black belt.  Grandmaster Robert Stevens, who presided, says they are the first family to test together for that high rank.  Dr. Dwight Stevens was an honored guest at the testing.

The testing included performance of Cheonkwon and Jitae forms, board breaking and each candidate wrote papers on teaching techniques.  James and John Henkel also sparred vigorously.