New Black Belts Achieved
Three martial artists earned new or higher black belt ranks
recently in testing held at Stevens Taekwondo: A New Way of Life.
Demonstrating advanced skills and great determination, Brayden
Charneski and Gavin Murray achieved second degree black belts. The duo performed the keumgang form, advanced
kick combinations and sparring . Both
Charneski and Murray broke two one-inch boards with a roundhouse leading into a
back spinning side kick.
High yellow belt Kadir Bahar won the trophy for “Excellence in Testing” from among
the color belt students testing.
The
testing was judged by masters Mark and Hilde Henkel and master Karen
Johnson. The martial artists tested all
train at YMCA Stevens Taekwondo Academy and Stevens Taekwondo : A New Way of
Life.Local Martial Artist a Three State Champion
High blue belt Ian Shelton grabbed gold medals in three
recent state championships, earning eligibility for national championships to
be held in Minnesota in July.
Shelton won first place in sparring in his junior division
of 15 to 17 year-old students at the Minnesota State Championships, held in
Anoko Minnesota.
Shelton also took first place in his division sparring at
the Wisconsin State Championships held at the UW Parkside Sports Activity
Center in Kenosha the following week.
Shelton achieved his third kicking success at the Illinois
State Championships, winning gold in board breaking and silver in sparring for
the junior division. He broke two boards
each with two autobahn kicks, and added a back spinning side kick and a flying
side kick for a total of 6 boards.
Shelton trains with Senior Master Karen Johnson at Stevens
Taekwondo: A New Way of Life and Master Michael Buchkowski at North Star
Taekwondo Academy in Weston.
