YMCA Stevens Taekwondo Academy Schedule

July 29 First class of Summer II session
August 10 Belt promotion testing, 1 p.m. APR
Sept. 4 Last class of session
NO CLASSES SEPTEMBER 9 & 11
Sept. 16 First class of Fall I session
October 12 Belt promotion testing 1 p.m. APR.
October 23 Last class of session
NO CLASSES OCTOBER 28 & 30
Nov. 4 First class of Fall II session
Dec. 11 Last class of Fall II session
Dec. 13 Black Belt Christmas Party (tentative)
Dec. 14 Belt promotion testing, 1 p.m. Gym
NO CLASSES FOR WINTER BREAK
January 6 First class of Winter I session
February 12 Last class of Winter I session
February 15 Belt promotion testing 1 p.m. (tentative)
NO CLASSES FEBRUARY 17 & 19

Taekwondo warm-up, forms, breaks and sparring --students from Stevens Taekwondo Academy demonstrated it all for shoppers at the Stevens Point Krazy Days last weekend.

Under the direction of Masters Kim and Justin Buehler, more than a dozen students of all belt levels just what taekwondo means, coping with hot temps and a small stage outdoors to do so. Participating in the demos on Friday and/or Saturday were: Sam Smith, Arrington, Annaleigh & Annika Pulman, Stephanie, Morgan, Elizabeth & Annabella Wolosek, Ryan Franckowiak, Seth Zorn, Matt Straub, Bryant Hendrington, Sara Shuler and Allison McCloud.

As a finale to the demos, Franckowiak and Straub wowed the crowd by breaking concrete bricks.

Large December Testing

Seventeen martial artists earned new or higher black belts in promotion testing at the Stevens Point YMCA December 9.

Husband-wife duo Justin and Kimberly Buehler, Karrie Lane, and Andrew Williams performed the pyongwon form exceptionally as they earned their fourth degree black belts and the title of Master. Justin Buehler smashed three boards with a powerful 360 spinning sidekick before he gave a presentation on the history of the black belt and the skills and attitude represented. Kimberly Buehler cleanly snapped three boards using a front, round and side kick without putting her foot down. Her speech emphasized the importance of courtesy, respect and etiquette in the martial arts. Lane, who is Kimberly’s twin sister and pregnant, spoke about the importance of continuing to work out despite the physical limitations of pregnancy. Williams used a spinning hook speed break on his board and then talked of the value of weight training to the taekwondo student.

Five students advanced to second degree black belt after demonstrating advanced kick combinations, sparring, the keumgang form and power breaks. John Vann and Kyle Mealy broke two-inch boards with back spinning sidekicks. Eleven-year-old Soumik Biswas, Ashley Bloch and Michelle Ormond broke two one-inch boards with back spinning sidekicks.

Matthew Moore, Erin Sextonson, Matt Straub and nine-year-olds Kahner Konopacky and Rosabella Wolosek earned full first degree black belt status in extensive testing which included performing koryo and four taegeuk forms, advanced kick combinations, sparring and a thorough oral examination on the history, tenets and rules of taekwondo. Moore used a rebounding sidekick off the gym wall to break his board. Straub shattered two boards with a back spinning sidekick, while Sextonson snapped her board with a back spinning speed hook kick. Wolosek, Konopacky and Zorn broke with back spinning sidekicks.

Leopoldo Soria and Andrew Blanker achieved black belt rank as deputy black belts following their demonstration of five taegeuk forms, kick combinations, sparring and breaking with back spinning side kicks.

Eight-year-old red belt Abigail Stevens, granddaughter of master instructor Dwight Stevens and daughter of Master Robert Stevens from Denver, showed the skills of the third Stevens generation in taekwondo. She quickly snapped one board with a ridge hand and another with a round house kick.

Trophies for excellence were awarded to three students from the 60 color belts from the Stevens Taekwondo Academy, UW-Stevens Point taekwondo program and the Medical College of Wisconsin taekwondo club who were tested. Green belt Lesley Chase won first place, high red belt Kim Sherwin took second place and high green belt Jennifer Dedolph placed third.

Grandmaster Dwight Stevens was assisted in judging the testing by senior masters Robert Stevens, Denver, Mark Henkel and Henk Boese, Eau Claire, and master Bill Dragolovich.