June 2014 Testing and News

Jocelyn He, Hero Vue, Macey Cevan

Nearly forty martial artists spent part of Father’s Day  proving their skills and earning higher taekwondo ranks in promotion testing at Stevens Point YMCA.  Two fathers tested with their children and two brothers achieved black belt together, underlining the Stevens Taekwondo Academy motto “The family that kicks together, sticks together.”

Ben Nummelin earned the rank of fourth degree black belt and the right to be called a taekwondo master with  the very sharp demonstration of the pyongwon  form, advanced  kicking and sparring skills and then smashed his board with a 360 roundhouse speed break.  Nummelin also  spoke on the benefits of physical conditioning.

Nichole Shave moved up to third degree black belt demonstrating kicking combinations, sparring skills and the  taebek form.  Shave broke two boards with spinning roundhouse speed breaks.

Michael Buchkowski achieved second degree black belt rank with his performance of Keumbang, advanced sparring and kick combinations.  Buchkowski  broke a two-inch board with a back spinning side kick.

Jonathan Carroll, son Blake Carroll and daughter Grace Carroll all earned full black belt rank with their successful testing together.  The trio all performed koryo and four taegeuk forms, demonstrated  advanced kicking and sparring techniques and each broke a board with a spinning side kick.  The Carrolls were well prepared and answered numerous questions on the history, symbols and affiliations of taekwondo.

Tristen Smith, brothers Reece and Griffin Peeters, Payton Buchkowski, whose father Michael  is also his instructor, and eight-year-old Isaac Witte earned deputy black belt ranking through their demonstrations of five taegeuk forms, kicking and sparring techniques and board breaking.  Smith, Reece and Griffin Peeters and Witte used back spinning side kicks to break while Buchkowski  broke with a spinning roundhouse kick.

Dr. Dwight Stevens, founder and director of Stevens Taekwondo Academy, awarded three trophies for excellence in testing.  High red belt Jocelyn He won first place, high yellow belt Hero Vue earned second and yellow belt Macey Cevan took home the third place trophy.  

Stevens was assisted in the judging by senior master Mark Henkel.  The students tested are trained at Stevens Taekwondo Academy YMCA, Stevens Taekwondo A New Way of Life and at North Star Taekwondo Academy.

Other News:

Master Kevin Klapoetke successfully defended his doctoral thesis this month, completing his doctorate in physics at University of Minnesota.  The title of the thesis was "Measurements of Z Transverse Momentum Shape Using a Novel Variable at the CMS Detector,"  which is way beyond me. 

The father of Senior Master Hilde Henkel, and grandfather of Senior Masters Jim and John Henkel died late in April.  All the Henkels thank the many black belts for their sympathy and understanding, especially the kindness and support  of Dr. Stevens and Rob Stevens.  

Schedule Reminder: 

The YMCA classes run through July 17, with no classes July 22 and 24.  The next session begins  July 29.  The next belt promotion testing is August 10, 2014.