August 2014: a Jewel of a Testing

Newly advanced black belts with Dr. Stevens

jacob Zimmermann, Brayden Charneski, Jose Garcia

An elite group of high-ranking Stevens Taekwondo Academy black belts gathered recently at the YMCA for taekwondo testing with summer students, clearly demonstrating excellence and skills.

Matthew Ford, returning from Cincinnati, earned sixth degree black belt and the title of senior master, in addition to that of professor of management at Northern Kentucky University.  Ford performed the  rhythmically challenging jitae form before smashing four boards with a spinning sidekick.  Ford also submitted a research paper on the correlation of taekwondo mastery and current research on expert performance.  His oral presentation on the topic  emphasized the deliberate practice of core concepts.

Husband – wife duo Justin and Kimberly Buehler flawlessly demonstrated the sipjin form simultaneously as they achieved fifth degree black belt.  Justin shattered four boards with a 360-spinning sidekick and spoke on the respect expressed through etiquette in taekwondo, concluding “Etiquette in society is the oil that keep society working.”  Kimberly broke her boards on each kick of the autobahn, and spoke on the responsibilities of black belts, not only in teaching and techniques, but in modeling proper behavior, saying  “You are the face of our school.”

Mother- daughter duo Jill and Lydia Miller and Luke McChrystal successfully tested for first degree black belt, with excellent demonstrations of koryo and four taegeuk forms, advanced kick and sparring techniques and extensive oral examination on taekwondo and Korean history, symbolism, terminology and forms.  Jill and Lydia Miller each snapped a board with a working-step back spinning sidekick and 12-year-old McChrystal easily broke his board with an autobahn kick.  The Millers were sponsored for black belt by Senior Master Mark Henkel, and McChrystal was sponsored by black belt Ben Goodberlet.

Jeremy Kunst and Daniel Roach joined the black belt ranks after they demonstrated advanced kicking and sparring skills, and did five taegeuk forms.  Kunst easily broke his board with a spinning sidekick, and Roach preceded his spinning sidekick with a butterfly kick.

Three of the color belts who successfully tested also received trophies.  High yellow belt Jose Garcia won first place for excellence in testing.  High blue belts Brayden Charneski and Jacob Zimmerman were awarded second and third place for most improved students.  The testing was judged by an especially distinguished panel, as Stevens Taekwondo Academy founder and master instructor Dwight Stevens was assisted by his son Grandmaster Robert Stevens of Denver, and senior masters Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich.

Three Generations of Excellence

“The family that kicks together, sticks together” is the motto of Stevens Taekwondo Academy, where many family members have trained together, developing skills and closer relationships. 

At the most recent testing for belt promotion, this was highlighted when three generations of the Stevens family, all black belts, participated.  Dr. Dwight Stevens, founder and master instructor, judged the testing of color and black belts.  He was assisted by his son, Grandmaster Robert Stevens, who founded and leads the Stevens World Taekwondo school at the Denver Athletic club.

Three generations of Stevens black belts

Abby and Bella Stevens doing keumgang in unison

The third generation was represented by  Robert’s daughters Abby, 14 years and third degree black belt, and Bella, 11 years old and second degree black belt.  The sisters demonstrated the keumgang form, second degree black belt form, in sharp synchronization.  Abby and Robert Stevens awed the on-lookers when they performed Chunkwon, the  seventh degree black belt form, in unison.  Bella held everyone’s attention as she showed the creative form which recently earned her a gold medal at games in Colorado Springs, incorporating flips, splits and  music.

Black belt Mark Henkel, who has trained with Stevens for 26 years, says the Stevens’ family model is one he’d like to follow.  “My wife and sons are black belts, and I would love to see my grandchildren train when they are older.”

The senior Stevens has led his school at the YMCA for the past 33 years, and has trained hundreds of black belt practitioners now spread across the United States.  Stevens Taekwondo A New Way of Life, Stevens Point, run by Senior Master Karen Johnson, and Amherst Taekwondo, run by Master Mary Allen, are local branches, with several affiliated schools and programs run by other STA black belts, including the UW-Stevens Point taekwondo program, taught by Johnson.

Reminders:

A facebook group (Stevens Taekwondo Academy) is available to students of Dr. Stevens or Senior Master Karen Johnson.  Affiliated instructors may also join, so as to  convey information to their students.  Photos and video or the black belts breaks and demos are posted there.  Please clear any postings or events items with one of the instructors.

The YMCA classes for this session run through September 4.  HOWEVER, classes on August 26 and 28th will be held in the APR at the south end of the Y.  There are no classes September  9 and 11th, with the first fall session beginning September 16.

The next testing date is October 14, 2014.

Fall is always a time of change.  Black belts who wish to share new locations, jobs or accomplishments, email Senior Master Hilde at henkelfm@wctc.net