Spring Testing 2015

Five senior masters with their grandmaster

More than 40 Stevens Taekwondo Academy students earned rank advancement at testing held at the Stevens Point YMCA recently, including a local doctor who joined the small number of Americans reaching the rank of sixth degree black belt. 

Dr. Ron Locascio achieved the title of senior master and sixth degree black belt, successfully demonstrating the difficult jitae form, submitting a thesis on taekwondo, and delivering a speech titled “Can’t Quit, Won’t Quit” to the martial artists and audience.  Locascio reminded all that life is short and “if you have passions in your life...go for it.  Start tomorrow!”  Locascio has cross-trained in several martial arts, but has continued with the Stevens Taekwondo Academy for more than 20 years, noting that “the most crucial thing about martial arts is your instructor”  and calling Grandmaster Dwight Stevens ‘the best of the best.’  With the promotion of  Locascio, the Stevens network of schools lists 13 of the fewer than 300 United States’ sixth degree black belts which are certified through the Kukkiwon, international headquarters of the Olympic sport.

Luke McChrystal and Andrew Bowling advanced to second degree black belt following their their performance of the keumgang form, advanced kicks and sparring and board breaking.  Both young men used a spinning side kick for their breaks.

Mary Gabriel Bunn and Dalton Cevan moved up to first degree status as black belts Sunday with their demonstration of  koryo and five taegeuk forms, sparring and Board breaking.  Bunn used and inside crescent, back spinning side kick and Cevan a working step back spinning side kick for their board breaks. Their test included an oral exam on the history of taekwondo, competition details, symbolism , taekwondo creed and showing respect.

David Kriewaldt and Erik Kober earned deputy black belt rank with their performances of five taegeuk forms, advanced sparring and kicking techniques.  Kriewaldt broke his board with a jump back spinning side kick.  Kober used a butterfly kick for his board break.

Andrew Bowker and Connor Shave

Two color belt students were recognized for excellence in testing.  High yellow belt Andrew Bowker won first place and high yellow belt Connor Shave earned second place.

The testing was judged by Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, assisted by senior masters Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich.

Scheduling note:  This testing was an early "April" testing.  The next Stevens Taekwondo promotion testing is scheduled for June 14, 2015.

April 18 is the 2015 Pressure Points Seminar (see previous posts for more iniformation).

The YMCA classes  run until April 9, with a break April 14 and April 16.  The next session begins April 21, and ends May 28.