April 2019 Testing and Tournaments

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.