April 2015 Pressure Points Seminar

Grandmasters Stevens, Carsky and Boese

More than thirty martial artists from across the state gathered recently at the Stevens Taekwondo -- A New Way of Life studio to train in advanced techniques.  

Local taekwondo  black belts were joined by black belts and instructors from across the state for instruction in escapes, releases and take downs  utilizing the pressure sensitive nerve areas. 

The seminar was led by an eminent trio of grandmasters.  Master instructor Dwight Stevens clearly demonstrated an assortment of  techniques, using anecdotes from his lifetime of experience to illustrate situations and reactions needed.  

 Knowing a technique is just the beginning, Stevens told the group.

Dr. Stevens demonstrating with Bill Dragolovich

“To react when needed, you need to practice,”  Stevens said.  “Practice a lot.”

Grandmaster Fred Carsky spoke about both stranger and work place attacks, drawing on his experiences in law enforcement and as a security consultant.   Most relationships can be expressed as either interview or ambush, Carsky said, demonstrating more escapes and holds.   He recommended reading “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin DeBecker for more insight into human reactions to fear. 

 

Grandmaster Henk Boese emphasized simplicity and stance in reactions, using quick, sharp moves.  Presentations were also made by Dr. Ron Locascio and Master Mike Fenske.  

The seminar was attended by black belt students from UW-Stevens Point Taekwondo Club, Stevens Taekwondo Academy, American Taekwondo and Fitness of Eau Claire, Rising Son Mixed Martial Arts of Wausau, Warhawk Karate Club of Whitewater and Dragons Training Center of Milwaukee.

Dr. Stevens demonstrates arm bar takedown on Sr. Master Bill Dragolovich

Master Jill Konopacky works with Shirley Thao

Tanner Rogers and Kevin Martin work on ground escape techniques with others

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.

Registration Form Pressure Points April 18th

CORRECT DATE APRIL 18

Pressure Points Seminar

Pressure Points Seminar

Dr. Dwight Stevens will present his always popular seminar on pressure points and hapkido on April 18 2015.  The presentation is open to law enforcement, and red and black belts 15 years of age and older. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended.  Det. Fred Carsky will also be presenting.

Date:   Saturday, April 18, 2015

Place:  Stevens Taekwondo: A New Way of Life

             210 Isadore Street, Stevens Point WI

Time:    9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost:    $50, includes registration,

             booklet on pressure points, patch and framed certificate

Attire:  dobok or comfortable workout clothing

Contact Dr. Stevens for registration materials, at dr6666@charter.net or call 715-341-5271

February Tournament Results

Conner Shave, Oliver Shave and Isaac williams

Issac Williams scores in his sparring victory

Local taekwondo students fared well at the Evolution Series Tournament #3, sponsored by Rising Son Martial Arts at DC Everest High School in Wausau recently.

Second degree black belt Isaac Williams dominated the 12 to 14 year-old division, winning first place in both sparring and board breaking with a second place in forms.  Williams used a butterfly kick, a spinning hook speed break and an autobahn kick to smash three boards. His decisive 15-6 victory in sparring was exciting and strategic.

Black belt Mike Molden also won first place in sparring for the men’s division and took home third medal for the forms competition.

Brothers  Oliver and Connor Shave also garnered wins in their first tournament competition.  High blue belt Oliver excelled in forms, taking first place, and grabbing second place in sparring and board breaking, using a back over kick and a switching axe for his two boards.  Yellow belt Connor took first place in creative forms and third in board breaking, using a step in side kick and a back walkover axe kick.

Congratulations!

February Testing and News

 Abraham Durrant,Riley Prince, Kiah Fischer

Dr. Stevens, Tristen Smith, Jerry Hajewski, Shawn Strunsee, Anika Brandl, Daniel Murray Jr.

More than forty taekwondo students kicked off the year to a good start by demonstrating their skills at a belt promotion testing recently.  Instructors from the Milwaukee area and students from the Stevens Taekwondo Academy YMCA class, the UW-Stevens Point taekwondo program and Stevens Taekwondo A New Way of Life earned new belt ranks after successful testing at the YMCA. 

Jerry Hajewski and Shawn Strunsee achieved sixth degree black belt and the title of senior master in their successful testing.  The men, who run two Dragons Training Center schools in the Milwaukee area, performed the challenging jitae form in unison.  Hajewski submitted a paper and spoke about the mental and psychological development achieved through martial arts training.  He noted that the determination learned helps the practitioner attain skills both in taekwondo and in life.  Strunsee’s paper and speech compared taekwondo teaching of indomitable spirit to the Star Wars line of Yoda “Try not. Do or do not.”  He pointed out that doing your best means different things for different people at different ages.

Daniel Murray Jr. earned his second degree black belt in excellent style, smashing two boards with an inside crescent back spinning side kick, performing the keumgang form and demonstrating sparring skills.

Thirteen-year-old Tristen Smith advanced to full first degree black belt, performing koryo and four taegeuk forms and answering multiple questions from the black belts on the history, meaning and tenets of taekwondo.  Smith also snapped a board easily with a back spinning side kick and demonstrated advanced skills in sparring and kick combinations.

Twelve-year-old Anika Brandl joined the black belt ranks as a deputy black belt after her demonstration of five taegeuk forms, kick combinations and sparring skills.  She broke a board with a back spinning side kick.

Three trophies were awarded to students for excellence in the testing.  New yellow belt Abraham Durrant won first place, yellow belt Riley Prince grabbed second place and high yellow belt Kiah Fischer earned the third place trophy.   

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

Scheduling note:

The YMCA classes will begin with a new session February 24. 

The next testing date is MARCH 29 (rather than in April).