Stevens Taekwondo Academy
2008 Schedule Winter Summer
Winter Session One:
January 8 First class
February 14 Last class
February 17 1 p.m. belt promotion testing, All Purpose Room
NO CLASSES February 19 & 21
Winter Session Two:
February 26: First class
Belt promotion makeup test 7:45 p.m.
NO CLASSES MARCH 18 & 20
April 10 Last class of the session
April 13 1 p.m. belt promotion testing YMCA Gymnasium
NO CLASES APRIL 15 & 17
Spring Session One:
April 22 First class of the new session
Belt Promotion makeup test 7:45
May 29 Last class of session
NO CLASSES JUNE 3 & 5
Spring Session Two:
June 10 First class of the new session
June 12 Belt Promotion makeup test 7:45 p.m.
July 17 Last class of session
NO CLASSES JULY 22 & 24
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Gift Banner
The black belts of Milwaukee’s Southwest YMCA taekwondo club surprised Grandmaster Dwight Stevens with the presentation of a banner at the December testing. Master Jerry Hajewski delivered the banner, prepared by Lori Beringer, which includes Grandmaster Stevens’ favorite motto “If it is to be, it is up to me” and the school name on a bold blue background. The banner was designed with grommets and dismountable hooks to use in multiple locations.
Pictured are Senior Master Mark Henkel, Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, Master Jerry Hajewski and Senior Master Robert Stevens.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tournament News
Four black belts from Stevens Taekwondo Academy competed very successfully at a local tournament sponsored by Master Kwa Van Vu in November.
Max Held won first place in board breaking with a spinning hook and roundhouse, plus placed third in both sparring and forms for his division.
Riely Held competed in both sparring and forms, taking third place trophies.
Second dan Mickey Held, father of Max and Riely, took seond in sparring, and third in both breaking and forms.
Stephen Decker, second dan, won first place in sparring, second in breaking and third in forms.
Max Held won first place in board breaking with a spinning hook and roundhouse, plus placed third in both sparring and forms for his division.
Riely Held competed in both sparring and forms, taking third place trophies.
Second dan Mickey Held, father of Max and Riely, took seond in sparring, and third in both breaking and forms.
Stephen Decker, second dan, won first place in sparring, second in breaking and third in forms.
Large December Testing
Seventeen martial artists earned new or higher black belts in promotion testing at the Stevens Point YMCA December 9.
Husband-wife duo Justin and Kimberly Buehler, Karrie Lane, and Andrew Williams performed the pyongwon form exceptionally as they earned their fourth degree black belts and the title of Master. Justin Buehler smashed three boards with a powerful 360 spinning sidekick before he gave a presentation on the history of the black belt and the skills and attitude represented. Kimberly Buehler cleanly snapped three boards using a front, round and side kick without putting her foot down.
Her speech emphasized the importance of courtesy, respect and etiquette in the martial arts. Lane, who is Kimberly’s twin sister and pregnant, spoke about the importance of continuing to work out despite the physical limitations of pregnancy. Williams used a spinning hook speed break on his board and then talked of the value of weight training to the taekwondo student.
Five students advanced to second degree black belt after demonstrating advanced kick combinations, sparring, the keumgang form and power breaks. John Vann and Kyle Mealy broke two-inch boards with back spinning sidekicks. Eleven-year-old Soumik Biswas, Ashley Bloch and Michelle Ormond broke two one-inch boards with back spinning sidekicks.
Matthew Moore, Erin Sextonson, Matt Straub and nine-year-olds Kahner Konopacky and Rosabella Wolosek earned full first degree black belt status in extensive testing which included performing koryo and four taegeuk forms, advanced kick combinations, sparring and a thorough oral examination on the history, tenets and rules of taekwondo. Moore used a rebounding sidekick off the gym wall to break his board. Straub shattered two boards with a back spinning sidekick, while Sextonson snapped her board with a back spinning speed hook kick. Wolosek, Konopacky and Zorn broke with back spinning sidekicks.
Leopoldo Soria and Andrew Blanker achieved black belt rank as deputy black belts following their demonstration of five taegeuk forms, kick combinations, sparring and breaking with back spinning side kicks.
Eight-year-old red belt Abigail Stevens, granddaughter of master instructor Dwight Stevens and daughter of Master Robert Stevens from Denver, showed the skills of the third Stevens generation in taekwondo. She quickly snapped one board with a ridge hand and another with a round house kick.
Trophies for excellence were awarded to three students from the 60 color belts from the Stevens Taekwondo Academy, UW-Stevens Point taekwondo program and the Medical College of Wisconsin taekwondo club who were tested. Green belt Lesley Chase won first place, high red belt Kim Sherwin took second place and high green belt Jennifer Dedolph placed third.
Grandmaster Dwight Stevens was assisted in judging the testing by senior masters Robert Stevens, Denver, Mark Henkel and Henk Boese, Eau Claire, and master Bill Dragolovich.
Husband-wife duo Justin and Kimberly Buehler, Karrie Lane, and Andrew Williams performed the pyongwon form exceptionally as they earned their fourth degree black belts and the title of Master. Justin Buehler smashed three boards with a powerful 360 spinning sidekick before he gave a presentation on the history of the black belt and the skills and attitude represented. Kimberly Buehler cleanly snapped three boards using a front, round and side kick without putting her foot down.
Her speech emphasized the importance of courtesy, respect and etiquette in the martial arts. Lane, who is Kimberly’s twin sister and pregnant, spoke about the importance of continuing to work out despite the physical limitations of pregnancy. Williams used a spinning hook speed break on his board and then talked of the value of weight training to the taekwondo student.Five students advanced to second degree black belt after demonstrating advanced kick combinations, sparring, the keumgang form and power breaks. John Vann and Kyle Mealy broke two-inch boards with back spinning sidekicks. Eleven-year-old Soumik Biswas, Ashley Bloch and Michelle Ormond broke two one-inch boards with back spinning sidekicks.
Matthew Moore, Erin Sextonson, Matt Straub and nine-year-olds Kahner Konopacky and Rosabella Wolosek earned full first degree black belt status in extensive testing which included performing koryo and four taegeuk forms, advanced kick combinations, sparring and a thorough oral examination on the history, tenets and rules of taekwondo. Moore used a rebounding sidekick off the gym wall to break his board. Straub shattered two boards with a back spinning sidekick, while Sextonson snapped her board with a back spinning speed hook kick. Wolosek, Konopacky and Zorn broke with back spinning sidekicks.
Leopoldo Soria and Andrew Blanker achieved black belt rank as deputy black belts following their demonstration of five taegeuk forms, kick combinations, sparring and breaking with back spinning side kicks.
Eight-year-old red belt Abigail Stevens, granddaughter of master instructor Dwight Stevens and daughter of Master Robert Stevens from Denver, showed the skills of the third Stevens generation in taekwondo. She quickly snapped one board with a ridge hand and another with a round house kick.Trophies for excellence were awarded to three students from the 60 color belts from the Stevens Taekwondo Academy, UW-Stevens Point taekwondo program and the Medical College of Wisconsin taekwondo club who were tested. Green belt Lesley Chase won first place, high red belt Kim Sherwin took second place and high green belt Jennifer Dedolph placed third.
Grandmaster Dwight Stevens was assisted in judging the testing by senior masters Robert Stevens, Denver, Mark Henkel and Henk Boese, Eau Claire, and master Bill Dragolovich.
Black Belt of the Year
Dan Zierke, third degree black belt, was honored by the Stevens Taekwondo YMCA Academy as the Outstanding Black Belt of 2007 at the December testing. Zierke, of Olsens Crop Service, has trained at the academy since January 2001.
Zierke was nominated for the award by fellow black belts who cited his contributions in teaching and noted his many areas of community and youth sports as a coach for Portage County Youth Soccer, as coach at YMCA flag football and indoor soccer, and as assistant scoutmaster.
The annual award, a memorial to black belt M. J. Attoe, who died in a 1994 car accident, was presented by Joyce Kavalauskas, Attoe’s mother.
Zierke was nominated for the award by fellow black belts who cited his contributions in teaching and noted his many areas of community and youth sports as a coach for Portage County Youth Soccer, as coach at YMCA flag football and indoor soccer, and as assistant scoutmaster.
The annual award, a memorial to black belt M. J. Attoe, who died in a 1994 car accident, was presented by Joyce Kavalauskas, Attoe’s mother.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
October Testing of 18 Black Belts
Kicks snapped out and boards were demolished as a record 18 martial artists earned new or higher black belts in testing at the YMCA recently.
Father-daughter pair Vern and Chelsea Lovejoy advanced to the fifth degree black belt rank as they performed the sipjin form and advanced kick combinations. Vern Lovejoy spoke about creating a shock wave when breaking concrete and then wowed the crowd with a palm heel break through five concrete bricks. Chelsea Lovejoy talked about the importance of the family element and the quality time spent working out with her father and sisters. She then broke a succession of three boards with a roundhouse, a 360 roundhouse and a spinning hook kick.
Eric Eberhardy, Michael Nepper and Shawn Strunsee
earned fourth degree black belts and the title of “master” as they each shattered 4 concrete bricks with a palm heel strike. in testing which included advanced kicks demonstrations, the pyongwon form and oral presentations.
Edward Baringer moved up to third degree black belt following his demonstration of the taebek form, advanced kick and block combinations, and a switching axe kick board break.
Four students moved up to second degree black belt in impressive testing which included advanced kick combinations, sparring and the keumgang form. Stephen Decker, Mickey Held and Ben Nummelin used spinning sidekicks to smash two-inch boards, while Trisha Nepper broke a board with a skipping sidekick.
Elizabeth Lovejoy, Dan Majewski and Mark Stenerson joined the ranks of first degree black belts with their skills demonstrations in board breaking, sparring and performance of four taegeuk and the koryo forms. They also passed an oral examination by the high ranking black belts on the tenets, techniques and history of taekwondo.
Siblings Riley and Max Held, Jonathan DeGroot, Justin Sorenson and Ross Wieloch earned their deputy black belts with impressive board breaking, sharp kick and sparring demos and performance of five taegeuk forms.
Father-daughter pair Vern and Chelsea Lovejoy advanced to the fifth degree black belt rank as they performed the sipjin form and advanced kick combinations. Vern Lovejoy spoke about creating a shock wave when breaking concrete and then wowed the crowd with a palm heel break through five concrete bricks. Chelsea Lovejoy talked about the importance of the family element and the quality time spent working out with her father and sisters. She then broke a succession of three boards with a roundhouse, a 360 roundhouse and a spinning hook kick.
Eric Eberhardy, Michael Nepper and Shawn Strunsee
earned fourth degree black belts and the title of “master” as they each shattered 4 concrete bricks with a palm heel strike. in testing which included advanced kicks demonstrations, the pyongwon form and oral presentations.Edward Baringer moved up to third degree black belt following his demonstration of the taebek form, advanced kick and block combinations, and a switching axe kick board break.
Four students moved up to second degree black belt in impressive testing which included advanced kick combinations, sparring and the keumgang form. Stephen Decker, Mickey Held and Ben Nummelin used spinning sidekicks to smash two-inch boards, while Trisha Nepper broke a board with a skipping sidekick.
Elizabeth Lovejoy, Dan Majewski and Mark Stenerson joined the ranks of first degree black belts with their skills demonstrations in board breaking, sparring and performance of four taegeuk and the koryo forms. They also passed an oral examination by the high ranking black belts on the tenets, techniques and history of taekwondo.
Siblings Riley and Max Held, Jonathan DeGroot, Justin Sorenson and Ross Wieloch earned their deputy black belts with impressive board breaking, sharp kick and sparring demos and performance of five taegeuk forms.
The new black belts and masters
More than sixty other students tested successfully in the color belt promotion. New blue belt Charles Elliott Schofield won the first place trophy, high green belt Arrington Polnan the second place and blue belt Chase Anderson took home third. 
The Stevens Taekwondo Academy testing was judged by Grandmaster Dwight Stevens, Senior Master Mark Henkel and Master Bill Dragolovich.
>>>>>>>>>>>BLACK BELT NEWS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Details of the annual black belt Christmas party are being worked on and invitations will be mailed soon. The date is December 8, so plan to be in Stevens Point for that evening. The December testing is the following day.
Third dan Donelle Ostrowski is teaching taekwondo Monday and Wednesday at the Sun Prairie Athletic Club. Be sure to stop by or recommend her classes to any friends or relatives in the Madison area.
No YMCA taekwondo classes will be held on October 30, November 1, or December 18 through the end of the year. 2008 classes appear to begin Jan 3.
Tournament News October 07
For the third year in a row, a local black belt took the grand champion trophy home.
Third degree black belt Donelle Ostrowski won the four foot high trophy as grand champion in forms at the Mid-Wisconsin Taekwondo Championships in Wisconsin Rapids. Ostrowski also placed second in women’s black belt sparring and board breaking, where she smashed three board in succession, ending with a palm heel break as she went into the splits.
In the men’s color belt division, blue belt Ryan Franckowiak won first place in both sparring and board breaking, with a second place trophy for forms. He snapped two boards with a 360 spinning sidekick going immediately to a 360 spinning roundhouse.
Red belt Andrew Blanker grabbed first place trophies in the micro peewee sparring and breaking. Blanker broke a series of three boards using a skipping sidekick, a switching axe kick and a back spinning sidekick. He also placed second in the forms competition.
In the green belt division for micro peewees, Arrington Polman earned first place in breaking with a double break combo of a butterfly and back spinning side kicks. Polman took second place for forms and sparring in his division.
Blue belt Sam Smith won first place in his micro peewee division for breaking with a flying side kick.
The 27th annual event, hosted by Park Institute and Master John Chrystal, drew 140 competitors and many on-lookers to the Mid-State Technical College October 6.
Third degree black belt Donelle Ostrowski won the four foot high trophy as grand champion in forms at the Mid-Wisconsin Taekwondo Championships in Wisconsin Rapids. Ostrowski also placed second in women’s black belt sparring and board breaking, where she smashed three board in succession, ending with a palm heel break as she went into the splits.
In the men’s color belt division, blue belt Ryan Franckowiak won first place in both sparring and board breaking, with a second place trophy for forms. He snapped two boards with a 360 spinning sidekick going immediately to a 360 spinning roundhouse.
Red belt Andrew Blanker grabbed first place trophies in the micro peewee sparring and breaking. Blanker broke a series of three boards using a skipping sidekick, a switching axe kick and a back spinning sidekick. He also placed second in the forms competition.
In the green belt division for micro peewees, Arrington Polman earned first place in breaking with a double break combo of a butterfly and back spinning side kicks. Polman took second place for forms and sparring in his division.
Blue belt Sam Smith won first place in his micro peewee division for breaking with a flying side kick.
The 27th annual event, hosted by Park Institute and Master John Chrystal, drew 140 competitors and many on-lookers to the Mid-State Technical College October 6.
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