February Belt Promotion Testing
It was a family affair Sunday at the YMCA when eight martial artists earned black belts from the Stevens Taekwondo Academy.
Kevin Konopacky, his daughter Krysti and son Kolby all earned first degree black belts in the testing, along with Steve Decker, Jamie Chariton and Mark Poirier. Konopacky is the brother and uncle of second degree black belts Jill and Bethany Reed. Poirier's wife, Karen, is a third degree black belt, his father-in-law Dick is a third degree black belt and his brother-in-law Kevin Klapoetke is a fourth degree black belt.
For first degree black belt, the candidates performed koryo and four taegeuk forms, sparred, demonstrated advanced kick combinations and sparring and then answered questions on the history and tenets of taekwondo.
The board-breaking demonstrations were varied and impressive. Kevin Konopacky broke two boards with a back spinning sidekick and 90 degree spinning sidekick sequence. Chariton split her board with above head switching front kic. Decker snapped a board with a spinning hook speed break. Poirier went aerial with a flying sidekick over five people and through two boards. Krysti Konopacky performed a skip back spinning sidekick and Kolby Konopacky used short skipping and long skipping sidekicks entering into a spinning sidekick.
Jonathan Anderson and Gibson Hladky were promoted to deputy black belt following their testing. Both young men performed five taegeuk forms, sparring and kick combinations and broke boards. Anderson smashed his board with a 360-spinning sidekick. Hladky broke with a spinning axe kick.
Three of the more than 30 color belts testing for belt promotion were awarded trophies for excellence. Blue belt William Nadeau won the first place trophy, eight-year-old Max Held, blue belt, earned second place and new green belt Matt Moore took home third place.
Grandmaster Dwight Stevens judged the testing, assisted by masters Mark Henkel and Bill Dragolovich.
YMCA classes and the make-up testing for February 16 were canceled due to severe winter weather conditions. It was the first time in over 20 years that the YMCA closed.
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