Tae Kwon Do students headed to state
The following eight are students at McFeeders & Olympic Tae Kwon Do Academy in Coshocton and will competing April 7 at the state meet in Akron: Pictured from left, row one are: Reese Addy, Landon Shroyer and Cameron Callopy; row two – Jim Wilson, Brad Birkhimer, Morgan Lawrence, Izek Darling and Luis Gonzales. Photo contributed to The Beacon
COSHOCTON – A group of children and adult martial artists will take their skills to a state tournament in April to find out if they have what it takes to move on to nationals.
The eight competitors are students at the Coshocton branch of the McFeeders & Olympic Tae Kwon Do Academies.
“They are all going to do awesome,” said Jim Wilson, who teaches at McFeeders. “I’d be surprised if the whole group didn’t come back with golds.”
The state tournament is scheduled for April 7, in Akron and the national tournament will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“You just have to compete in tournaments throughout the year to be able to go,” Wilson said. “This is what we train for all year.”
Classes are held three days a week and Wilson said anyone can do Tae Kwon Do.
“Its individual and group work and more like kickboxing with a lot of cardio,” Wilson said.
He has been with McFeeder’s for nine years, but been involved with martial arts for more than 30.
“It gives people a lot of self discipline and confidence and can teach kids respect,” Wilson said. “A lot of kids will come in here shy or with attention problems and end up doing real well.”
Competing in competitions also is not a requirement of attending the school.
“We encourage it, but it is optional,” Wilson said.
In addition to helping to prepare the students from McFeeders, Wilson also will compete at the state tournament.
“I’ve been there before, but I believe no one else has,” he said. “You have to train as hard as you can for it because you have no idea what you are going to face until you get there. There could be two others in your belt rank or kids could go through six or seven fights. We train as if you are going to at least see five matches.”
Students have to pay their own way to the tournament, which can add up to around $1,000.
Anyone wishing to help fund the trip to state for these eight students is welcome to stop at McFeeder’s from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays to learn more. The facility is located at 134 Main St.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
