Sundre High School recently hosted an action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled day.
More than 100 martial artists from different parts of the province came to compete in the Mountainview Taekwondo Club’s tournament, which was held Saturday, Nov. 3.
“It was very successful,” said Master Terri Miller, a fifth degree black belt.
Just shy of 120 competitors participated, down a little bit from last year’s roughly 140. She attributed the decline to difficult road conditions in the north, but was nevertheless pleased with the turnout.
“Everybody did really well,” she said, adding there were “some phenomenal fights and competitions.”
Members arrived from clubs as far away as High Level and Athabasca, as well as closer to home such as Calgary, she said, adding a group from Red Deer performed some demonstrations.
The tournament included poomsae — otherwise known in the world of martial arts as kata or patterns that follow through choreographed steps or moves — and of course sparring.
“The majority of the people come for the sparring,” she said, adding the discipline was full contact for all ages, although younger students were prohibited from head contact.
The event offered the local club’s members some experience and insight that provided some direction to students who developed an interest in further focusing their efforts either on sparring or poomsae, she said.
“Not everybody likes sparring, and not everybody likes patterns.”
Several Mountainview Taekwondo Club members ended up earning medals.
“We got a couple of double golds,” she said.
While winning medals is icing on the cake, “the highlight was just all of the people who came out,” she said, adding seeing young, budding martial artists is adorable.
The club plans to hold a belt testing event before taking a break for the holidays and tournament season will kick into high gear in the new year. Just about every weekend, some of the club’s members compete at tournaments in places such as Whitecourt, Edmonton, Provost, and sometimes even out to Saskastchewan, she said.
Ages seven and under
Kobe Gaidrique Gosuico: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, Silver
Zach McFadden-Snooks: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Bronze
Sawyer Jones: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, Bronze
Vanessa Letkeman: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, Gold
Kahlyn Main: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, Silver
Ages 8-12
Elizabeth Letkeman: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Bronze
Kailee Letkeman: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Bronze
Jennifer Letkeman: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, N/A
Carter Nielsen: Patterns, Gold; Sparring, Gold
Camryn Nielsen: Patterns, Gold; Sparring, Silver
Garrett Deschaine: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, Silver
Keegan Christoffersen: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, Bronze
Cedric Poirier: Patterns, Gold; Sparring, Gold and Bronze
Ella Worth: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, Silver
Cash Young: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, N/A
Drew Young: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Gold
Adults, blue belt and higher
Brenden Johnson: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Gold
Taylor Johnson: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Silver
Wade Johnson: Patterns, N/A; Sparring, N/A
Hunter Hillock: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Silver
Tristan Hillock: Patterns, Gold; Sparring, N/A
Emerson Hillock: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, N/A
Orion Bonneville: Patterns, Gold; Sparring, Silver
Mike Bonneville: Patterns, Bronze; Sparring, N/A
Cody McAllister: Patterns, N/A; Sparring, Bronze
Tessa Smith: Patterns, Silver; Sparring, Bronze
