MM_111518

mokenamessenger.com life & arts
the Mokena Messenger | November 15, 2018 | 19
Mokena-based Family Martial Arts victorious in competition
Megan Schuller
Freelance Reporter
Members of Family Martial
Arts in Mokena proved
last week that not only is
martial arts for all ages,
but it can be a family oriented
sport, too. More than
50 local Lincoln-Way-area
students of the martial arts
school, ranging in age from
5 to 75, competed in the
Chicago Martial Arts Association
TaeKwonDo Championship
on Nov. 5 in Carpentersville.
Students came home
showing off the medals
around their necks and hoisting
three Grand Championship
trophies. The students
competed in two main areas
that had specialty competitions
within them. Form,
or “poonsae,” is a routine
of a series of patterns that
focuses on the execution
of specific moves. The second
is breaking, which includes
a series of moves,
such as breaking wooden
boards.
“I feel good after breaking
a board and knowing
that I am powerful enough to
break it,” 11-year-old Aidan
Sullivan, of Frankfort, said.
Parent Sandi Levato, of
Tinley Park, said that the
staff at Family Martial Arts
has taught her daughter invaluable
lessons.
“It’s not just a school, it’s
a family,” Levato said. “My
daughter has learned confidence,
focus and strength
from the masters who love
our children just as much as
we do.”
According to Program Director
Krista Danielewicz,
the Family Martial Arts
School — or, “dojang,” as
it’s called — was one of the
schools with the most students,
of all ages, competing
on the mat.
“The core of martial arts
is confidence,” Danielewicz
said. “The tournament is one
Twelve-year-old Abigail Buhle, of New Lenox, shows a
powerful high kick that she did in competition to earn a
bronze metal.
of the stepping stones in creating
that confidence.”
Practice started more than
two months ago for the competition,
which Danielewicz
said the students take very
seriously.
“I enjoyed earning the
medals and participating
in the competition. It was a
lot of good practice,” said
6-year-old Lucas Cottardo,
of Mokena.
Warren Tessarin, 73,
of Tinley Park, said that
the competition was a
way for him to challenge
himself.
“It’s a test of mental and
physical forms,” Tessarin
said. “This is a great cardio
fitness workout to test your
body, but my favorite part is
the comradery earned with
people and learning new
things.”
Twelve-year old Abigail
Buhle, of New Lenox, said
that she was proud of the
two bronze place medals.
“I did well for my very
first competition,” Buhle
said. “It teaches you the
courage needed to do stuff
like breaking.”
Family Martial Arts’
medal count
Form:
• Gold - 22
• Silver - 16
• Bronze - 9
Group Form:
• Gold - 4
• Silver - 3
• Bronze -1
Board Breaking:
• Gold - 23
• Silver - 14
• Bronze -11
Grand Champion
trophies:
• Female jumping side
kick (ages 8-12 year old)
• Male jumping side kick
(ages 8-12 year old)
• Male speed breaking
(ages 13 and up)
Jamie Vita, 42, and her
son Cater Vita, 10, from Tinley
Park, are both students of
the dojang, so they had the
chance to watch each other
compete with the goal of
participating in the family
form part of the competition
next year.
Mother-son competitors Jamie Vita, 42, and her son Cater Vita, 10, of Tinley Park, show
off some of their signature moves at Mokena-based Family Martial Arts Friday, Nov. 9.
Family Martial Arts combined for an astounding 103 medals, plus three Grand Champion
trophies, at the Chicago Martial Arts Association TaeKwonDo Championship on Nov. 5 in
Carpentersville Photos by Megan Schuller/22nd Century Media
Members of the competitive Family Martial Arts team show off their awards.
“My first competition at
age 42 was very exciting, but
he inspired me to do it,” Vita
said as she put her arm around
her son. “He’s really involved
in quizzing me, testing me and
critiquing me.”
Master Sung Ho Kim
has owned the dojang since
2004, though it only came
to Mokena three years
ago. Competitive martial
arts is a way to challenge
the students beyond the
normal technique class.
“I am most proud of my
students and of the instructors,”
Kim said, grinning at
his students practicing on the
mat. “Their hard work has
paid off.”