Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Platte Valley Martial Arts holds color belt testing for 'Little Dragons', Taekwondo and Judo classes
Members of Platte Valley Martial Arts following color belt testing. Front row from left, Alissa Catron, Jamis McLinskey, Nate Keel, Thomas Catron, Maylen Keel, Esther Haderlie, Joseph Haderlie, Kooper Hull and Edgar Faust. Middle row from left, Kaden Nobles, Rhea Irby, Elaine Robbins, Keston Baysinger, Kellan Swanson, Zoe Butler, Dashaal Baysinger, Sensei Christina Reyes, Jaxton Keel and Master John Stewart. Back row, from left, Mr. Gene Hale, Leo Nobles, Zane Butler, Bob Keel, Trenton Swanson and Sensi Nick Haderlie.
The black best testing board discusses the importance of living by tenets PVMA teaches, which include courtesy, humility, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.
Sensei Nick Haderlie, center, referees as Mr. Gene Hale, left, and Master John Stewart spar.
Senseis Christina Reyes and Nick Haderlie prepare the Little Dragons for their first test.
On Dec. 15, Platte Valley Martial Arts (PVMA) held color belt testing for all three of its classes: Little Dragons, Taekwondo and Judo. The Little Dragons class, according to the press release from PVMA, is intended for younger students between 3-6 years old "with a focus on basic balance and coordination skills."
Taekwondo is a Korean form of martial arts that emphasizes kicking, striking and self-defense while Judo, a Japanese art, involves throwing, grappling and submissions.
Color belt testing begins with a physical demonstration of techniques and is followed by interviews, where it is expected that students will know both terminology and some history about the arts.
"All the students worked hard to earn their next rank. We're really proud of them," said PVMA President Nick Haderlie. "The program has grown a lot since last spring and we're looking to keep growing into 2019 by getting more students involved and possibly adding an adults-only class."
Haderlie added that the program is about more than punches, kicks and throws, stating "We hope folks can tell from the interview portion of the tests that we put a strong emphasis on positive social values. What we're doing is more about teaching self-confidence and life lessons than it will ever be about producing champion martial artists, although our students had a lot of success last fall at the tournament in Cody as well with a coup of first-place finishes."
In the Little Dragons class, the following students progressed to the Junior Yellow Belt; Thomas Catron, Alissa Catron, Edgar Faust, Esther Haderlie, Joseph Haderlie, Kooper Hull, Mayleen Keel, Nate Keel and Jamis McLinskey.
In Taekwondo, Leo Nobles and Kaden Nobles progressed to second Degree Yellow Belt while Rhea Irby and Elaine Robbins progressed to third Degree Yellow Belt.
In Judo, the following students progressed to the Yellow Stripe Belt; Zane Butler, Zoe Butler, Ashley Finney, Elaine Robbins, Leo Nobels, Kaden Nobels and Kinley Woodmansee. Bob Keel progressed to Yellow Belt and the following students progressed to the Green Stripe Belt; Dashaal Baysinger, Keston Baysinger, Jaxton Keel, Trenston Swanson and Kellan Swanson.
PVMA is a Wyoming non-profit corporation run entirely on donations. The dojo for PVMA is located on the stage next to the old gymnasium at the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga. Classes are free and open to all. For more information, or for those interested in PVMA, people are encouraged to join the Platte Valley Martial Arts group on Facebook or contact PVMA President Nick Haderlie at 307-461-8040.
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