There was a lot of kicking and punching going on at the Humboldt Collegiate Institute (HCI) gymnasium over the weekend, but in a constructive way.
The Humboldt Tae Kwon-Do club played host to the 2011 Sask Cup Tae Kwon-Do tournament on October 29.
The Sask Cup is an informal tournament that doesn't count for standings in overall provincial rating. Competitors' levels of proficiency range from yellow stripe (three to six months of practice) to sixth degree black belt.
Two areas of movements, patterns and sparring, were judged.
Patterns are the basic fundamental moves of Tae Kwon Do set against imaginary opponents. Sparring, Nieman explains, is when the body comes into contact with the opponent, something akin to shadow boxing.
A total of 105 people competed in the tournament, which was won by Humboldt's club for the second year in a row, and for the third time in their 12-year history.
The Humboldt club claimed 11 gold medals, eight silver medals and five bronze, reported Ken and Sue Nieman, to win the tournament.
Most members of the Humboldt club won two medals, ranging from double gold to double bronze.
A list of local results is as follows:
Justin Temple (yellow stripe): gold in sparring, and gold in patterns;
Tiri Crooks (yellow stripe): gold in patterns and silver in sparring;
Landen Tessier (yellow belt): bronze in sparring and bronze in patterns;
Kyle Everitt (yellow belt): gold in sparring and gold in patterns;
Hayden Reeme (green belt): gold in sparring
Aleisha Reeme (green belt): gold in sparring and silver in patterns;
Ryley Lefebvre (green belt): silver in patterns and silver in sparring;
Pam Lemky(black stripe): gold in sparring and gold in patterns;
Mason Arnason (junior black belt): silver in sparring and silver in patterns;
Kellin Everitt (junior black belt): bronze in sparring and bronze in patterns;
Kurt Wolfe (junior black belt heavy weight): silver in sparring and bronze in patterns;
Ken Nieman (black belt): silver in sparring and silver in patterns.
The tournament also featured some Tae Kwon Do masters from around the province, including Steve Marcia, originally from Humboldt. Marcia is a fourth degree Black Belt who has been practising for 20 years. He now lives and teaches in Regina.
The tournament went far more quickly than was planned, noted organizer Susan Young.
Though they had thought the tournament would last until late afternoon, it finished up around lunch time.
"We really want to thank all of the volunteers who helped," said Young. "That is one reason it went so quickly - everyone was there and ready."
Local businesses, including the IGA and the Bella Vista Inn, also helped with the tournament, Young noted.
