:rolleyes:
Check out the mug shots at the link at the bottom. 
Kicking to the top
Although four of the six athletes competing for Marion’s Mudokwan Martial Arts were participating in their first ever AAU Taekwondo National Championships, determination carried them to several high finishes, including a first-place medal for Robbie Kay.
Mudokwan master Michael Richards praised the group, which ranges in age from 5-17, as one of his best that he’s entered in the national competition, held this year in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. More than 2,000 competitors competed in the event from July 5-11.
“They are all very determined. They put a lot of hard work and hard sweat into preparing for this,” Richards said.
Although the six athletes vary in experience and personality, their dedication to the sport and its necessary discipline showed at the national competition.
Kay, 17, who finished first in the forms division, overcame his biggest challenge – a lack of height against the usually bigger foes in his group. Instead, he sticks to the codes, which focus on the grace, rhythm, power and technique of the moves he must demonstrate to the judges. He works hard to maintain perfection.
“He’s not as tall as the people he goes up against,” Richards said. “I’m very proud of him. He won’t back down.”
Getting to nationals was a little tougher for Isaiah Heart, 17. He came in too late to participate in the Indiana championships, so he competed in the Ohio championships and came away with a gold medal. At nationals, he went on to finish third in the forms division and second in the points sparring division, where scoring awards for proper kicks and punches against an opponent.
“Isaiah has such a good positive attitude. He’s determined to be the best he can be,” Richards said.
Coming off a break from competition, Jessica Kay, 15, showed no mercy at the nationals. She finished second in Olympic sparring, the most physical of the three disciplines.
“You have to be physically and mentally ready to take the blows,” Richards said. “Only 14-year-old black belts and above or 18-year-old color belts are permitted to compete in it.”
Matthew Sproat, 6, a purple belt and a winner of gold and silver medals from the state competition, finished third in his points sparring division.
Alston Wallace, the youngest on the team at age 5, is small but is a feisty fighter, Richards said. At the nationals, he finished third in points sparring.
“He was very shy at first, but now he’s broke that shell. When he comes out on the mat, everyone knows Alston is here,” he said.
Stephanie Sproat, 13, returned to the nationals as a black belt for the first time. She finished second at regionals and claimed first, second and third in three separate divisions at the state championship. At nationals, she lost in the last round match to just miss claiming a medal in the Olympic sparring division.
“There were 2,400 competitors, and it was rough. I tell her, every champion has to lose to find their weakness so they can work upon them,” Richards said.
Sproat, who had participated in two prior nationals, said this was her best one yet.
“It was a lot bigger this year. There was so much competition,” Sproat said. “You had to have the will to keep going.”
That is what Richards is trying to get his students to do. He already has been down this path after making his way to the final rounds for the Olympic trials in the 1980s.
“I’m striving for them to dig down to find the perseverance,” Richards said. “I just tell these kids to never give up. This year was the best.”
http://www.chronicle-tribune.com/news/stories/20040721/localsports/885395.html
WOW! These young atheletes are really growing up physically and emotionally!
I guess Mudokwan is another real TKD art then…