Youth TKD Team Golden At Junior Olympics

The bulk of the amateur Tae Kwon Do world descended on Iowa for the Amateur Athletic Union's Junior Olympics held in Des Moines on August 2^nd and 3^rd.  When the dust settled,  the Super Kicks' Competition team reigned supreme.  In Point Sparring Competition, Super Kicks collected a massive 7 Gold Medals and 2 Silver Medals in the Point Sparring division.  The 7 Gold Medals were the most of any team at the event and the 9 total medals were also tops in point sparring.  Super Kicks was led by team veterans Marco Wilson and Matt Doherty.  Both of Marco's fights ended via ‘slaughter' rule as he used a devastating front leg attack to decimate his opponents in the 8-9 year old Black Belt division.  The victory completed an unbeaten streak for Marco in Pont Sparring as part of the 2009 AAU competition season. 

Not to be undone, Matt used a similar front leg attack coupled with a lightening-quick backfist to beat his opponents en route to winning the 16-17 year old Black Belt division.  In his 3 years competing in Point Sparring for the AAU, Matt has yet to lose a match.  Team members Lilly Goorsky (F 6-7 ADV), Carlos Guzman (M 10-11 ADV), Samantha Leidel (F 12-13 ADV), Cassidy Martin (F 8-9 ADV) and Stephan Martin (M 16-17 ADV) rounded out the list of first place winners.  Aaron Beliles, Brandon D'attomo, Hunter Goorsky and Jack Wiemeler also gave strong performances for the team as they continue to make Team Super Kicks a powerhouse in national competition. 

In the Olympic Sparring division,  Marco Wilson and Matt Doherty showed again how Super Kicks is able to translate talent, skill and technique into any area of martial arts competition.  In the Boys 8-9 Black Belt Division,  Marco Wilson once again dismantled his opponents using his deadly front leg.  Starting off cautiously, Marco soon found his distance and timing and unleashed a front and rear leg kicking assault as he beat both of his more experienced competitors via ‘slaughter' rule.  Look for great things from Marco in Olympic Sparring as he continues to master the game.  Rounding out the weekend competition,  Matt Doherty looked to earn his first victory in Olympic Sparring.  In his first match,  Matt used a strong front leg attack and superior foot speed to score multiple points and crowd his opponent as he won quickly by ‘slaughter' rule.  In the final match, Matt used more brains than brawn as he scored early points then used a slick combination of offensive fakes and defensive slips to frustrate and stymie his opponent for two and a half rounds as he won the match 2-1.  The victory gave Matt his first win in Olympic Sparring and solidifies him as one of the best up and coming talents in the martial arts. Along with Marco,  look for bigger and better things from Matt. 

Next up for the Competition Team is a trip up north to compete in Forms, Weapons and Point Sparring at the Diamond Nationals October 10^th and 11^th in Bloomington, Minnesota.  Again, congratulations to the team and Good Luck at Diamonds!