A matter of degrees

Instead of kicking back, Master Gary Muma's pupils practiced the art of kicking, blocking and striking as they tested for their black belts.

Muma said the March 25 testing session was one of the "highest levels of testing ever given at one time. Yet all four students who were tested, passed."

One student, Jeremy Schultz of White Salmon, was testing for his fourth-degree black belt, while two others--Elsie Denton of Hood River and Frank See of White Salmon--tested for their third-degree black belts.

Denton, who recently turned 18, has been training with Muma since she was 9 years old, and became the first woman at NW Taekwon-Do to earn a third-degree black belt.

At 68 years of age, See also accomplished a first for the school by becoming the oldest third-degree black belt to train there.

The fourth student under observation on March 25 was 13-year-old Maggie Goter of Mosier, who earned her first-degree junior black belt after more than four years of training.

After demonstrating nine traditional color belt fighting forms, Goter showed off a series of blocks, kicks, strikes and self-defense sets.

She then had to prove her fighting ability by taking on one, two and three opponents by applying proper strategy. By the end, Goter even broke two boards with a side kick--a skill that is not required for a junior-level black belt.

The second female student being reviewed over Spring Break was Denton, who is currently a senior at Hood River Valley High School. In addition to performing all of the black belt forms, she had to do an extensive demonstration of advanced skills and knowledge.

After taking on one, two and three black-belt opponents, Denton then completed the required board-breaking exercise, crushing five boards with a side kick, and then three more with a knife-hand strike.

See also managed to complete the breaking test, smashing six boards with a side kick and cutting through four boards with a knife-hand strike. The eight-year veteran of Northwest Taekwon-Do also holds the class record of five boards with a forearm strike.

"Mr. See has been a great inspiration to us all," Muma said. "He has worked very hard to attain this level, and he gotten better every year he has studied with me."

The final test subject of the night was Schultz, who became only the second student ever recommended by Master Muma to receive this prestigious rank. With his achievement, Schultz is now qualified to open his own school if he chooses to do so.

A student of Muma's for more than 15 years, Schultz has had a full instructor rating since he turned 18, and has helped operate a school in Trout Lake.

Schultz's most notable accomplishment during the testing session was during the breaking portion. He started with a spinning back kick to break six boards, and then executed a jumping spin back kick, also on six boards.

"Congratulations to our new black belts, and thanks to our black belt council judges for their wisdom and support," Muma said.