Tae kwon do students hone skills at three-day convention

After the three-day Moo Sul Kwan martial arts convention ended in Cape Girardeau Sunday, 10-year-old Jonathan Ruebel felt stronger than ever.

The Scott City fourth-grader, an orange belt, did 32 push-ups in a row -- something he said he had never done before.

"This weekend we got to learn a lot about strength and speed," said Ruebel, who with about 120 other tae kwon do students attended the convention at the Southeast Missouri State University Recreation Center.

In it's 42nd year, the Moo Sul Kwan Martial Arts Institute and its instructors welcomed the students -- children as young as 5 up to adults -- who built on skills they learn at their respective weekly or monthly classes.

On Friday, the students spent time learning sparring tactics and had their first Hapkido class, an art of self-defense, according to Ralph Hendrickson, an instructor at Lee H. Park Martial Arts Institute. Instructors led agility training, combination fighting and more Hapkido classes Saturday and Sunday. Trophies were awarded to the many of the students around lunchtime Sunday, where 8-year-old Leah Buerck, a second-grader from Perryville, Mo., received an trophy for having the best front high kick.

She said she had been involved in tae kwon do for two years, and enjoyed the convention because she met new friends. Ruebel said Moo Sul Kwan was his first convention and enjoyed learning Hapkido and the self-defense moves the most.

"And I got my belt signed by Great Grandmaster Shin. It says Jonathan in Korean," Ruebel said, showing off his belt.

Hendrickson said instructors focused on several training activities over the weekend, but mostly aimed to help the students improve. Fifteen of the students earned their black belt during the convention.

"They'll go back to their own classes now and hopefully continue to improve," he said. "These children come in young and they turn into leaders."

ehevern@semissourian.com

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