Seven Yields Eleven for Taekowndo All In
Ridgewood NJ, Seven athletes from Taekwondo All In, a school in downtown Ridgewood dedicated to teaching the Korean martial art, recently traveled to Oregon to compete in the Pan American Open, a tournament that drew over 1500 participants from more than 30 countries. The All In athletes’ results were striking: Nine Gold medals and three Silver, twelve medals in all. Moreover, every member of the All In team earned at least one gold medal.
The results are especially impressive considering the competitive field present at the Pan American Open. The Tournament is a designated path for athletes to ultimately qualify for the Summer Olympics. Of the participants, only twenty percent received any medal.
The details of the athletes’ outcomes are as follows:
• Brandon Jinu Son – Gold in sparring and Silver in forms. Son continued his undefeated career sparring record.
• Jongyun Tony An – Gold in forms and Silver sparring. An’s demonstrated his prowess in the forms segment.
• Jihoon David Ahn – Gold in both sparring and forms. This was Ahn’s first major tournament. He dominated his age group. In sparring, he captured the gold medal with an acrobatic jump back kick.
• Jiho Jason Ahn – Gold in sparring and Silver in forms. Ahn easily defeated his sparring opponents with well-devised strategies.
• Suyeon Louis Kim – Gold medal in forms. Kim demonstrated grace and precision to capture her first gold medal at a major tournament.
• Yeonjae Lee – Gold in forms. This was Yeonjae Lee’s first tournament. He fought through a very competitive group to earn a gold medal.
• Yeongyu Lee – Gold in both sparring and forms. It was also Yeongyu Lee’s first tournament. He came through in the final rounds to outpace his competitors.
Youngmin Kim, the head coach and owner of Taekowndo All In, commented, “I would like to congratulate our team for their stellar results. It is very difficult to perform at the premier level, and this year’s competition was fierce. Our athletes came through adversity with superb energy, discipline and grit.” He also noted, “I want to thank the parents of All In students for entrusting us with their children. It is a true privilege.”
Having successes at tournaments is nothing new for Taekowndo All In. Just a month ago, the All In athletes had a strong showing at a New Jersey statewide tournament, earning 47 medals. Also, earlier this year, they made impressive strides at the U.S. Nationals.
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art with a rich tradition of teaching self defense, mental discipline, and respect. The sport has been a part of the Summer Olympics since 2000. Taekwondo All In, located at 33 Chestnut Street in Ridgewood, was founded in 2012 by Youngmin Kim, a Taekwondo master and former scholarship recipient and professional athlete in the sport. (201) 857-0445
Great looking kids — I’m not messing with them — a great conditioning sport for young kids —