Front row (from left): Master instructors D. Kwon, D. Estey, H.Y. Kwon, Z. Beg, E. Phillips.
Middle row: C. Liu, D. Yoon, D. Barcelona, C. Yoon.
Back row: A. Moy, M. Koek, J. De Haan, T. Moy, A. Carpentier.
By Ian Prior
Nine students from Kwon’s Karate in Manhasset recently traveled to Cherry Hill, NJ, to participate in a grueling black belt test in the Korean martial art of Soo Bahk Do. Some were testing for the rank of first-degree black belt, others for second-degree. One 15-year-old, Duncan Barcelona, a former Manhasset Middle School student, was going for his third-degree belt—which is one step below master rank.
Master H.Y. Kwon, the ninth-degree black belt who founded the Manhasset studio, was at the test, as was his son, Master Dae Kwon, who now manages the studio and provides physical therapy services there.
“To attain any level of black belt, you have to put in countless hours of training, and that takes real commitment,” said Master Dae. “All of our students performed flawlessly at the test, and we’re all very proud of them.” The students now have a three-month wait to receive their new belts. Why so long? As Master Dae put it: “Patience is part of being a black belt.”
Kwon’s studio is at 8 Hillcrest Ave. The phone number is 516-627-1122. Visit them on Facebook at Kwons Wellness Inc.
