A white lion roared and made her mark in Gator country.
Eleven-year-old Nikki Van Keer won the gold medal in sparring at Junior 1 level at the 50th annual Chung Do Kwan Association taekwondo national championships in Daytona Beach, Fla. in late July.
“I was trying for the gold medal when I went down there,” said Van Keer, a member of White Lions Christian Taekwondo in Turner Valley.
Van Keer had her work cut out for her in Daytona — her gold medal match was against a blue-belt holder, some two colours higher than Van Keer’s green belt.
“I was nervous to do everything,” Van Keer said with a smile. “I worked on my breathing.”
Her strategy was to kick her opponent in the chest. She was able to win 4.5-4 when Van Keer made a clear kick to the chest with time running out.
A kick to the chest is worth one point.
She also won a silver medal for forms. Forms, or patterns, calls for the participant to prove he or she can handle the disciplined moves of taekwondo by doing a series of manoeuvres for the judges.
Taekwondo runs in the family.
Nikki’s father Pieter followed in his daughter’s footsteps.
“I wanted to support my daughter and to compete,” said Pieter, who was competing in his first tournament in Daytona. “I want to help my daughter get that black belt in the future.”
Pieter picked up a silver medal at the beginning adult level. However, the highlight was watching his daughter.
“She had to earn all her medals — she literally fought for her gold,” Pieter said. “It’s nice to see all her hard work paid off.”
Zachary Schellenberg, 13, has earned a brown belt in his relatively short career.
He had one fight in Daytona Beach — against a black belt opponent. He paid the price in winning his match.
“He kicked me in the head and cut my eye (area),” Schellenberg said. “So the fight was over because you aren’t allowed to draw blood.”
He also participated in forms in Daytona.
His long-term goal is to earn a black belt.
Zachary’s younger brother, Cody, also participated in Florida.
Fourteen-year-old Jacob Ledoux, who also has a brown belt, was second in sparring.
After losing the gold medal match, he won an exhibition match against an opponent who was an estimated 30 pounds heavier.
“I won by two points — I spin-back kicked and got him in the head,” Ledoux said.
The spin-back kick is Ledoux’s most effective kick, said White Lions coach Michelle Schellenberg.
The White Lions got started five years ago by the third-degree black belt coach Schellenberg.
“The reason I got started is because Turner Valley is where my heart is,” Schellenberg said.
Schellenberg more than held her own in Daytona. She won gold in forms in the third-degree black belt category.
“That was my first gold medal at nationals — I have had silver in the past,” Schellenberg said. “I don’t really know what the difference was, but it was sheer determination.”
“It is knowing every move perfectly. I was really pleased with my performance.”
Nine-year-old Hannah Bowley picked up the silver in forms and bronze in sparring.
“The best part of Daytona was competing against other people and getting medals,” said Bowley, a student at Turner Valley School.
For more information about White Lions Christian taekwondo go to whiteliontkd.com
