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TKD Wellness Competition Team WOT 2022

I want to congratulate our athletes for their display of Taekwondo spirit despite of some difficult matches and for representing TKD Wellness positively at WOT Championships 2022 on March 5th and for supporting their teammates during/after every match. “This is the way.”

Also… major kudos to our amazing coaches Chris and Dion for not only training up our athletes but for their leadership and dedication to our athletes’ wellbeing.

Athletes medals:

Fletcher – Gold (Olympic Sparring)
Valeria – Gold (Olympic Sparring) & Silver (Olympic Sparring)
Angela – Gold (Olympic Sparring)
Coach Dion – Gold (Olympic Sparring)
Coach Chris – Gold (Olympic Sparring)
Jesus – Silver (Olympic Sparring)
Jesse – Gold (2020 Sparring), Gold (Olympic Sparring), Gold (Poomsae)
Colin – Bronze (Olympic Sparring)
Kawsa – Bronze (Poomsae)
Megan – Gold (2020 Sparring), Silver (Olympic Sparring)

Next up is Grand Prix West on May 6-8 in Reno, NV… it’s the qualifier for 2022 USAT Nationals!

Check out sparring highlights video

Check out poomsae highlights video

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December 18, 2021 Q4 Promotion Test

On December 18, 2021 Taekwondo Wellness held its Q4 promotion Taekwondo test in Tucson and it was a great success. A big congratulates to the following students on their rank promotion and display of effort, dedication and perseverance.  

This Taekwondo promotion test was extra special because TKD Wellness held its first ever black belt promotion test in Tucson! It was 4 hours worth of pure Taekwondo heart and spirit that each of the black belt candidates demonstrated. The black belt test not only tested their physical conditionings and technical knowledge but it also required a written essay and multiple choice/short answer exam to test their understanding of Taekwondo psychology, history, terminology, etc. It is with great honor that I welcome these black belt candidates into the black belt Taekwondo family! Welcome and let the journey to mastery and self growth continue.

Black Belt Promotion Rankings

  • Christopher “Dion” Williams Jr who promoted from 1st Dan to 2nd Dan black belt
  • Christopher D Williams Sr who promoted from deputy black belt to 1st Dan black belt
  • Kawsa Ponnampalam who promoted from deputy black belt to 1st poom black belt
  • Allen Kempel who promoted from deputy black belt to 1st poom black belt
  • Mylo Baker Torres who promoted from deputy black belt to 1st poom black belt

Color Belt Promotion Rankings

  • Matthew Cruz who promoted from brown belt to red belt (2nd Kub)
  • Madeleine Berry who promoted from purple belt to brown belt (3rd Kub)
  • Mateo Berry who promoted from orange belt to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Elias Berry who promoted from orange belt to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Aidan Ball who promoted from orange belt to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Cristal Romero who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Angela Romero who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Valeria Romero who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Fletcher Cassen who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Sam Irish who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Sebastian Nellums who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Auburn Culp who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Everett Culp who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Gabriel Wong who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Carlos Wong who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Christopher Womack who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Jordan Duran-Lizarraga who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Kai Baker Torres who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Bethany Molina who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Bonnie Boyer-Stevens who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Emilia Bustamante who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Gavi Al-Haddad who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Issac Ripley who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Isabella Bustamante who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Jayden Molina who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Maia Cruz who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Woody Al-Haddad who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)

Want to see highlight photos & videos from the promotion test? Visit our facebook page. Hope you enjoy the photos/videos… if so, please like and share to help us recruit more students!   Much gratitude, Master Torres

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Collaboration with Dancesequences

Just a few more hours before 2020! Can you believe it? 

Back in August I hinted on a Facebook post at a collaborative project between TKD Wellness and Dancesequences Inc. I’m pleased to share that we’ll have Kareene and Sabrina from Dancesequences joining us for a special 8-session program starting on Saturday, Jan 11, 2020 (more details below).

The program will be a part of the Saturday kids TKD classes. Dancesequences will take the reins at 9:40am and go to about 10:15am. I’ll be joining the fun too. There will be no fee for this program and everyone (including parents) is invited to participate and move.

I’m hopeful that this program will help students get more comfortable with moving and in turn find their own expression of the “art” of Taekwondo.

Program Description

Dancesequences’ IN MOTION classes encourage individual and group movement expressions and take inspiration from the free approach to body movement pioneered by Barbara Mettler. In IN MOTION, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to move. Utilizing improvisational creative problem-solving modalities, we explore what it means to follow our own movement feelings while simultaneously cultivating awareness of the larger group. Each person learns to value individual choices; in turn, the group provides support for individual creativity. Among the themes that we will explore are Sound and Movement (with a wide variety of self-accompanied percussive instruments, vocals and spoken word), Moving with Objects (both man-made and natural items), Movement and Art (exploring the intersection between 2-dimensional art and body movement), Moving Cultures (exploring cultural themes through movement), and many, many more. We will creatively move together, discover new ways to communicate and connect with each other, and find inspiration from each other. 

Class Details

Dates: 8 Saturdays, beginning 2020

  • Jan. 11, 18, 25
  • Feb. 1, 8, 15, 29
  • Mar. 7

Times: 9:40 am – 10: 15 am

Cost: Free

Notes: Open to TKD Wellness students, families and friends

This project is supported in part with funding from Ong Family Foundation.

Written by Yoendry Torres, Psy.D.

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December 21, 2019 Q4 Promotion Test

On December 21, 2019 Taekwondo Wellness held its Q4 promotion test and it was a great success. A big congratulates to the following students on their rank promotion and display of effort, dedication and perseverance.  

  • Gabriel who promoted from red belt to deputy black belt (1st Kub)
  • Allen who promoted from brown to red belt (2nd Kub)
  • Kirk who promoted from brown to red belt (2nd Kub)
  • Mylo who promoted from blue to purple belt (4th Kub)
  • Chris who promoted from green to blue belt (5th Kub)
  • Lena who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Rodney who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Kawsa who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Alaina who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Braydon who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Roger who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Odin who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Bridgett who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Liam who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)

Want to see highlight photos & videos from the promotion test? Visit our facebook page. Hope you enjoy the photos/videos… if so, please like and share to help us recruit more students!   Much gratitude, Master Torres

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October 2019 Promotion Test

On October 5, 2019 Taekwondo Wellness held its Q3 promotion test and I want to congratulate the following students on their rank promotion and display of effort, dedication and perseverance.
  • Allen who promoted from purple to brown belt (3rd Kub)
  • Kirk who promoted from purple to brown belt (3rd Kub)
  • Mylo who promoted from green to blue belt (5th Kub)
  • Chris who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Ben who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Elena who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Gray who promoted from orange to green belt (6th Kub)
  • Lauren who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Kawsa who promoted from yellow to orange belt (7th Kub)
  • Brandon who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Alaina who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Braydon who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
  • Odin who promoted from white to yellow belt (8th Kub)
Want to see highlight photos & videos from the promotion test? Visit our facebook page. Hope you enjoy the photos/videos… if so, please like and share to help us recruit more students!
Much gratitude,
Master Torres
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July 2019 Promotion Test

On July 13, 2019 Taekwondo Wellness held a promotion test and I want to congratulate the following students for their hardworking, dedication and perseverance.
  • Kirk who promoted from blue to purple belt
  • Mylo who promoted from orange to green belt
  • Gray who promoted from yellow to orange belt
  • Elena who promoted from yellow to orange belt
  • Chris who promoted from yellow to orange belt
  • Lauren who promoted from white to yellow belt
  • Lena who promoted from white to yellow belt
  • Rodney who promoted from white to yellow belt
  • Kawsa who promoted from white to yellow belt
  • Roger who promoted from white to yellow belt
Want to see highlight videos from the promotion test? Visit our facebook page. Hope you enjoy the videos… if so, please like and share our video!
Much gratitude,
Master Torres
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December 2018 Promotion Test

On December 22, 2018 Taekwondo Wellness held a promotion test and I want to congratulate the following students for working hard and their perseverance.
  • Gabriel who promoted from purple to brown belt
  • Austin who promoted from orange to green belt
  • Kirk who promoted from orange to green belt
  • Lotus who promoted from white to yellow belt
  • Mylo who promoted from white to yellow belt
Want to see highlight videos from the promotion test? Visit our facebook page. Hope you enjoy the videos… if so, please like and share our video!
Much gratitude,
Master Torres
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June 2018 Promotion Test

On June 30, 2018 Taekwondo Wellness held a promotion test and I want to congratulate the following students on working hard to improve their skills and not giving up on themselves.
  • Blue who promoted from green to blue belt
  • Gabriel who promoted from green to blue belt
  • Gamal who promoted from white to yellow belt
  • Austin who promoted from white to yellow belt
  • Kirk who promoted from white to yellow belt
I also want to share a fun “action movie style trailer” video that I created to show some highlights from the promotion test that can promote TKD Wellness. Hope you enjoy the video… if so, please like and share our video!
Much gratitude,
Master Torres

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March 2018 Promotion Test

On March 31, 2018 Intuition Wellness Center’s Taekwondo Wellness program held it’s third promotion test in Tucson! Intuition Wellness Center congratulates:
  • Gabriel A who promoted from yellow to green belt
  • Blue B who promoted from orange to green belt
  • Tanner M who promoted from white to orange belt
  • Ben J who promoted fromwhite to yellow belt
  • Elijah C who promoted from white to yellow belt
An extra special message from Master Torres: “Thank you for continuing to allow me to be your Taekwondo instructor. It is an honor to watch your growth. Don’t forget to finish what you start!”
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2018 AZ State Taekwondo Championships

Hello Taekwondo Family!

Its been several years since I have competed in a Taekwondo tournament but I decided mid 2017 that I would start training for poomsae competitions sponsored by USA Taekwondo. Tournaments are great fun and a tremendous opportunity for overcoming anxiety, learning sportsmanship, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

I’m excited to share that the Arizona State Taekwondo Association released the details for the 2018 Arizona State Taekwondo Championships. See tournament details below:

  • Date: March 24, 2018
  • Location: Washington High School, 2217 W. Glendale Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85021
  • Contact: 623-875-2882, Email: aztkdworld@gmail.com
  • Spectator Admission: $10 per person, 5 years old and under Free
  • Competitors Register Online: www.usat.hangastar.com by March 19, 2018
  • Divisions: There are many divisions for all ages to compete in such as sparring, poomsae, board breaking, team poomsae, etc.
  • Price varies by the amount of divisions you compete in. See chart below:
Price For 1 division(s): $75.00
Price For 2 division(s): $95.00
Price For 3 division(s): $115.00
Price For 4 division(s): $135.00
Price For 5 division(s): $155.00
Price For 6 division(s): $175.00
Price For 7 division(s): $195.00
Price For 8 division(s): $215.00

Taekwondo Wellness students are welcomed and encouraged to attend the AZ Taekwondo Championships as either spectators or competitors in the poomsae and/or board breaking events. Students, please note that in order to compete in a USA Taekwondo sponsored tournament, competitors must pay an annual USA Taekwondo membership of $45 in addition to the event price. This is worth spending if you plan on competing in more than one tournament per year.

I will be competing in the Adult 31-40 Male Black 1st / Black 9th All (UNDER 40) Poomsae Division. Hope to see you there!

Train hard but have fun, Master Torres.