Eight students earn high Tae Kwon-Do honors

Several students from Master Khechen School of Tae Kwon-Do attained the rank of black belt and first-degree black belt on Nov. 16. Pictured from left are: Mr. Wesley Tripi (So-Yun First Bar); Mr. Anthony Pieber (Go-Ma Black Belt); Mr. Raffaele D'Avanzato (First Degree Black Belt); Mr. Adam Lobur (Go-Ma Black Belt); Mr. Peter Cherico (So-Yun Black Belt); Kyo Sa-Nim Schiele; Mr. Noah Diebel; Kyo Sa-Nim Schiele (So-Yun First Bar); Kwa Ja-Nim Khechen; Mr. Joseph Catalano (First Degree Black Belt); Ms. Brenda Freedman (First Degree Black Belt); Ms. Jessica Fox (First Degree Black Belt); and Mr. Ian Cherico (Go-Ma Black Belt); missing from photo - Mr. Jonathan Trapp (Go-Ma Black Belt).

Eight students from the Master Khechen School of Tae Kwon-Do in Williamsville attained the rank of black belt and first-degree black belt on Nov. 16.

Testing was administered by school founder and head of the Master Khechen School of Tae Kwon-Do Association, Dr. W. Khechen, who headed a panel of black belts, including the students' head instructor, Mr. Christopher D. Schiele, third-degree black belt.

After many years of dedicated training to the art of Tae Kwon-Do, each student was required to realize a series of rigorous physical tests as well as perform traditional Tae Kwon-Do Hyungs (forms); martial arts weapons forms, including the sword, sai, kamas and nunchucks; self-defense moves; and board-breaking demonstrations of power and speed.

To attain the level of black belt includes more than just the physical skills and techniques; it includes the students' conduct, character and the way each student applies the tenets of Tae Kwon-Do to life inside and outside the walls of the school.

Those who attained the rank of Go-Ma Black Belt are Mr. Ian Cherico, Mr. Anthony Lobur, Mr. Anthony Pieber and Mr. Jonathan Trapp. Mr. Peter Cherico earned the rank of So-Yun Black Belt. Mr. Noah Diebel and Mr. Wesley Tripi achieved the rank of So-Yun First Bar. Mr. Joseph Catalano, Mr. Raffaele D'Avanzato, Miss Jessica Fox and Ms. Brenda Freedman became First-Degree Black Belts.

These students are the first group of students to attain the First-Degree level under head instructor Christopher D. Schiele.

The wearing of a black belt is an outward recognition of hard work and a level of accomplishment that one can be proud of. It is also a symbol of a new beginning and a symbol of graduation to another step in one's training.

The Master Khechen School of Tae Kwon-Do has four locations: 1360 Hopkins Road in Williamsville, 1200 Kenmore Avenue in Buffalo, 3170 Orchard Park Road in Orchard Park and the newest location at 1460 French Road in Depew.