Boltz’s Family Martial Arts and Fitness will be promoting three more students to Black Belt and one student to the rank of third degree Black Belt, or “third dan.” Mr. Marc Remhof of Inver Grove Heights advanced to the rank of third dan, Ms. Jennifer (Feckey) DiOttaviano of Mendota Heights advanced to the rank of first dan, and Mr. Santino DiOttaviano, age 9, and Mr. Anton Priborkin, age 12, also of Mendota Heights, advanced to the rank of first poom, or junior Black Belt. These four students completed the grueling four-hour long trials at a closed test last Sunday with phenomenal success.
Their test was proctored by head instructor/school owner Master Greg Boltz Bolton, fifth dan, with the assistance of Mr. Neil Smeby, third dan. Their trials included displays of speed, power and accuracy in kicking combinations, self-defense techniques, sparring drills, fitness testing, poomsae and board breaking. The final step of this tremendous milestone for the four candidates will be a showcase of their skills hosted by Boltz’s Family Martial Arts and Fitness at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. They will have the opportunity to perform their showcase before family, friends, fellow students and the general public. A formal presentation of their Black Belts and Kukkiwon certificates will follow. The Kukkiwon, located in Seoul, South Korea, is the governing body of Taekwondo around the world.
Boltz’s Family Martial Arts and Fitness trains over 250 students in the arts of Taekwondo and Haidong Gumdo (Korean Sword) with a team of nearly 50 instructors and 20 Black Belts. The school also offers a full schedule of group fitness classes. The school has become a fixture of the community with their active involvement and partnerships with independent school districts 196, 197, 199, Saint Paul School District and local community education programs.
