Local pair gunning for taekwondo black belts
SANDPOINT — Watching 18 year-old Victor Gawel and 15 year-old Joseph DeCecchis flying high through the air to deliver snapping roundhouse kicks — think Chuck Norris or Jackie Chan — during a recent session at Sandpoint Taekwondo, it’s easy to see why they’ll each be testing for black belts at the end of the month.
The black belt test is a huge event to certified instructor Mike Szotkowski, 41, who blocked out classes at his dojang on Oct. 29-30 to administer the two-day test, which is basically a skills demonstration after 3-5 years of training in the traditional martial art form.
Gawel and DeCecchis will not only be breaking boards and bricks during the physically demanding test, but they’ll also have to demonstrate mastery of the three basic aspects of taekwondo: the traditional art form of pre-arranged and choreographed movements, Olympic sport sparring and practical street self-defense.
Gawel, who has been training diligently for nearly four years, says he loves the spinning air kicks most. Szotkowski says the test is the culmination of what Gawel has been involved in for most of his life, and he likes his student’s chances of passing.
“Amazing character; his integrity is amazing,” says Szotkowski, who’s just as impressed with the young man as he is the karate student.
“Tremendous physical skills. I’m very confident that he’s going into the test ready.”
DeCecchis has been a student at Sandpoint Taekwondo since it opened more than four years ago, and in that time Szotkowski has seen him blossom, saying he’s overcome nervousness and self-esteem issues and developed into an outstanding young man.
Like Gawel, DeCecchis has also been paying the demanding dues in hot pursuit of a black belt. Part of the curriculum includes not just mastering, but even writing essays on the core class values of character development, self-discipline, respect and courtesy — to say nothing of the highly-athletic karate skills.
“There is a friendly presence when everyone is here, a teamwork ethic kind of environment,” says DeCecchis of what he loves most about taekwondo, adding that a black belt will validate his efforts. “I’m finally reaping the rewards; that what I’ve done has paid off.”
The tests are open to the public, and will be held at the Sandpoint Taekwondo dojang (formerly Funtastics) on Thursday, Oct. 29, beginning at 3 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at 10 a.m.
Szotkowski, who has more than 70 taekwondo students, recently moved his business into the old Funtastics building on Hwy 200. He also offers a circuit cardio class, birthday parties, yoga and private karate lessons at his business.
For more information, visit “www.sandpointkarate.com.”