SOUTHWICK – Eleven year old Westfield resident ShaunnaFeyre received her 1st Dan (degree) Black Belt on Saturday in front of her family and friends. Feyre trains at Pioneer Valley Martial Arts in Southwick. On Saturday Pioneer Valley Martial Arts hosted Grandmaster Hyun Ok Shin, the Chairman of the United Chung Do Kwan Association, who oversaw Feyre’s test. Throughout the afternoon Feyre demonstrated her knowledge of Tae Kwon Do techniques, forms, self-defense and board breaking. She also sparredthree different opponents, two of which were 1st Dan black belts. Feyre has been training in Tae Kwon Do for seven years and has been an assistant instructor for the school’s Tiny Tiger program for over two years. The Tiny Tiger program is for students between ages five and seven years old. Her older brother, Michael and older sister Katelyn are also 1st Dan black belts at Pioneer Valley Martial Arts.
In addition to Feyre’s promotion, five other black belts took stage tests toward their 2nd Dan black belts Saturday. Students must pass three tests (one each year) before, testing for their 2nd Dan black belt. Saturday’s stage test included defense against knife attacks, self-defense, forms and board breaking.
PioneerValley Martial Arts is run by 5th Dan black belt, Master Chris Miltimore. The school has been providing martial arts and self-defense instructions in Southwick for 31 years. In addition to Tae Kwon Do, they offer students an opportunity to learn mixed martial arts. The school is a member of the United Chung Do Kwan Association that is headquartered in Floral Park, NY, and is headed by Grandmaster Shin. Grandmaster Shin began his training in Korea and has been teaching in the United States for over 50 years.
