Kickin' It

On Saturday, March 1, nine students from the ATA Family Martial Arts School in Sidney successfully tested for the rank of 1st degree black belt decided.

Participants were judged by their instructor, 4th degree black belt and school owner Tony Virgalitte, as well as 7th degree black belt Senior Master Ramsey Cross and 6th degree black belt Master Gary Betts, who traveled from Denver to observe.

The students successfully passing their black belt testing were: Linda Autrey, Mitch Deer, Rishi Krishna, Julian Maytorena, Meghna Krishna, Anshu Giliyaru, Cara Tomsick, Joseph Tomsick, and Mary Beth Tomsick. They achieved their 1st degree black belt following extensive testing on Saturday. They have been training for this test continuously since December of 2011, when owners Tony and Sandra Virgalitte started the program.

School co-owner Sandra Virgalitte also achieved her 2nd degree black belt on Saturday.

The testing included a grueling 25-minute fitness test, which included proper demonstration of nine forms (basic technique combinations in predetermined order) and successful passing of a calisthenics and basic technique test. Students were also tested on self-defense and different styles of sparring, which they were required to demonstrate. Finally students had to break boards with multiple techniques in succession. The test is designed to challenge the students physically as well as mentally.

"One of the many life skills our program is designed to teach is perseverance; we show our students that they can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it. We also show them they must believe in themselves and their abilities if they are to achieve their goals" said head instructor Tony Virgalitte.

Twenty-seven other ATA students also successfully tested for varying color belt ranks on Saturday ranging from orange to red/black belt.

Originally from Denver, the Virgalittes came to Sidney with visions of opening a Taekwondo school.

"We didn't know what to expect when we started the school," said school owner Tony Virgalitte. "I am so proud of our students, they have been trained very hard for this moment for the last two and a half years. Now that they have accomplished this goal we will continue moving forward, teaching them the next steps in their training."

The group is part of a larger organization American Taekwondo Association. The ATA is one of the largest Martial Arts Organizations in the world, including over 4000 schools in the U.S. and can be found in over 30 countries around the world.