VALDOSTA —
Two competitors from Valdosta’s Performance Martial Arts Academy recently competed in the Taekwondo World Championships in Little Rock, Ark.
Mark Webb, a Fourth Degree Black Belt, competed in seven events, winning the championship in four of them. Jennifer Powell competed in three events and finished fourth in all three.
Valdosta Performance Martial Arts Academy sent seven students to compete, but only Webb and Powell competed for World Championships, which is comprised of the top 10 competitors from across the globe.
All 50 states were represented in the competition along with countries that included South Korea, Brazil, Paraguay, Sweden, England, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and China.
“I was getting Mr. Webb here at 5:30 in the morning for a couple of weeks to finalize his training and Mrs. Powell trains every week,” said Performance Martial Arts Academy instructor Mitchell Church. “They both workout countless hours and it is a goal that very few people achieve.”
Despite suffering a calf injury just two days before leaving for the week long event, Webb was able to garner championships in Creative Forms, Creative Weapons, Extreme Forms and Extreme Weapons.
“I was up here the Monday before I left, and I was stretched out, and I did something different in my take off and I heard a snap, like a large twig – I strained my calf,” Webb recalled. “I couldn’t even walk, and I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to test. I just kept reaching into my inner part and I also thought back to our community. We are Titletown, and I didn’t want to come back and tell everyone I couldn’t deliver what I went there to do. The adrenaline just took over.”
Webb also claimed a silver medal in Traditional Weapons after dropping a tie breaker for first place.
The four championships won by Webb brought the total of World Championships to 20 in a 12-year span for Valdosta Performance Martial Arts Academy, all of which have been earned under the direction of Church, who is a Fifth Degree Black Belt.
“We are fortunate, as a school, because I can’t think of any instructor that has this many World Champions,” Church said.
Powell finished fourth in all three of her events (traditional forms, traditional weapons and sparring), but called her trip a success as she was competing at a higher level than normal.
“I achieved my goals for this one,” said Powell, who just recently became a Fourth Degree Black Belt.
“It is hard, they aren’t full-time instructors,” added Church. “The people they are competing in are full-time instructors. They do it for a living. It just shows what kind of character that they have to be able to do it and make it there.”
Despite not claiming any championships this year, Powell has previously won four World Championships. In fact, Powell has competed in the World Championships every year since 2005, and has won a championship in every division.
“I think that is a tribute to our instructor,” Powell said. “Mr. Church has been my only instructor. For me, I started Taekwondo when I was 50 years old and it is something that you can come in to a place and stay healthy and flexible and stay in shape.”
While also at the World Championships, Webb tested for his Fifth Degree Black Belt. He will learn whether he achieved the milestone in the near future.
The Fifth Degree Black Belt test involves demonstration of Traditional Form, Traditional Weapons, Sparring multiple rounds and board breaking.
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Related Photos
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Mark Webb won four World Championships last week at the ATA World Championships in Little Rock, Ark. Contributed photo
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Mark Webb of Valdosta competes in the World Championships. contributed photo
Discussion
World Championship performances
Performance martial arts academy wins 4 World Championships
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