BISMARCK ND – Bismarck ATA Martial Arts classes are taught by Eric Powell, a 6th degree black belt who has placed in the ATA Martial Arts District Championships four times. For Powell and his students, the impact of Taekwondo goes deeper than tournament success.
“For me, taekwondo teaches skills that will last a lifetime,” Powell said. “It teaches self-confidence, self-esteem, self-worth and self-control.”
These teachings rang true for Bismarck ATA students, including Christina Nelson, Triton Senff, Alecia Senff and Xander Hilzendeger, who took fourth place at the June 8 district championships.
All of them say their time at Bismarck ATA has benefited them in their daily lives.
“It's a good way to make friends and learn things that help you cope with everyday events,” Senff said.
And that is Master Powell's main goal, to instill this trait in every student who comes to the school.
“It's great to hear from students that they used to be bullied and now they're not,” Powell said, “and it's great to hear from parents that their kids are doing better in school and listening better at home.”
But it’s also nice to see students succeed, and Powell’s students have had a lot of success.
Bismarck ATA had four students compete at the regional tournament, and Christina Nelson will also be competing at the ATA World Championships.
“It's going to be a great experience to see the variety of skills across the U.S. and other countries,” Nelson said.
With all these achievements in mind, for Alesia Senff, doing taekwondo ultimately means being part of a family.
“I have one very, very good competitor and it's not easy to beat her, so when I have that rare opportunity to beat her, it's such an accomplishment,” Senff said. “And when she won, she was the one who congratulated me the loudest. It's fun and you make friends and family and it's great to see.”
