Sixteen members of the Boonville Martial Arts Academy recently competed in the 14th annual Missouri State Championships for the World Youn Wha Ryu Association in Rolla, Missouri.

The state tournament is open to all students in Grandmaster Han’s World Youn Wha Ryu Association through the United States. There were over 340 competitors ranging in ages from 3 1/2 to 60 years old. Competitors were not only from Missouri, but also Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois and North Carolina. The day included over 10 exciting hours of competition in martial arts forms, sparring, weapons, and board breaking punctuated with extraordinary demonstrations of martial arts skills.

Missouri State Director, Master Ceth Jordan said, “the tournament was the most fun I have ever had at a tournament. The competition was so exciting and the support from the parents, students and instructors was outstanding.”

In the white belt category for 5-year-old boys, Blake Kugler received honorable-mention in forms and first place in sparring.

In the blue belts for 8-year-old boys, Hunter Force placed second in forms and second in sparring. In the red belt for 8-year-old boys, Lucas Storjohann placed first in forms and honorable-mention in sparring.

Read Thursday's Boonville Daily News for the rest of the story.