By Staff
Cliff Hawkins 27, from Cassopolis competed in the 30th Annual U.S. National Tae Kwon Do Championships in Colorado Springs, CO on Nov. 5.
The National TKD Championships is once a year competition and includes the best competitors from all across the country.
Hawkins competed in the male 18-32, 154-167-pound Red Division. He competed in both forms and sparring.
Forms is the techanical aspect of TKD for which Hawkins received a silver medal. He missed getting gold by .1 percentage point.
He also competed in sparring, which is the fighting aspect of TKD. Each oppenent has protective gear on and can only score points by kicks or punches to the torso or the head. Only kicks to the head are allowed in sparring.
Hawkins received a gold medal by beating an oppenent from New York in the finals by a score of 8-1.
He was the only National Champion from Michigan.
Hawkins has been involved in TKD for about a year and a half. He trains at Elite Tae Kwon Do in Kalamazoo under Master Instructor Theresa Lee.
Hawkins and Lee also are instructors at Elite Tae Kwon DO II in Cassopolis. Elite II is located at the East Gate Shopping Center in Cassopolis next to Family Dollar.
Elite Tae Kwon Do II offers classes for everyone from two years of age and up. They also offer cardio kickboxing and personal training.
For more information call 269-445-6111.