1-30-2023 4:01am

Ellixson's Tae Kwon Do Academy Wins Big

Lesley Misko Editor

Photo Ellixson's group: (Bottom Row L to R): Nicholas Muzopappa, Jasmine Miller, Jason Robb, Jackson Butera, Jordan Graham, Ava Moorhouse, Matthew Foy, Annaliese Santiago (Second Row L to R) Vincenzo Ottey, Mandy Hamilton, Lexi Miller, Adrielle Santiago, Piper Ellixson, Charlie Ellixson, Tabetha Miller, Richard Burger, Anastasia Muzopappa (Third Row L to R) Dylan Swenk, Julia Hansford, Axel Gonzalez, Donnie Ellixson Jr., Jana Ellixson, Tom Rutter, Myles Omlor (Top Row L to R) Kyla Weller, Austin Butera, Michael McCloud, Harry Miller, Evan Lang, Tristan Ellixson, Amanda Burger, Milly Liang, James Thivierge, Anita Graham

Article submitted by Amy Muzopappa, Muzo Media Productions

Thirty-one members of Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy traveled from Boyertown to Herndon, VA, in January 2023, to compete at The World Cup Martial Arts Championships. This annual tournament, held by 7-time world champion Sabumnim John Chung, brought martial arts competitors together from 5 different countries and 17 states.

Included in the group, were members of Ellixson’s Team Elite, as well as several first-time competitors from the academy. Ellixson’s Elite is a team comprised of some of the top martial artists of Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy in Boyertown, PA. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the work this team put in to get the World Cup,” said Donnie Ellixson Jr., owner of Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do. Ellixson goes on to say: “This is a great start to our competition year.”

The group competed in Forms Divisions and Weapons Divisions which are pre-arranged routines of martial arts skill. These “floor routines” are judged on speed, power, skill, balance, confidence and showmanship. Some students also competed in Creative/Extreme Forms and Creative/Extreme Weapons Divisions where students are combining martial arts with jump kicks, spin kicks and gymnastics. Students also competed in Point Fighting and Continuous Fighting. Point Fighting (Sparring) is a game of tag where competitors are trying to “score” on their opponent by executing a vital kick or punch in a controlled fashion.

When a point is scored, the match breaks and then re-starts. Continuous Sparring is the same guidelines, but they do not have to stop when points are scored, testing stamina. Another area the team competed was Board Breaking Divisions, where students complete five “breaking stations.” Each station is a display of martial arts punches, strikes and kicks and can be quite entertaining. The competitors are judged on focus, skill, creativity and level of difficulty.

Sunday, January 15, 2023, was all about competition and Ellixson’s won BIG with Mr. Dylan Swenk leading the way in the Adult Black Belt division. Capturing 1st in Weapons, Mr. Swenk razzled and dazzled the crowd with his amazing musical double chux (nunchaku) routine. Then, with tough competition, Dylan continued with a flawless Forms routine to take 1st and went on to win sparring against three opponents to take yet another 1st! Mr. Ellixson, Head Coach of the Team commented, “Dylan is coming into his own and it’s awesome to see! Besides working at Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy 20 hours a week and handling college, Dylan still finds time to hit the mat, do his road work and hit the weights. He is a man on a mission.”

Dylan Swenk celebrates with Mom, Melissa Swenk.

Ellixson’s Elite Team Veteran Lexi Miller dominated her division by taking home four 1st place wins and one 2nd! Mr. Ellixson noted, “Lexi, her mom and her seven-year-old sister are at The Academy training almost every day. She puts time in on the mat and her performance shows!”

Lexi Miller tells the crowd who's boss.

Also cleaning up at the World Cup was intermediate competitor, Vinchenzo Ottey. He took 1st place in every class in which he competed: Weapons, Forms, Sparring & Breaking! “This young man was for sure in beast mode”, says Ellixson. “He continues to impress me and the team and is someone to look out for in the years ahead.”

"The Beast" Vinchenzo Ottey cleaned up the award category.

Another notable mention was 1st degree blackbelt teen, Mr. James Thivierge, who wooed the crowd by taking home three 1st places, a 2nd and a 3rd ! Mr. Ellixson commented, “James is a force, a technician, he drills and drills and drills until perfection! He cleaned up in Weapons and Forms but even more flawless was his impressive breaking routine to take 1st place. The crowd loved it!!”

The crowd loved James Thivierge.

The Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy took many awards at this event, as listed below.

WORLD CUP 2023 AWARDS

Adults:
Anita Graham: 3rd Weapons, 1st Forms, 4th Sparring
Mandy Hamilton: 2nd Weapons, 1st Forms, 3rd Sparring
Julia Hansford: 1st Weapons, 2nd Forms
Tabetha Miller: 1st Traditional Weapons, 2nd Open Weapons, 2nd Forms, 2nd Sparring
Dylan Swenk: Grand Champion Weapons, 1st Weapons, 1st Forms, 1st Sparring

Kids:
Austin Butera, age 14: 3rd Weapons
Charlie Ellixson, age 12: 2nd Weapons, 2nd Forms, 2nd Sparring, 1st Team Pairs
Piper Ellixson, age 12: 3rd Form, 2nd Musical Form, 3rd Sparring, 3rd breaking, 1st Team Pairs
Tristan Ellixson, age 15: 1st Musical Weapons, 3rd Sparring
Jordan Graham, age 11: 4th Weapons, 1st Forms
Evan Lang, age 15: 3rd Weapons, 3rd Forms
Milly Liang, age 16: 2nd Weapons, 2nd Forms
Michael McCloud, age 14: 2nd Weapons, 2nd Forms, 3rd Breaking
Harry Miller, age 14: 1st Weapons, 3rd Forms, 3rd Sparring
Jasmine Miller, age 7: 3rd Weapons, 1st Forms, 3rd Sparring
Lexi Miller, age 11: 1st Trad. Weapons, 1st Open Weapons, 2nd Traditional Forms, 1st Open Forms, 1st Sparring
Anastasia Muzopappa, age 10: 2nd Weapons, 1st Forms, 2nd Sparring
Nicholas Muzopappa, age 7: 3rd Forms
Myles Omlor, age 15: 3rd Forms, 1st Musical Forms, 2nd Sparring
Vinchenzo Ottey, age 10: 1st Weapons, 1st Forms, 1st Sparring, 1st Breaking
Jason Robb, age 8: 3rd Forms, 3rd Sparring
Adrielle Santiago, age 13: 1st Weapons, 3rd Forms, 1st Sparring
Annaliese Santiago, age 9: 3rd Forms
Nolan Smith, age 13: 3rd Sparring
James Thivierge, age 16: 1st Traditional Weapons, 1st Open Weapons, 1st Forms, 3rd Sparring, 2nd Breaking
Kyla Weller, age 11: 2nd Forms, 3rd Sparring

As part of this event also, Sabumnim John Chung honored instructors and mentors of martial arts at an awards banquet. Among the honorees were Ellixson’s Instructors: Mrs. Jana Ellixson; Mr. Tom Rutter; Mr. Dylan Swenk; and Ms. Julia Hansford.

Instructor Awards (L to R) Donnie Ellixson Jr., Jana Ellixson, Tom Rutter, Julia Hansford, Sabumnim John Chung, Dylan Swenk, Axel Gonzalez

As part of the banquet, a Kiddie Kai Reunion was held, where cast members Tristan, Charlie & Piper Ellixson reunited with the cast of the hit, Discovery+ TV Series ‘Kiddie Kai’ and signed autographs for fans. Tristan, Charlie and Piper Ellixson were featured in Season 1 of Kiddie Kai, a reality TV show; its first season aired Summer 2022.

Kiddie kai Reunion (Front Row L to R) Michael Chung, Piper Ellixson, Charlie Ellixson (Back Row L to R) Mr. Jeff McGregor, Sabumnim John Chung, Mr. Cliff Kinchen, Sifu Mark Williams, Tristan Ellixson

About Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy

Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do was founded in 1994, by Donnie Ellixson, Jr. Mr. Ellixson is a world-renowned martial arts expert who has won many awards and competitions. He has been named in the Who’s Who in the Martial Arts Hall of Honors, Chuck Norris Edition (2020) and has been inducted into both the Amerikick International Hall of Fame (2012) and the Pennsylvania Karate Hall of Fame (2019.) Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy has a foundation deeply rooted in the 5 Tenets of Tae Kwon Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. In 29 years of serving the Community, over 4,000 students have benefited from the training they offer.

All photos provided with permission from and credited to Muzo Media Productions
Contact: Donnie Ellixson Jr.
Owner & Chief Instructor
Ellixson’s Tae Kwon Do Academy
Cell: 215-512-7488
dellixsonjr@msn.com