Reese Jennings, 15, of Jefferson was awarded his black belt- junior in tae kwon do Oct. 21. He studies with Corey McGrauth of Shin’s Tae Kwon Do Academy at the Greene County Community Center in Jefferson.
Reese is the son of Rickey and Keri Jennings and a student at Greene County High School. He started learning tae kwon do when he was 13. “I thought it would be cool and people would quit messing with me,” he said.
Tae kwon do can help people with every day aspects of their lives, Jennings said, and added that it’s helped him focus a school more easily.
“Reese has become more outgoing and involved in school and other activities. He is giving it his all and we couldn’t be more proud,” his parents said.
Reese tested Sept. 15 at Shin’s Tae Kwon Do Academy in Carroll. The 2-1/2 hour test consisted of hand techniques, kicking techniques (including jumping kicks), forms (series of 19-35 movements in different directions), one-step sparring (self-defense moves), free sparring (three different rounds with three different partners), and board breaking. Breaking consisted of breaking one board with a hand technique and one with a foot technique.
He was tested by Jim Riesberg- fifth degree; Ann Riesberg- fourth degree; Corey McGrauth- third degree; and Joan Nelson- first degree.
McGrauth called Reese “an incredibly hard-working student” and “an incredible leader.”
