Age, special needs fail to keep group from earning black belts

SPRING GROVE – As Travis Garrett prepared for his attempt to break the wood block before him, he stomped hard on the mat with his heel just as he was taught.

“Here it goes,” he said.

And with that, Garrett successfully kicked through the block as though it were a piece of kindling to the loud cheers from the crowd of well-wishers.

The 20-year-old Hebron resident joined Andrea Fontecchio, 20, of Woodstock; Kimberly Koebernick, 22, of Mt. Prospect; and Bill Robinson Jr., 30, of Solan Mills on Saturday as they completed testing to become first-degree black belts at the Spring Grove Flying Dragons martial arts academy.

All four students have Down syndrome.

The group also was joined in the testing by Robinson’s father, Bill Robinson Sr., 77.

All five students successfully earned the honor after completing a series of drills and exercises that included all the standard requirements for black belt testing.

Co-owner and head instructor Bonnie Thiel has been teaching the group since 1999, when she organized a class specifically for people with special needs. Originally, she thought she would work with the students on improving their motor skills and playing some games.

But to her surprise, the group began to progress beyond just a basic level.

“I never thought they would go through the ranks,” Thiel said. “In my wildest dreams I didn’t expect it.”

Justin Campbell of Ingleside has worked alongside Thiel with the class the past two years. He said he’d seen a strong commitment and desire from each student in the group.

“They’re real good at following instructions,” Campbell said. “I know they are more dedicated [than other students.]”

After watching his son for a few months, Robinson decided he could participate, as well. So he signed up for a class at the academy. Robinson said he had to work through a couple of strokes and operations, but he stuck with the classes.

“I thought, ‘What the hell am I doing? I’m too old for this,’ ” Robinson said. “But they talked me out of it, and now I’m here.”

Despite his own doubts, Robinson said he knew his son would make it to the rank of black belt.

“I never thought I’d make it,” he said. “But I always knew [my son] would make it because he’s not a quitter.”