RYE BEACH/
SOUTH BERWICK, ME—
Berwick Academy 8th grade student Kenny Berger, son of Trish and Ken Berger of Rye Beach, NH recently won two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the Black Belt National Championships in Dallas, Texas. He will be competing in the Taekwondo World Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas, this June.
Beginning his martial arts training when he was only 3½ years old, Kenny has been training with Master Kenneth Church, a 7th degree black belt and World Champion, and Mrs. Trish Church, a 4th degree black belt and World Champion for the past six years. Church’s Martial Arts is in Carmel Valley and Encinitas, California and is affiliated with the American Taekwondo Association. While in New Hampshire, he also takes lessons from Mr. Robert Roy, 5th degree Black Belt and World Champion in Amherst, NH.
Currently, Kenny is a 3rd degree black belt and World Champion. In 2009, he earned four California State Champion Titles and won the gold medal in Traditional Weapons and the silver medal in Traditional Forms at the Taekwondo World Championships. Last year, Kenny won four California State Champion Titles and 3 bronze medals at the World Championships. Throughout the year, Kenny travels around the country competing, balancing his schoolwork, school sports, and training into his busy schedule. He has consistently won gold medals at the National Championships held in Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Las Vegas Nevada. Most recently, Kenny won two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the Black Belt National Championships in Dallas, Texas.
This June, Kenny will be competing in 7 different events at the World Championships: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Sparring, Extreme Martial Arts Forms, Extreme Martial Arts Weapons, Creative Forms, and Creative Weapons. To be eligible to compete at the World Championships, participants must qualify in the top ten in their country in each event. Kenny is only 12 years old and will compete in the Boys 11-13 year old 3rd degree black belt division.
In addition to his Taekwondo training, Kenny also competes in cross country, wrestling, cycling, chorus, and was the lead in this year’s Berwick Academy Middle School production of Aladdin. Kenny is also an active participant in Mixed Martial Arts classes as part of his training and is a certified level two instructor with the American Taekwondo Association, where he teaches both group and private lessons. His hobbies include surfing, reading, and science.
For more information on the American Taekwondo Association visit www.ataonline.com. For more information on Church’s Martial Arts visit www.churchsmartialarts.com.
Photo caption: NH resident Kenny Berger recently medaled at the National Taekwondo Championships in Dallas, Texas. (Courtesy photo)
SOUTH BERWICK, ME—
Berwick Academy 8th grade student Kenny Berger, son of Trish and Ken Berger of Rye Beach, NH recently won two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the Black Belt National Championships in Dallas, Texas. He will be competing in the Taekwondo World Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas, this June.
Beginning his martial arts training when he was only 3½ years old, Kenny has been training with Master Kenneth Church, a 7th degree black belt and World Champion, and Mrs. Trish Church, a 4th degree black belt and World Champion for the past six years. Church’s Martial Arts is in Carmel Valley and Encinitas, California and is affiliated with the American Taekwondo Association. While in New Hampshire, he also takes lessons from Mr. Robert Roy, 5th degree Black Belt and World Champion in Amherst, NH.
Currently, Kenny is a 3rd degree black belt and World Champion. In 2009, he earned four California State Champion Titles and won the gold medal in Traditional Weapons and the silver medal in Traditional Forms at the Taekwondo World Championships. Last year, Kenny won four California State Champion Titles and 3 bronze medals at the World Championships. Throughout the year, Kenny travels around the country competing, balancing his schoolwork, school sports, and training into his busy schedule. He has consistently won gold medals at the National Championships held in Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Las Vegas Nevada. Most recently, Kenny won two gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal at the Black Belt National Championships in Dallas, Texas.
This June, Kenny will be competing in 7 different events at the World Championships: Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Sparring, Extreme Martial Arts Forms, Extreme Martial Arts Weapons, Creative Forms, and Creative Weapons. To be eligible to compete at the World Championships, participants must qualify in the top ten in their country in each event. Kenny is only 12 years old and will compete in the Boys 11-13 year old 3rd degree black belt division.
In addition to his Taekwondo training, Kenny also competes in cross country, wrestling, cycling, chorus, and was the lead in this year’s Berwick Academy Middle School production of Aladdin. Kenny is also an active participant in Mixed Martial Arts classes as part of his training and is a certified level two instructor with the American Taekwondo Association, where he teaches both group and private lessons. His hobbies include surfing, reading, and science.
For more information on the American Taekwondo Association visit www.ataonline.com. For more information on Church’s Martial Arts visit www.churchsmartialarts.com.
Photo caption: NH resident Kenny Berger recently medaled at the National Taekwondo Championships in Dallas, Texas. (Courtesy photo)
