Oxford residents Doug Grandy, 9, and P.J. Sisk, 7, each won first place trophies in a April 6 Tae Kwon Do tournament at Oxford Elementary School.
The tournament was for students participating in a local Tae Kwon Do course conducted by the Rochester Hills-based Kerry Roop’s Superkicks For America, Inc. and offered through Oxford Township Parks and Recreation.
Grandy, a fourth-grader at OES, won first place among his fellow green belts.
‘It’s fun to do,? said Grandy, who’s been involved in Tae Kwon Do for 1? years.
Sisk, a first-grader at Daniel Axford Elementary, won first place among his fellow yellow belts. He’s been practicing Tae Kwon Do for only three months.
Learning martial arts has helped Sisk overcome his behavior problems at school, particularly in the area listening to adults, according to his mother Chris Sisk.
First-degree black belt Ken Ramey, one of the class instructors, said Grandy and Sisk are ‘tremendous students.?
‘You couldn’t ask for better,? he said.
Ramey said Tae Kwon Do teaches ‘respect for yourself and others? and bolsters ‘self-confidence.?
Grandy and Sisk were described by Ramey as ‘shy? and ‘bashful? when they first began the class.
‘Both have come a long way,? Ramey said. ‘Now they’re outgoing.?