With enough concentration and determination, one can use their hand or foot to splinter a piece of wood, but breaking boards is only a small part of the bigger picture of martial arts.

Northwest Colorado Tae Kwon Do and HapkidoNorthwest Colorado Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido hosted a brief demonstration of its students’ talents Thursday afternoon in North Park as eight young pupils progressed in the discipline by taking home new belt certification. hosted a brief demonstration of its students’ talents Thursday afternoon in North Park as eight young pupils progressed in the discipline by taking home new belt certification.

Northwest Colorado Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido hosted a brief demonstration of its students’ talents Thursday afternoon in North Park as eight young pupils progressed in the discipline by taking home new belt certification.

The amount of kids testing for their next level was small this time, said Master Paul Cruz, largely because many students tested last month and because it was the final outing of the summer.

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Cruz will be teaching new sessions for the fall and winter starting Aug. 29, along with the beginning of the Moffat County School DistrictMoffat County School District calendar. calendar.

Moffat County School District calendar.

Many of those gathered at the park will be right back in action for the new series of classes.

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Justin Warren, 13, is currently a brown belt, studying tae kwon do for the past three years.

“I love the work involved, it’s really fun, and the people are really great, too,” he said, noting that he serves as an assistant in classes.

Samantha Miller, 11, attained blue belt status last month and has been in martial arts for nearly two years.

“I like the tournaments,” she said.

At 14, Chandler Curtis is one of the newer students, currently holding a yellow belt in hapkido.

“Tae kwan do is the art of punching and kicking with your hands and feet bare,” he said, as he and fellow student Hannah Germond — who studies both — pointed out that hapkido has some differences, namely that it emphasizes speed over power and the importance of breaking holds.

The Craig school is part of the Kom Do Kwan Martial Arts AssociationKom Do Kwan Martial Arts Association, and as instructor, Cruz has been engaged in the pursuit for more than 20 years, a fourth-degree black belt., and as instructor, Cruz has been engaged in the pursuit for more than 20 years, a fourth-degree black belt.

Kom Do Kwan Martial Arts Association, and as instructor, Cruz has been engaged in the pursuit for more than 20 years, a fourth-degree black belt.

He is always on the lookout for students who wish to join tae kwon do or hapkido, currently centered in Centennial MallCentennial Mall..

Centennial Mall.

“I’d encourage people to give it a try,” he said. “You’ll never know what you can do if you don’t try it.”

For more information on Northwest Colorado Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido, call 970-629-3385.

Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.