6 Tang Soo Do competitors earn honors

CONTRIBUTED/TOM JONES Shown from left are Joy Brown, Master Tom Jones and Susanne Belew. Brown and Belew were promoted to fourth degree black belt RUSSELLVILLE — Six local competitors earned placements at the World Tang Soo Do Association Region 6 championship in Houma, Louisiana. Region 6 includes Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. All American Tang Soo Do Owner and Chief Instructor Tom Jones, a fifth-degree master, said the championship drew about 200 contestants, who were judged by senior black belt holders.. Stephen Strickland received the Adult Male Grand Champion award for the second consecutive year. Strickland, who is from Red Bay and graduated from the University of North Alabama and works at a bank in Russellville. He has studied Tang Soo Do in Russellville since he was 6. He competed in the adult male Black Belt Division, which includes competitors ages 18-34. Jones said placements in forms, weapons and sparring determine the grand champion.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.