Edwards sergeant brings the 'Payne'

  • Published
  • By Richard Hoffa
  • Rosburg Fitness Center assistant director
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  An Edwards Airmen competed in the 17th California Open International Taekwondo Championship Oct. 24 at the ADT center, in the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Tech. Sgt. Lange Payne, a Taekwondo Student from Edwards White Tiger Dojo, received two medals during the California Open International Taekwondo Championship.

The competition consisted of 2 events, Poomse in which kicks, power and control, spirit, blocks, balance, strikes, and tension movements are completed together in a pattern that demonstrates specific forms against imaginary opponents, almost like telling a story of battle.

Rigorous formal training and concentration are needed to master these techniques, which translate into fighting forms, developing muscle memory and lighting quick reflexes.

The second portion consisted of Kyorugi, the electrified sparring matches in which, students of different schools showcase their skills against each other over multiple rounds. The winner advances to the next match, the loser learns from the experience.

Each student must focus strikes towards the limited point garnering areas, while effectively blocking and defending against counter attacks and fatigue. Two matches that day resulted in knockouts on the tournament floor, with paramedics responding immediately.

Sergeant Payne won a Silver Medal in Poomse and a Bronze in Kyorugi at the competition. Sergeant Payne won a Gold medal in Poomse and a Silver medal in Kyorugi May 30, at the U.S. Open Elite Championship at Oceanside, Calif.

Sergeant Payne credits his Medals to his instructor, Master Kumye Moore, a 5th Degree Black Belt.

Master Moore teaches students from age 4 to 65, her rigorous training combine with Sergeant Payne's Detachment Physical Training Program is what Sergeant Payne said helped him to prepare for the demands of the competition.

"I found out that day being fit to fight is more than a saying, it is very literal," said Sergeant Payne. "Stepping onto the mat without proper conditioning and training is a recipe for disaster and injury. We train how we fight, because we will fight how we've trained. Deployed or downtown we never know what will be thrown at us, and at that point we must depend on our own strength, spirit, stamina and speed. "

The White Tiger Dojo's evening classes are open to anyone interested in joining, Monday and Thursday nights, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rosburg Fitness Center.