Cuba 1 Team Martial Arts athletes on Feb. 28 competed in the Lebanon Invitational at the Cowan Civic Center.

Lance Pewitt, of Cuba, and Steelville sisters Maddie, Megan and Morgan Dobkins competed in the Lebanon Invitational under Chief Master Mark Prosser, school owner, who hosted the tournament along with help from his other schools.

Prosser and his wife Shuree operate schools in Rolla and Salem as well.

The American Taekwondo Association (ATA), preferred to be called ATA Martial Arts in tournaments, lets competitors participate in eight categories: traditional forms, traditional weapons, sparring, combat sparring, creative forms, creative weapons, Xtreme forms and Xtreme weapons.

Pewitt participated in the 30-39-year-old color belt division.

He took first-place medals in both creative and xtreme weapons and forms competitions, and for traditional weapons. Pewitt also finished second in sparring and third in traditional forms.

Going into the next tournament, Pewitt has plans to improve.

“Probably just a little bit more prep time on traditional (forms), first time doing red belt in competition,” said Pewitt. “More prep time on sparring and combat. I placed in sparring, but didn’t place in combat.”

Maddie Dobkins took home seven medals in the 15 to 17-year-old color belt girl division. She took first-place medals in both creative and xtreme weapons forms and weapons. Maddie placed third in sparring, combat sparring and traditional weapons.

When asked what she could do to improve going into the next tournament, she said that her sparring could be more competitive.

Megan Dobkins earned three medals in the 13-14-year-old color belt division. 

She was first in creative weapons, second in traditional weapons and finished third in traditional forms.

“Be stronger,” said Megan when asked about improving. "Practice more. Practicing in class and at home.”

Morgan Dobkins earned two medals during competition in the 11-12-year-old color belt division. She was first in creative forms and second in creative weapons. Morgan said that she wants to improve on traditional forms going into the next one.

Prosser said participation numbers were down.

“We were down in numbers and competitors, but Grandmaster MK (Lee) said it was a great tournament,” said Mark Prosser. “I missed 2,650 (competitors), I was barely 1,800, and competition wise was down a bit.”

His wife shared her thoughts on the tournament and the atmosphere of the Cuba location.

“We weren’t down in smiles,” said Shuree. “I love the Cuba facility, it is such a small knit community, the kids are wonderful, you can see the kids learning and growing in class.”

Cuba 1 Team Martial Arts has about 40 students who train on Mondays and Wednesdays at 318 N. Franklin Street in Cuba.

“Kids are my heart, that’s why I love this job,” said Shuree. “I call this my big family.”

The Prossers also run a location in Rolla, which has an enrollment of about 155 students. 

Pewitt and the Dobkins sisters also train at Rolla, which is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The tournament athletes were recently tested on March 5 in Rolla. 

In ATA Taekwondo there are nine color belt ranks (white, orange, yellow, camo, green, purple, blue, brown and red) and they each consist of their form.

Pewitt tested for his brown belt. He performed Choong Jung two (red belt) and a traditional color belt Ssahng Jeol Bong form (nunchucks).

Maddie and Megan mid-termed over all their all-color belt material before they can test for their first degree black belt. First degree is the first rank for black belts in ATA and midterms are required before someone can test for that.

The Dobkins had to do Songahm three (yellow belt), In Wha one (purple belt) and were quizzed about the philosophies of color belt forms.

Morgan was testing for her recommended black belt. She performed Choong Jung two and did the traditional Ssahng Jeol Bong form.   

The next major tournament for Cuba 1 Team will be Spring Nationals on April 10-11 at America’s Convention Center in St. Louis.