School wins 11 martial arts medals

Carrageous Tigers from Seneca win 2 firsts,

6 seconds, 3 thirds

By John E. Chambers

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The Carrageous Tigers came to Topeka on Saturday for their second go at the Sunflower State Games.

The Tigers came from Seneca for the martial arts competition at Washburn University's Whiting Field House. The Carrageous Tigers emblem on their dobocs (uniforms) employs a play on words, using the name of the school's instructor, Bill Carr.

Although Carr has been teaching tae kwon do, a Korean self- defense system, in Seneca for only two years, he had taught it in Albuquerque, N.M., for 15 years before he returned to his hometown.

In Albuquerque he called his school the Southwest Tigers. In Asia, the tiger is prized as a symbol of courage, he said as he was going over some fine points with a student before the Games got started. He had brought seven students with him for this year's Games.

Last year, the first year Carr operated his school in Seneca, the three students he brought with him to the Games all brought back medals. This year, the Carrageous Tigers took back to Seneca 11 placings --- two firsts, six seconds and three thirds.

Carr has been learning and teaching tae kwon do for 30 years. He learned it in the Army. He describes the sport as the art of unarmed self-defense through a system of kicking and punching. Carr is now a third-degree black belt.

Last month, 11 of Carr's students competed in an open tournament in Kansas City, Kan., and returned with six firsts, five seconds and one third. Carr said his students have placed in every tournament they entered this year. However, Carr tells his students that even if they don't earn a medal, they still are winners.

"As long as you come to compete, you're a winner," he said. "Just like in life, if you try to do your best, you will win."

The martial arts are good family activities, Carr said. Five of his students are members of an Axtell family, and other family groups come from Sabetha and Seneca. He sees his school itself as a family.

"We are a family, a tae kwon do family," he said.

Copyright 2003
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.