The Performance Martial Arts Academy brought back six national titles from the Taekwondo Spring National Championships in Las Vegas.

Jennifer Powell placed second in traditional forms, first in traditional weapons, creative forms and extreme forms in the fourth- and-fifth-degree black belt division. She placed second in extreme weapons, creative forms, sparring and combat weapons.

William Horsley placed third in sparring and combat weapons in the second- and third-degree black belt division. Lucas Smidtas placed first in combat weapons.

Dr. Renaldtas Smidtas placed first in traditional forms and combat weapons in the first-degree black belt division. Marcayla Barnes placed second in combat weapons and third in sparring. Mason Woods competed but did not place.

The four-day event was sponsored by the American Taekwondo Association. Competitors came from across the United States, Canada, and South America to compete at this event. 

“A lot rides upon this competition as competitors push to make placement in the top 10 standings for the upcoming world championships,” Mitchell Church said.

Church arrived several days earlier as part of his mastership training process in which he spent long days training with some of the best martial artists in the world. His training focused on things such as advanced weapon training, knife defense, sparring and combat skills, joint lock techniques and philosophy of Taekwondo and mastership.

Woods, his mother and Church visited retired boxer Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas and Woods was given a free training session with Roger Mayweather, Floyd’s uncle and trainer.

“He spent over an hour with Mason and loaded all of us down with free T-shirts, towels and cups,” Church said. “I could not believe how thoughtful and generous they were with us.”