World class martial arts champions: Limitless Lions
KEARNEY, Mo. — Sometimes, kids need an alternative to traditional sports. For example, in the city of Kearney, there is a dojang called Limitless Martial Arts (A dojang is the same word as “dojo,” which is a place to train for martial arts) where the most competitive club in Songahm Taekwondo (ATA Martial Arts) trains.
Courtney and Brent Thuston, co-owners of Limitless Martial Arts, are no strangers to the sport. Courtney is a fifth-degree black belt, while Brent is a third-degree black belt. Courtney’s mission for every student who walks through their doors is to believe there are no limits to what they can achieve. She emphasizes confidence and self-esteem during her students’ training. She hopes they can build confidence in their self-defense skills and life so that they may have the confidence to protect their beliefs and values and have the self-esteem to keep going, whatever life throws their way.
The star of the show for Limitless Martial Arts is their tournament team, also known as the Limitless Lions. Their tournament team competes internationally. Many people on the tournament team are in the dojang 4-5 days per week. They put in extra work so one day they become a World Champion in Songahm Taekwondo, and for one student, that hard work paid off!!
About two years into the Thustons’ ownership, they were able to produce a World Champion!! A 14-year-old, 2nd-degree black belt named Josiah James won a World Championship in XMA (Extreme Martial Arts) weapon with a Bo staff. He won in the special abilities 17 and under bracket for first through third-degree black belts. Josiah trained relentlessly, trying to perfect his form. He spent many extra hours working on his techniques with his XMA instructor, Brandi Holsted, the Thustons’ right-hand woman. The moment when James won his first world championship was surreal for him, and he commented, “It was an exciting moment. I was the first person to be able to get the first title of the year.”
“The moment the judges chose him at the World Championships for the World Champ title, I jumped like a kangaroo, cried, and screamed at the top of my lungs!” exclaimed Thuston when asked about Josiah’s first World Championship run. It was the Thustons’ first time having a World Champion under their ownership. James earned two more World Championships in the following tournament season, both in Creative Weapons and traditional sparring.
James is one of many success stories that Limitless has produced. They have had multiple state, district, and national championship successes. ATA Martial Arts has also named Limitless Martial Arts the most competitive club in the world for the last two years. Limitless Martial Arts is not just about the tournament team but about all the students who decide to walk through the dojang’s doors. The instructors and the families are what really help drive this organization to be successful.
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