On Saturday, November 2, local Yorkton Martial Arts Training Club instructor Michael Forster was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame as TaeKwon-Do instructor of the year for 2013.
As part of the event Forster took part in seven seminars, preceding the award ceremony gala event, taught by masters and grandmasters of the arts including Bill "Superfoot" Wallace and Frank W. Dux of the "Bloodsport" movie fame.
Forster, who spends countless hours teaching Yorkton and area residents various martial arts disciplines, has helped build the YMATC academy into one of the best in the province, and several of his pupils have competed on the international level representing the city, Saskatchewan and the country on numerous occasions. That hard work and dedication has paid off.
As an inductee to the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Mr. Forster was encouraged to award up to six of his most dedicated students the "Thomas Award" which recognizes individuals for their hard work and upholding the spirit of martial arts. Forster selected pupils Christine Prescott, Gracynn Gurniak-Hudy, Neil Parisloff, Andrew Weber, Colton Labelle and Mason Devos for the "Thomas Award," using up all six awards for his most dedicated students.
All six have won gold at various tournaments around the province or have dedicated countless hours to martial arts at the YMATC gym.
Congratulations to Mr. Forster on his induction and to Christine Prescott, Gracynn Gurniak-Hudy, Neil Parisloff, Andrew Weber, Colton Labelle and Mason Devos on their awards.
