Local Taekwondo school New Yong Duk received a ringing endorsement after three of their members excelled competing overseas in the US.

Edmond Johnson, Jerome McNee and Curtis Stovell all won medals representing Bermuda in Taekwondo at the recently-concluded Michigan Cup Olympic qualifier in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

At the event, sponsored by Grand Master Sun Hwan Chung, the local trio ? competing in both forms and fighting ? produced podium performances in a tournament in which Bermuda has been involved in for the past 16 years.

McNee and Stovell, both students of Johnson, each won silver medals in forms and bronze medals in fighting. Johnson won a silver medal competing in forms in the black belt division.

As black belts, Johnson and another local who competed at the event Dave Avery, were involved in the judging of the various events which also included breaking.

?These guys worked very hard for this and it was a very exciting experience,? Avery told

?It?s really difficult to explain the feeling afterwards in the locker room; there were a lot of smiles afterwards and eyes were opened wide. That?s all I can say.?

The event saw martial artists from the region competed in three one-minute rounds among the black belt and two one-minute rounds in the gup ranks ? completely fitted in protective head and body gear.

?Points were scored making contact on the body armour,? Avery added.

Johnson, meanwhile, will be performing various martial arts demonstrations at next week?s Harbour Nights in Hamilton.