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A New Generation of Black Belt Leadership, and a Powerful Promotion

A New Generation of Black Belt Leadership, and a Powerful Promotion

With a promotion to 4th-degree black belt and General Manager of Ripple Effect Martial Arts, Mr. Andrew Wagoner cements a legacy of leadership in Colorado.

Longmont, CO: From dreams of joining the Power Rangers to the reality of taking charge of three northern Colorado karate schools and nearly 1,000 students, this past weekend fulfilled a few lifelong ambitions for Mr. Andrew Wagoner.

During Ripple Effect Martial Arts’ Black Belt Immersion test weekend, Mr. Wagoner, Head Instructor of Ripple Effect Martial Arts in Longmont and icon to hundreds of students across three northern Colorado karate schools, earned his 4th-degree black belt in the American Freestyle Tae Kwon Do tradition of Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee. He was also promoted to General Manager of Ripple Effect Martial Arts.

“Mr. Wagoner came to us having already earned two black belts in his home state of New York,” says Greg Macy, Ripple Effect Martial Arts’ founder and Master Instructor. “Beyond his black belt pedigree, Mr. Wagoner had worked for years saving lives as an EMT. He had his choice of martial arts schools where he could enroll and grow in Colorado. We couldn’t be more proud that he chose us.”
Saturday held another, unofficial honor for Mr. Wagoner.

In a special ceremony, Michael Chaturantabut (Mike Chat), connected via video to acknowledge Mr. Wagoner’s skills and accomplishments in the martial arts, and to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a Power Ranger. Known as the “Tony Hawk of martial arts,” Mr. Chat portrayed Chad Lee, the Blue Power Ranger in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. Mr. Chat, a 6th-degree black belt in Shorei-Ryu, is also a top stunt choreographer in Hollywood and founder of XMA (Xtreme Martial Arts).

“Mr. Wagoner brings out so much in every student he meets,” says Ms. Chrissy Tretten, Event Coordinator and Assistant Program Director at Ripple Effect Martial Arts in Longmont. “He has the uncanny ability to bring humor to traditional karate training, and he reminds everyone to have a little fun as they go through life, or a 72-hour black belt test.”

Master Instructor Greg Macy, a Colorado native, founded Ripple Effect Martial Arts in 2013. The schools, located in Fort Collins, Longmont and Johnstown, teach self-defense and curriculum based on the systems developed by Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the “Father of American Tae Kwon Do.” Learn more at rippleeffectmartialarts.com.

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