Black belts earned by 17 Elite students

Elite Martial Arts in Scotts Valley awarded black belts to 17 students in December.
The students, taught by 24-year-old Elliot Stone, were awarded black belts in Ho Kuk Mu Sul, a combined martial art during a promotion ceremony on Dec. 10 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in San Jose.
Seventeen first dan belts were awarded and one second dan was earned by Stone’s father Walter Stone.
First dans went to Christopher Bisagno, Emmett Conner, Michael Martinovsky, Zachary DelMar, Tyler Stayskal, Anthony Youssef, Abhay Zope, Daria Maliesky, Alyse Handley, Wheeler Handley, Sydeney Andrews, Sean Krzeczowski, Rachel Krzeczowski, David Huelin, Evan Paul, Jessica Granger-Jones and Sasha Voight.
A “dan” is the way martial artists are ranked. Earning a dan is the equivalent of moving up one level.
Students performed kicks, throws and weaponry to earn their belts. The tests were performed at Elite Martial Arts in Scotts Valley.
Elite joined with Laird’s Academy in Santa Cruz at the awards ceremony at Shoreline.
Elite Martial Arts is located in the K-Mart shopping center, 266 Mount Hermon Road in Scotts Valley. For information go online, www.438kick.com.