Tobin’s Elite Martial Arts 

Travels to Greece to Represent USA

Tobin’s Elite Martial Arts school arrived at Salt Lake international airport at 1:30 PM. Nine team members of TEAM USA started a journey that made history for Utah and Davis county. This adventure started in April of 2018, in San Antonio Texas at the Pan AM games. Each team member qualified for the right to represent their skills and talent for Team USA. Countless hours of fundraising were spent to get the team members there, it costs about $10,000 dollars to compete and bring family members along, along with six months of training. All the training and preparation readied them to face the world on a grand stage in a country-versus-country competition consisting of over 40 counties with more than 3500 competitors, all trying to bring home medals in forms fighting and weapons divisions. 

The team landed after a long 15-hour flight to Athens, Greece. The first day began with check-ins and relaxation before the first day of competition began. Over the next four days, other countries dropped out of medal rounds. The last day closed out with a medal ceremony. 

In the end, Tobin’s Elite Martial Arts, the only team from Utah in the history of the WKU (World Kickboxing Union) came home with over 40 medals from eight competitors. These amazing young people went halfway around the world to represent their country, their home, and most importantly themselves in international competition. Brandt Boldoc, Brielle Hipolito, Kiya Jensen, Branson Harward, Skye Byerly, Gavin Rentmeister, Kieler Hyllested, and Danielle Bucio showed the world that hard work, drive, and focus can make anything possible. We, as a community, are so proud of each one of them for blazing trails for others to follow in this adventure.  Each of these amazing athletes have qualified to go next year to Austria to represent their country once again.