Laban Martial Arts and Fitness Studio brought 20 taekwondo competitors to Winnipeg June 12 for the IronFist Club Challenge, with many of the Thompson athletes having family members entered in other divisions.

Bryan Cruda brought his kids to the tournament and also competed, bringing home bronze medals for patterns and also for sparring. Jules Cruda fought four times and was awarded a bronze medal in sparring and amazed the crowd with a silver medal performance in poomse (patterns). His little sister Nicole also got silver medal for patterns and her first-ever gold for sparring.

The Villar family was represented by Alfonso and his four-year-old daughter Andrea. In her first tournament, she got bronze in poomse and in sparring, while her dad's second taekwondo tournament saw him take home silver for patterns and gold for sparring.

Brothers Justin Bignell and Glendon Pronteau also competed at the tournament. In Justin's first tournament, he fought very efficiently to win a gold medal in sparring and a bronze in patterns. Glendon brought home gold for sparring and a silver medal for patterns.

"Glendon has natural talent," said his coach and Laban instructor Chris Byrne.

The Carlsons - Devon and his dad Kurt - also showed up ready to go, according to their coach, who said Devon competed valiantly while Kurt performed his best and dominated in patterns while also earning a bronze medal for sparring.

Mitch Nicolas won silver medal for patterns. Her outstanding board breaking demonstration shocked and amazed the crowd, said Byrne, earning her top honours in the breaking competition.

Bobbi Chrest got a silver medal for sparring and a bronze for breaking while 17-year-old Jessica Moore earned a bronze medal in board breaking and her very first gold medal.

"Her near perfect patterns performance was the best I have seen in her in the past five years! She amazed me today. I am so proud of her," said Byrne.

The Coxon family, represented by Cody, James and their mom Stacie, competed in their first taekwondo tournament, which saw Cody bring home a bronze medal in patterns.

Orange stripe Steven Seela performed well and earned bronze medals in both patterns and sparring.

Uncle and nephew duo Doug Claus and Nikolas Boychuk both participated in the tournament. Silver medals in both patterns and sparring were awarded to Doug in his first tournament, while Boychuck brought home more gold for his intense patterns and still got a silver medal in sparring and a bronze in breaking despite getting injured.

Danielle Van De Kerchove earned bronze medals in sparring and board breaking.

Jade De Cesco brought her family to watch her compete and won a silver medal in patterns and a bronze in sparring.

Cousins Adam Moose, 5, from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Jordan Lerat also represented Laban at the tournament. This was Moose's fifth tournament.

"He is just getting better and better and his confidence really moves him forward," says Byrne. Moose earned a silver medal in sparring and a bronze in patterns. In his first tournament, Lerat earned a bronze medal in sparring.

With tournament season over, Laban will now focus on offering off-ice training to hockey and ringette players through July in preparation for next fall.