Mr. Bryan Fagerstrom
Owner/Chief Instructor
I began my journey through Martial Arts in January of 1991 at 8 years of age. I was encouraged by my parents to give "karate" a try. At that age it was kind of a scary adventure and I really didn't know what to think. Mr. Steve Yukich was the instructor and I was joined by a handful of students my age.
It took a little while to get past the awkward stage, but when I finally did, Martial Arts became an exciting activity. Every class was a new opportunity to learn new techniques. I was hooked and began advancing through the ranks. As I began to mature both mentally and physically, some new challenges arose. I now began to grow and techniques became awkward again and my flexibility seemed to be getting worse. I was at the stage where my body was growing faster than my ability to control it. I became frustrated and began to think that the Martial Arts weren't for me.
Mr. Yukich continued to encourage me to push through. I did, and in August of 1994 I passed my Cho Dan Bo test (black belt candidate). The next four years were a difficult and long road to my Black Belt. In December of 1998 I passed my Black Belt test and was Mr. Yukich's first official Black Belt. Over the next several years college became an important and busy part of my life. My attendance suffered along with my training. However, after settling into college I was presented with a challenging but exciting offer. Mr. Yukich was retiring and asked if I would purchase and continue running the school.
Wow, after some thinking I agreed, and June 1st 2003 Range Martial Arts was officially my responsibility. I was excited, I had a lot of things to learn, but with the help of fellow black belt Ramona Wickstrom, things worked out. The school continued to grow and expand in both students and facilities.
In July 2006 I successfully tested for my second degree Black Belt and second degree instructor, and in September of 2009 passed the test for third degree Black Belt and third degree instructor. I am very proud of the school and am excited to see it continue to flourish and be a big part of our community.
I am a career firefighter/paramedic for the Hibbing Fire Department, operate on the technical rescue team, am a tactical paramedic for the Hibbing S.W.A.T. team, and a volunteer firefighter for the Chisholm Fire Department. I am happily married to my beautiful wife Jennifer and have two sons named Benjamin and Thomas. I am currently residing in Chisholm and am also a high school Sunday School teacher at our local church.
Mrs. Ramona Wickstrom
Assistant Instructor/Ki Gong Instructor
Mrs. Wickstrom began martial arts in August of 1992 at 38 years old for health reasons. Her cholesterol was elevated and her doctor told her to get some exercise and to eat healthier. Eating healthier was not as difficult as finding an exercise she could continue to practice at home-you need the right music and you need the teacher counting out the beats for aerobics classes. Walking alone these days is not very relaxing. She saw the Range Martial Arts sign and pointed it out to her husband. He suggested she call and ask some questions. That was all she needed. She signed up at that same evening's advanced/adult class.
Mr. Steve Yukich was the instructor then and he was the only black belt in the school. He was the owner and the instructor at Range Martial Arts. As Mrs. Wickstrom moved through the ranks, she began teaching the beginners. Being an adult at a green belt level, she became responsible for summer morning classes. The school was able to keep many of the students they usually lost over the summer. She would record what she accomplished with each student in the morning classes so that Mr. Yukich could review with her during the advanced/adult classes in the evening.
In October of 1996 Mrs. Wickstrom successfully tested for her cho dan bo rank. This began a long road to black belt. She helped train a 16-year-old boy, Bryan, to his black belt. She and he took a mock dan test together, but it was determined that she was not quite ready to test yet. Mr. Yukich's wife became ill and he needed to depend on her to teach more and more classes as the years passed. Mr. Yukich retired and moved to Texas for his wife's health in June of 2003.
That 16-year-old black belt was Mr. Bryan Fagerstrom and June 1, 2003 he took over the school. Mrs. Wickstrom successfully completed her black belt test in September 2003 and has become a certified instructor with the WTSDA. In October of 2008 she tested and passed her second degree black belt exam.
Mrs. Wickstrom is a part of the black belt team that conducts self defense clinics across northeastern Minnesota. The groups range from as few as six to as many as 175. The groups have ranged from the Girls Scouts of America to the Red Hat Society, religious groups to professional groups, high school English classes, and a group called Kids Plus.
Mrs. Wickstrom was asked to speak at the Velvet and Iron Conference in March of 2006. The theme of the women's health conference was "Staying Strong on Your Life's Journey". Her speech/presentation was titled "Martial Arts for Women: Mind/Body Benefits". Since then, she has also been featured in a quarterly newspaper magazine, "A Range of Women" and been featured in the "Hometown Focus".
Mrs. Wickstrom is a teacher of social studies and learning disabilities and has completed her Master's Degree in Special Education. She is particularly interested in how traditional martial arts instruction can benefit a child with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She has been married to her husband, an auto mechanic, for over 30 years and they have one daughter. Mrs. Wickstrom is active in her church and loves a good mystery.
She also practices Tai Chi Ki Gong, a gentle Korean exercise program that improves her mind, body and spirit. Her Level IV Class Instructor certification from the World Ki Gong Club is her most recent accomplishment.
Mrs. Gail Fagerstrom
Assistant Instructor
My son, Mr. Bryan Fagerstrom, is the owner and chief instructor of Range Martial Arts. I remember taking Bryan to Range Martial Arts as a child under the instruction of Mr. Steve Yukich. I used to watch Bryan during his testing cycles and think to myself, this is one thing that I know I could never do. I could never do those kihaps (the loud noise you make when you're practicing), and do all this stuff with other people watching. Martial Arts is for Bryan, not me. My husband Craig and I enjoyed watching Bryan thrive and mature through his martial arts training. Tang Soo Do was a way of life for him, and made a big impact on the person he is today. It was a thrill for us, as parents, to see him achieve every goal on his journey through Tang Soo Do, ultimately getting his black belt, setting more goals, and sharing his Tang Soo Do knowledge with all his students.
Fast forward to when Bryan took the school over from his instructor Mr. Steve Yukich in June of 2003. I like to do something new and different every year, and 2003 was the year I wanted to try Tang Soo Do. Bryan wasn't a big fan of having his mom be a part of the class. Finally in November I just joined. It was awkward at first, more for Bryan than for me. For me, having to call my son "Sir and Mr. Fagerstrom" was awkward. I could handle it, because it was so much fun for me to watch my son teach, and to be a part of that aspect of his life.
Tang Soo Do is amazing both physically and mentally. I wish I would have started earlier, but it is never too late to start. I was 47 when I started. My body gets an excellent workout as well as my mind. You don't have to do puzzles to keep your mind sharp, if you're doing Tang Soo Do; your mind gets a workout.
In 2009 I received my black belt. The highlight of that test was that my son Bryan, who was going for his third degree black belt, was in the same test group as I was. Testing with him was amazing, and I was so happy I had the chance to experience that.
I have since worked for my instructor certification. Another thing I never thought I could do. Stand in front of people and teach them? That wasn't for me, but Tang Soo Do built my confidence and has given me many other qualities I never dreamed of. It really is a way of life, and helps you through many life situations. Tang Soo Do has even matured me at my age, and has taught me that I can do things I never imagined myself doing. I really enjoy working with the Tiny Tigers and Little Dragons. The kids are great, and they give me more than I can ever give them. They are a joy.
Besides Martial Arts, I love to play volleyball, and my husband Craig and I love boating/sailing on Lake Superior and spending time at the cabin. We love water! I am also an accountant and work at an accounting firm in Virginia. In addition to Bryan, we have a daughter Stacy who lives in Duluth with her husband Keith, and a son Kyle who is finishing up his mechanical engineering degree at the University of North Dakota. We also have two grandsons who are the light of our lives, Benjamin and Thomas.
Mr. Justin Koivisto
Assistant Instructor
Mr. Koivisto has trained in Tang Soo Do with the Range Martial Arts school periodically throughout his life. He trained under Mr. Yukich in the late 1980's when he was very young, then again during high school in the mid 1990's. During those times, Mr. Koivisto learned and developed many important philosophies to help him throughout the life challenges that awaited him. Through his training, Mr. Koivisto would forever hold a higher standard for his work and feelings of accomplishment. He learned perseverance and knew that the things he set out to do could be reached with hard work and determination.
Over the years between his training sessions (1995-2007), Mr. Koivisto would occasionally stop in to the dojang and see what was going on in classes. With work and family responsibilities, his schedule didn't allow him to participate, but the desire to train had never left. Eventually, schedules changed, and with his latest return to Range Martial Arts in October 2007, he brought a new generation with him to train in the art of Tang Soo Do. Mr. Koivisto had many new struggles to overcome in his own training, but was eager and enjoyed teaching not only his children, but all members of the school.
After nearly seven years of active training, teaching and learning over the years, Mr. Koivisto successfully tested for his black belt in September of 2009. Now as a World Tang Soo Do Association certified black belt instructor, he finds pleasure in teaching as an example of what hard work and perseverance can really do. He attempts to help students by showing them new ways to look at techniques or philosophies that may be difficult for them in a way they can understand.
Outside the dojang, Mr. Koivisto is a father of three (two of which are currently participating in Tang Soo Do) and a self-employed web developer and systems administrator for a number of clients mostly in the real estate industry.