Students at Yorkville's Empower Martial Arts and Fitness Earn Black Belts

The students went through several tests to determine if they would achieve black belt status.

Businessman Raffles Off Fitness Package to Benefit County Food Pantry

Top prize is $2,500 exercise station designed by Tim Rochford of Empower Martial Arts and Fitness. Raffle tickets are $25.

A Yorkville businessman is raffling off a $2,500 fitness package with all proceeds benefitting the Kendall County Food Pantry. Tim Rochford of Empower Martial Arts and Fitness said all proceeds of the raffle will benefit the food pantry. "Please take the opportunity to help people who might not have a chance to have a happy holiday season by providing the Kendall County Food Pantry with the ability to feed more people," Rochford said in his announcement. For every $1 the food pantry receives, they can provide $6 worth of food, he said. Raffle tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Empower Martial Arts, 213 S. Bridge St. Rochford said 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Kendall County Food Pantry. Tickets must be purchased by Dec. …

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Martial Arts Instructor Kicking It In Yorkville

Empower Martial Arts and Fitness in Yorkville specializes in martial arts, Fit Strike and self-defense techniques for children and adults.

When Trisha Meece’s husband passed away suddenly two years ago leaving the Yorkville resident alone to care for their two young children, her world was turned upside down. To help her son, Keegan, an avid fan of the original Karate Kid movie, cope with the loss, Meece looked for a martial arts studio. But to her dismay, most schools do not accept children under age 5 or 6. She overheard a group of mothers talking about Empower Martial Arts and Fitness in Yorkville, which specializes in martial arts, Fit Strike and self-defense techniques, and made a call. “I was thrilled to find that they accepted students beginning at age 4,” Meece said. “Keagan is now 6 and has benefited in so many ways from the programs.” She said the students enrolled …

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