Editor’s note: To mark the Best of the Northland’s 20th anniversary, the ballot for this readers’ choice contest appeared online for the first time earlier this year. The ballot was also printed in the Liberty Tribune and its sister publications in the Northland. The results of online and mail-in ballots have been tallied, and the list of winners is featured in a special section in this issue of the newspaper. Among the winners is the business featured in the following story.

For almost 10 years, Fast Kick Martial Arts & Fitness Center in Liberty has been teaching self-discipline, mental discipline and physical fitness. Chosen as the top martial arts studio in the Northland, that appreciation of the martial arts is matched by students and supporters of Fast Kick.

“It’s very awesome that the people of the Northland chose us as the best martial arts studio,” said Master Daniel Doering, owner of FKMA.

He said he as excited to have his center picked as the Best Martial Arts Studio by Northland newspaper readers.

“We have been working hard and growing steadily,” he said. “There are other martial arts studios in the Northland, so it is a surprise they thought we were best. We’ve always known it, though.”

Beginning lessons with children as young as 3, FKMA trains students not only for the Olympics but for their everyday lives. Especially for the children, Doering said they aim to teach respect and courtesy on top of working on balance and coordination. FKMA students span six decades, with the center’s oldest student being in their early 60s.

“The great thing about taekwondo is it’s an activity any age can do,” Doering said. “No age limit. We teach longevity in taekwondo. Naturally, with the sport aspect of taekwondo, it is going to be toward the younger crowd — 14 to 32 — but the martial arts aspect is something that can be done by anybody at any age and at any time in their lives.”

Part of USA Taekwondo, the national governing body for Olympic Taekwondo, Doering helped train taekwondo Olympians in 2006, according to the FKMA website.

In addition to being a sport in its own right, taekwondo is also a great cross training solution for athletes in other sports.

“Since taekwondo is year round, it has no season like football and baseball,” Doering said. “For kids that don’t do other sports, it’s a great way to find some place to do something and succeed as individuals and as a team. We all work together here at the school but definitely for kids, it’s somewhere they can build respect and confidence and have pride in being able to accomplish something. Not everyone can say they have black belt.”

For more information or a schedule of classes, visit www.fastkicktkd.com or call 781-3800.

Fastkick is at 2041 W. Kansas St. in Liberty.