Black Belts of the Fellowship

Black Belts of the Fellowship

The chief instructor is Ruel A. (Tony) Overfelt, Ph.D. Dr. Overfelt is a 4^th Dan black belt certified by the Amateur Athletic Union Tae Kwon Do program (AAU SE-004 078-01936) as well as an AAU certified Coach/Official. He continues to compete at regional (5 times Gold medalist in the AAU Georgia regional/state tournament) and national AAU Taekwondo tournaments -- winning the gold medal in the executive men's welterweight point sparring division at the 2004 National AAU Tournament.

Dr. Overfelt trained in Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do and Pai Lum Kung Fu for several years in the mid-seventies. After almost a 20 year hiatus, he returned to regular Tae Kwon Do training in the mid-90s. In addition, Dr. Overfelt augments his Tae Kwon Do experience by training in Kyusho-Jitsu pressure point techniques and Tuite-Jitsu joint manipulation techniques with Grandmasters George Dillman, Will Higginbotham, Steve Cooper as well as other Dillman Karate International masters.

Dr. Overfelt received a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1984 and is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University where he teaches courses in physical metallurgy, transport phenomena and biomechanical engineering. He and his wife Kathy are active members of Lakeview Baptist Church (Auburn, AL) and together they taught 2^nd grade Sunday School from 1994 - 2006.

Contact Dr. Tony Overfelt with any questions.

Patty Tyler (right), 2nd Dan (AAU), began training in Tae Kwon Do with the Auburn University Moo Sul Kwan Tae Kwon Do club in 1991. Ms. Tyler was promoted to 1st dan black belt (WTF) in 1999 and was the assistant instructor of the AU TKD Club for a number of years. She began training with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship in 2003 and was promoted to 2nd dan black belt on June 9, 2005. Ms. Tyler is a Research Associate in the Department of Animal Sciences at Auburn University.

Irmgard Westfall (left), 2nd Dan (AAU), began training in Tae Kwon Do in 1995 with the Auburn University Tae Kwon Do club after retirement from the private sector. She began training with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship in 2002, earned her 1st dan black belt (AAU) in 2003 and was promoted to 2nd dan black belt on June 9, 2005.

Scott Guthrie, 2nd Dan (AAU), began training in Yoshikai Karate in 1986 and then Tae Kwon Do in 1993. Mr. Guthrie earned his 1st dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do (ITA) in 1996 and was promoted to 2nd dan black belt (AAU) on June 9, 2005.

Scotte Hodel, 1st Dan (AAU). Dr. Hodel briefly studied Judo (1968-1970) and Tae Kwon Do (1980) as a student. As an adult, he resumed his martial arts training by studying Shin Nagare karate in 1999 in Huntsville, AL earning the rank of blue belt. He began training with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship in 2001 and was promoted to 1st dan black belt in January 2005. Dr. Hodel is also active within the AAU Taekwondo program as an AAU certified Coach/Official and winning gold, silver and bronze medals as a competitor in forms and point sparring at the AAU Georgia regional/state tournaments during the past several years. Dr. Hodel received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, IL) and he teaches electrical engineering at Auburn University. In addition, he plays violin in the Lakeview Baptist Church orchestra, holds private violin lessons, enjoys riding his motorcycle, and teaches Sunday school in Lakeview's Youth Ministry.

Steve Renfroe, 2nd Dan (ITA), began training with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship in 2004 and is also studying the techniques and kata of Isshinryu Karate. Mr. Renfroe retired from the athletic department Auburn University in after coaching baseball for 22 years, including being head coach from 1999-2004, and is now in private business.

Will Barnard, 2nd Dan (ATA), began training in Songham Tae Kwon Do in 1998 reaching 1st dan black belt in 2002 and 2nd dan black belt in 2003. Mr. Barnard is a high school home-schooling student and he began training with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship in 2003.

Davis Vail, 1st Dan (AAU), began training in Tae Kwon Do in 2001 with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship and was promoted to 1st Dan on October 13, 2005. Mr. Vail is a high school home-schooling student.

Tim Poage, 1st Dan (AAU), began training in Tae Kwon Do with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship in 2003 and earned his 1st dan black belt in 2006. Mr. Poage previously was a competitive powerlifter. He currently operates his own business servicing the automotive aftermarket industry.

AMAF Black Belt Alumni

Sorin Teodorescu, 1st Dan (AAU), began training in Kyokushinkai karate in Romania in the late 1990s before coming to the United States and beginning Tae Kwon Do training with the Auburn University Tae Kwon Do club in 2000. Dr. Teodorescu began training also with the Auburn Martial Arts Fellowship in 2002 and successfully tested for 1st dan in 2003. After receiving his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Auburn University, Dr. Teodorescu moved his family to Texas where he works in the oil field equipment industry.