Instructors I

Instructor: Ms. Erin Gunnink

Ms. Erin Gunnink began her taekwondo education seven years ago under Mr. Jade Hockman in Columbia, Missouri. She transferred to Cunningham's ATA as a black belt when her family moved to Bozeman, instantly becoming our highest-ranking student. She was named Cunningham's ATA “Black Belt of the Year” in 2004 and 2005 for her superior attitude and assistance in class. She earned state champion status in her division in sparring, forms, and weapons in 2005 and 2006, in sparring and weapons in 2007 and in sparring in 2008. Now a Level 1 Certified Trainer and 3rd degree black belt, she teaches the K4K Block 2 class. Ms. Gunnink is a student at Montana State University.

Trainee Instructors

Ms. Maddie Abshire

Ms. Maddie Abshire is a 2nd Degree Black Belt who has been studying Taekwondo for over six years. She has experience in both Olympic style and Songahm Taekwondo having transferred to Songahm as a blue belt. She was a Montana State Champ in Weapons in 2007 and in Forms and Weapons in 2008. She assists with the Block 2 Tiny Tigers class on Mondays and Wednesdays. She is a student at Bozeman High School and has studied classical violin for 11 years, but has chosen to devote her energy towards her musical passion, Irish fiddle.

Mr. Brett Gunnink

Mr. Brett Gunnink was one of Mr Cunningham’s first adult students in January of 2004, when he followed his daughters’ footsteps and began studying Taekwondo. He, along with two others, became one of Mr. Cunningham’s first entirely home grown black belts in August of 2006. He became an Instructor Trainee in November of 2006 and was named Cunningham’s Black Belt of the Year for 2006. He was a Montana State Champ in Sparring and Weapons in 2007 and in Forms and Sparring in 2008. . Mr. Gunnink’s current rank is 2nd Degree Black Belt and he is the Civil Engineering department head at Montana State University.

Ms. Paige Gunnink

Ms. Paige Gunnink began studying Taekwondo in Columbia, Missouri under the instruction of Mr. Jade Hockman in January of 2002. After earning her Camo belt, she moved to Bozeman during the summer of 2002. In January of 2004, she was one of Mr. Cunningham’s first Black Belt Club students. She earned her black belt in February of 2006 and became an Instructor Trainee in September of 2007. She is a 2008 Montana State Champ in Forms and Sparring. Her current rank is 2nd Degree Black Belt. Ms. Gunnink is a student at Bozeman High School.

Ms. Rachel Gunnink

Ms. Rachel Gunnink began studying Taekwondo in Columbia, Missouri under the instruction of Mr. Jade Hockman in January of 2002. After earning her Camo belt, she moved to Bozeman during the summer of 2002. In January of 2004, she was one of Mr. Cunningham’s first Black Belt Club students. She earned her black belt in December of 2005 and became a Junior Instructor in June of 2006. She was a 2007 Montana State Champ in Forms, Weapons, and Sparring and a 2008 State Champ in Forms and Sparring. She earned her current rank of Second Degree Black Belt Decided in May of 2007. Ms. Gunnink is a student at Sacajawea Middle School.

Ms. Anika Hanisch

Anika Hanisch took Karate classes during her college years and returned to the martial arts in 2004 when she began studying Taekwondo. Initially, she simply wanted to build strength after an ankle injury. But, after her first two belts, it became a core part of her lifestyle. She plans to test for her first degree black belt in July 2008. Anika assists with teaching Tuesday and Thursday K4K classes and leads self-defense sessions for community groups. She is a freelance writer and marketing consultant with a Bachelors degree in Media Communications from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mr. Troy Kechely

Troy Kechely began his martial arts training in high school with Karate and later studied Aikido in college. For the last eight years he has trained with a law enforcement instructor in both armed and unarmed self defense techniques. Outside of martial arts he is a design manager for a civil engineering firm and also the president of a non-profit group dedicated to rescuing Rottweilers.

Ms. Thea Villinger

Ms. Thea Villinger moved from Feucht, Germany, to Bozeman in 2001. She began her taekwondo education in 2004 and earned her Ist Degree Black Belt in May of 2007. She was named "Most Improved Student" in 2006 and "Black Belt of the Year" in 2007. She is a 2008 Montana State Champ in Weapons. As a member of the Leadership Program she is a Level 2 Specialty Certified Instructor and teaches the K4K Block 3 class on Fridays. Ms Villinger is a student at Montana State University.