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2011
Atlantic-Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation
New England Regional Championship and Dan Shim Sa
by Deborah Winograd, Cho Dan
Southbury Academy of Karate
The
APTSDF held its Regional Championship on October 15,
2011 in Dover, NH, hosted by Great Bay Tang Soo Do.
There were 80 competitors representing four schools.
Besides Great Bay, students came from Southbury
Academy of Karate and Rivera's Tang Soo Do in
Connecticut, and Cambridge Tang Soo Do in
Boston. The Black Belt portion of the tournament
took place Saturday morning. The female championship
trophy went to Noelle Drewicz, and the male trophy
went to Oleg Khodko, both from Cambridge Tang Soo
Do.
For
many of us in New England, this was our first visit
to Great Bay Tang Soo Do. Those who traveled on
Friday were subjected to the famous Friday traffic
jams, while also being bombarded with heavy rain.
The transportation challenges were one of the
considerations in scheduling the Dan test for Sunday
instead of Friday evening, and this experience
certainly validated that choice. Even Grandmaster
St. James, flying in overseas from Turkey, spent
five hours on a JFK runway before the last leg of
his journey to Dover. It is a testament to martial
spirit, to see how many students made the trip from
Connecticut and Boston, just for the tournament.
Sr.
Master Deborah Jett also had a long trip, from
Atlanta, Georgia. Joining her were Sr. Master
Rivera, Sr. Master Becker, Sr. Master Klacko, Master
Duva and Master Trevor Becker, along with Mr. and
Mrs. Hebert and Mr. Farquharson.
Great Bay Tang Soo Do is housed in an impressive,
historic millworks building, converted into various
offices. The events were held in a larger room down
the hall from their studio, where spectators could
watch the proceedings up close. The walls of the
facility have beautiful brickwork and rough-hewn
stone, with old wood posts dividing the carpeted
floor throughout. These created natural boundaries
for the rings, and potential obstacles for the
testing candidates. But the Hebert’s were vigilant
and prepared. They had staff and students stationed
at the posts at critical times, to prevent
accidental collisions, so the space was managed
exceptionally well.
This
was a great opportunity to meet more of the Great
Bay students. Many turned out to compete and help
make the events run smoothly, whether greeting,
score-keeping, or holding for board-breaking. One of
the benefits of having a local tournament is that
the youngest students can more easily participate,
with their families in attendance. If one is judging
students who are teens or adults, the atmosphere can
be intense, solemn, charged with adrenalin and
excitement. When the little ones are competing,
there is also an undeniable charm. To glance around
the room and see them in this context, reminds us of
our legacy, as well as the future of the art we
study. I am always grateful to see how considerate,
and appropriately gentle and supportive the Masters
are when they lead the judging in those rings.
Saturday night became a welcome opportunity to relax
together, and greet those arriving for next day's
test, at a group supper at Newick's Lobster House in
Dover. Over fifty Federation members gathered for
great food and even better company in what is sure
to become a new tradition to celebrate all the
personal and group victories while in Dover.
The
Black Belt test was conducted on Sunday morning,
October 16. Eleven people tested, including one for
re-certification, and one as a pre-testee. Four of
the nine candidates were testing for Cho Dan, and
five for E Dan. The Best in Test awards went to
Suzanne Finnegan (adult) and Nathan Black (youth),
both from Southbury Academy of Karate.
The Black Belt test is a momentous threshold to
cross, at any stage of advancement. But for some
people, it seems to be even more of a rite of
passage. I am thinking of Sr. Master Rivera's son,
Ryan, who has been training with his father for the
years leading up to this point. I had the honor of
testing with Ryan on Sunday, and it moves me to
ponder how much history, love and support his family
brought with them as they watched. The fires of our
motivation are stoked in many ways, by so many
people, and sometimes from unexpected sources. I
feel changed by the experience, in good ways that
are hard to describe---and I know I am not alone in
that feeling. I came away from this weekend with a
strong sense of being fortified by everyone's
dedication and sense of purpose.
I am
also grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Hebert for taking such
good care of us throughout the weekend. I felt their
watchfulness over all aspects of the weekend's
events, their assistance during the test, and their
warm hospitality.
Tang Soo!
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