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Atlantic-Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation
2009 Vision Tour
Submitted by Senior
Master Deborah Jett - 5th Dan
Karate World, Suwanee, Georgia
Eastern United States, September 9th
through September 25th
Two
martial arts Federation founders from across the world came together to
kick-off Kwan Jang Nim John St. James’s Vision Tour of the Southeastern
and Northeastern United States recently. Kwan Jang Nim St. James,
founder of the Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation and Kwan Jang Nim
Stephen Washington of the Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation joined
forces for the nearly three week tour. Kwan Jang Nim Washington
traveled from Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation headquarters in
Noarlunga, South Australia to attend and teach at the events. The
Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation and the Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do
Federation are sister organizations.
This
event materialized after Kwan Jang Nim St. James set-up a “Meet the
Founders” tour of thirteen different Federation schools to coincide with
the 13 influences of the Sip Sam Seh. It was also set-up so that Kwan
Jang Nim St. James could share his vision of the future with member
schools. In all, thirteen clinics and seminars were conducted over
approximately three weeks.
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Kwan Jang Nim
St. James presenting 8th Dan certificate to Kwan Jang Nim
Stephen Washington |
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Other
Vision Tours are scheduled for next year in other parts of the US,
Europe, and Asia. This year’s tour however featured a very special
Grandmaster’s rank certification and ceremony for Kwan Jang Nim
Washington. Kwan Jang Nim Washington was presented his 8th
Dan rank by organizational heads representing the Asia Atlantic Alliance
at one of the thirteen Vision Tour clinics on September 12, 2009 in
Buford, Georgia. The actual ceremony was presided over by Kwan Jang Nim
Chuck Blackburn, 8th Dan, founder of the Spiritual Martial
Arts Association, Kwan Jang Nim James Allison, 8th Dan,
founder of the International Sun Moo Kwan Federation, and Kwan Jang Nim
David Wilson, 8th Dan, founder of the American Tang Soo Do
Federation. Kwan Jang Nim St. James served as master of ceremonies and
was very pleased to also host Master Constantino Terrigno, from Two
Dragons Tang Soo Do and Publisher of the Tang Soo Do World website at
the banquet and ceremonies.
This
year’s Vision Tour included stops in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire. Side trips to New York and Maine were also part of the
itinerary. In addition to the dignitaries mentioned above, attendance
this year included the following Masters: International 6th
Dan Master Carole Coker, 5th Dan Masters, Stacy Busby,
Deborah Jett, Antonio Rivera, Jr., Marc Sattler, Christian Klacko, 4th
Dan Masters, Carrell Smith, Greg Sibley, Heather Potter, Mike Jett, and
Luis Parra-Flores. There were also a number of Master’s Candidates in
attendance. These included: Mark Farquharson, Kristan Meetze, Trevor
Becker, and Francisco Miro.
In
addition to the Ko Dan Ja, Yu Dan Ja, and gups, this year’s clinic was
also attended by senior ranks from outside of the Atlantic Pacific Tang
Soo Do Federation as two of the 13 clinics and seminars were open to all
Tang Soo Do students,
both inside and outside of the APTSDF. As I was writing this article,
Kwan Jang Nim St. James asked me to extend his deepest appreciation to
all those who attended from other organizations. .
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Training at this year’s Vision Tour included four different training
sessions instructed by Kwan Jang Nim Washington and Kwan Jang Nim St.
James. These included sessions on shil ki or practical application from
hyung, ho sin sul, bong or staff, and kyol hap ki sul or combination
techniques for Ja Yu Dae Ryun or sparring. On one of the stops, bonus
segments also consisted of Qi Gong and Hapkido. Those segments were led
by Kwan Jang Nim Blackburn and Kwan Jang Nim Allison. Other smaller
segments included CPR certification instructed by Master Bill Scandrett,
4th Dan of the International Sun Moo Kwan Federation and an
Elite Leadership presentation by Kwan Jang Nim St. James. Senior
Masters 7th Dan and above learned Acan Kwon, Tae Kuk Kwon,
and So Rim Jang Kwon as well as the practical application behind them.
One of the many purposes of the Vision Tour was to bring back
traditional hyung that has been lost to so many Tang Soo Do
practitioners.
It is such an honor to be taught by Grandmasters with so much experience
and knowledge of Tang Soo Do. Not only were the physical skills taught
very thought provoking, but the history being taught was amazing. I can
only hope to carry that knowledge to future generations of Tang Soo Do
practitioners.
If
this year’s attendance is any indication of what to expect next year,
there is much to look forward to in 2010. Future Vision Tours are being
scheduled for Mexico, Canada, Aruba, Iran, Asia, Southeast Asia, and the
Pacific rim. For more information please call the Atlantic Pacific Tang
Soo Do Federation at (770) 614-9884.
Click for:
Video Highlights
Sword Hyung - Master Heather Potter
Bong Hyung - Master Michael Jett
Photo Gallery
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