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2011 Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation
New England Black Belt Camp and Shim Sa
By Deborah Winograd, Cho Dan
Southbury Academy of Karate
The
2011 APTSDF New England Black Belt Camp took place
May 13-15 at Camp Winadu in Pittsfield, MA.
Eight students took part in the Dan Shim Sa: Two for
Sam Dan, two for E Dan and four for Cho Dan. The
Best Test award for youth went to Haley McClure of
Southbury Academy of Karate. The Adult Best Test
award was given to Noelle Drewicz of Cambridge Tang
Soo Do.
During the Dan Shim Sa on Friday night the rest of
the group rotated through three exercises. Mr. Mark
Farquarson, 4th Degree Black Belt worked with us on
forms and flow sets, Ms. Kayla Turgeon led a drill
on Tang Soo Do combinations, and Mr. O'Sullivan
offered Ho Sin Sul techniques.
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After dinner, Grandmaster St. James spoke about "Moo
Do", the martial way, introducing the philosophy of
the Moo Do warrior focusing on one’s inner life, as
well as their combative skill. The Grandmaster asked
us to think about and practice our Moo Do in even
the smallest ways, all day long, not just when we
are training physically. When we do engage with our
partners, let us learn to sense the other's energy,
and be mindful of what we are sending out in
thoughts, words and behavior. This should also guide
our Ho Sin Sul responses as well as our daily
behavior or actions: To meet fire with its opposite
- water - makes the
most effective use of our
energy, and reflects the circular, cyclical nature
of the Um/Yang. We accept a great responsibility
when we develop the ability to hurt, harm, maim, or
kill someone, and the philosophy of the Tao offers
wisdom to help us continually perfect our character,
as well as the work that we do.
Saturday morning, students divided by rank to work
with the Masters on various open hand and Bong
forms. Then came break-out sessions, which included
knife defense with Senior Master Klacko and Senior
Master Sattler, sparring with Master Trevor Becker,
and focus mitt training with Senior Master Rivera.
After lunch, we had an opportunity to do two of the
following: Chil Sung Il Ro with Master Trevor
Becker, technique sparring with Mr. Mark Farquarson,
breaking with Senior Master Becker, or a
non-traditional approach to Tang Soo Do forms with
Mr. & Mrs. Hebert, Sam Dan.
Cho
Dan Bo's and above gathered in the afternoon with
Kwan Jang Nim and the Masters to discuss the
certification of judges for tournaments. We now have
a Technical Advisory Committee to develop a course
for training judges, with Senior Master Rivera as
the General Coordinator. As the program committee,
Mr. and Mrs. Hebert had prepared handouts, and
scenarios for Hyung and Dae Ryun competitions. We
split into several groups, tasked with addressing
the issues in our given scenarios. The complications
that arose made it all too clear why training and
experience are so important to handle these
situations well.
We had four presentations from the Masters after
dinner:
Kwan Jang Nim returned to his theme of the Moo Do
warrior, practicing not just the Weh Kong (the
external power), but the Neh Kong (internal) and
Shim Kong (spiritual) as well. The key is to
persevere and grow, cultivate a vital
student/teacher relationship, and seek to break
through our fears and limitations.
Senior Master Becker described an equation for
fulfillment, relating our passion to our actions. He
coached us to accept uncertainty as we grow, and to
open our minds creatively to what leadership roles
we might be able to assume at the Black Belt camps
in the future. He shared with us an initiative he is
planning for the coming year, to break many
thousands of boards in one day, as an inspirational
fundraising event.
Senior Master Sattler guided us through the history
of the Pyung Ahn forms, showing the Chinese
calligraphy characters which illuminate their
meaning. In addition to the turtle image which
symbolizes their energy, he shared the meticulously
detailed Chinese-style drawings and paintings he has
been doing. This was a beautiful reminder of how
inspiring the artistic dimension of our Tang Soo Do
heritage can be.
Mrs. Hebert's presentation about nutrition explored
her choice to be vegan. With the help of her
daughter, Samantha, she made a personal and
passionate appeal to consider our diet's impact on
animals, and make healthier, compassionate choices
about our food. Whether we consume animal products
or not, this was valuable counsel about paying
attention to how our sources of food have been grown
and treated.
Sunday morning, Kwan Jang Nim led the group in "Real
Deal Flow Sets" for self-defense. The next break-out
sessions included sword one-steps with Senior Master
Sattler, Dan Bong with Senior Master Rivera, and
cane with Senior Master Becker. Students and Masters
joined together for a group form to the drum, led by
Kwan Jang Nim. Graduation and Belt/certificate
presentations followed.
On a
more personal note, an experience at camp that left
a deep impression on me was the story Noelle Drewicz
(Best Test) told me about her recovery from a rare
and usually fatal cancer. I feel at liberty to
mention it, because she herself announced it to the
group when Mrs. Hebert's spoke about organic food.
What made it so moving was her courage,
determination, and an element of the miraculous,
which I found unforgettable. I'm grateful to her for
sharing it, because we often have more impact on
each other than we realize - even when we're not
trying to be role models. These days, so many of us
have battled cancer or other life-challenges in
ourselves or people we know. All of the
sensibilities we cultivate as Tang Soo Do warriors
can become more relevant and critical in our private
fights for survival.
Tang Soo!
Click for complete photos
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