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In August,
Team USA of the Atlantic Pacific Tang
Soo Do Federation headed by Kwan Jang
Nim John St. James headed down under to
the enchanted continent of Australia to
attend the 2007 Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do
Federation International Championships.
Team USA
consisted of Federation Masters and
Black Belts who were dedicated to
support the APTSD Federation’s sister
organization in Australia. All events
were held in Darwin, the Northern
Territory of Australia. Team members
consisted of John St. James, President
and Founding Master of the Atlantic
Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation as well
as Master Instructors, Stacy Busby and
Deborah Jett. Dan member Mrs. Mercy St.
James,
E Dan and Mrs. Anna Busby also attended
the event.
Events were
held over a four day period starting on
Thursday, August 16th with a
KODANJA Shim Sa held at Northern
Territory Tang Soo Do Karate Academy in
Palmerston. Advanced training was
provided which covered the five (5)
pillars of Moo Do. Clinic instructors
included Master Stephen Washington, Chil
Dan, the President and Founding Master
of the Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do
Federation. Other clinic instructors
included Master St. James, and Master
Kylie Vaughn and Master Sharon Kimberly
of the Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do
Federation.
Over the
next two days, well over 500
participants gathered at the Palmerston
Recreation Centre for the International
Championships. The event was coordinated
and hosted by Master Sharon Kimberly,
Championship Manager and directed by
Master Stephen Washington, Championship
Director. Participants from all over the
world gathered to compete in traditional
hyung (forms), weapons, sparring, and
team forms competition.
At the end
of the competition two competitors were
crowned as Grand Champions. They were
Mr. Robbie Hodge, Sam Dan of South
Australia Tang Soo Do Karate Academy and
Ms. Danielle Kitchen, E Dan of Northern
Territory Tang Soo Do Karate Academy.
The next
day, seminars for both senior and
intermediate color belt (gup) and Black
Belt (Dan) were conducted at
the Palmerston Recreation Centre by
Master St. James and Master Busby
covering weapons and empty hand
self-defense, and by Master Vaughn and
Master Jett for children at N.T. Tang
Soo Do Karate Academy.
The four day extravaganza
was capped off with a Championship party
held at Palmerston Leisure Centre, and
included everything from great food to a
jumping castle, face painting, animal
farm, a DJ, games, and an Olympic size
swim pool which was very popular with
Championship participants, family
members, and instructors alike.
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