The Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation came together in two different locations this past June for two long weekends of learning, growing, and sharing. Federation Masters and Black Belts from New England gathered at Camp Hi-Rock in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts to train in all aspects of traditional Tang Soo Do. The camp was overseen by President and Founding Master John St. James and was staffed by six other Masters from the Connecticut and Massachusetts area. A Dan testing was conducted on Friday night and was followed by two more days of classes, workshops, clinics, and presentations that covered everything from advanced self-defense (ho sin sul), advanced hyung practice, kyok pa, weaponry, chi gong, and much more.

Three weeks later, a second Black Belt Camp and annual Federation Kodanja Clinic was held at Camp ASCCA in Jackson’s Gap, Alabama. The Southeastern Camps were attended by Master Instructors from as far away as Australia and throughout the United States. The Alabama camp was unique in that it was the first time the Federation held a camp within a camp. That is, the Kodanja with 20 plus Masters and candidates used separate facilities and had their own schedule. At the same time, the Southeastern Black Belt Camp was going on with as many as 200 Black Belts and Masters attending all camps.

The Kodanja covered all aspects of traditional Tang Soo Do with an emphasis on the five pillars of Moo Do. Classes were conducted by Founding Master John St. James and by Master Stephen G. Washington, the President and Founding Master of the Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation of Seaford, Australia. Special guest instructors included Head Master James Allison, President and Founding Master of the U.S. Sun Moo Kwan Hapkido Association and Senior Master Bill Soto of Appleton, Wisconsin. The Kodanja covered classes, workshops, clinics, and presentations on everything from Elite Weapons training, to Elite Leadership presentations, advanced self-defense (including shil ki and pressure point manipulation), healing techniques, advanced hyung practice, and much more.

A Kodanja Shim Sa was conducted as well, with instructors testing to 4th and 5th Dan levels. All in all, the two weekends were a great success. Everyone left with a smile on their face and ready for the 2008 Kodanja and Black Belt Camps.