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Belt Tests (April 13 2004)
On Saturday March 13th and Monday March 15th, further belt tests were held. Test Results:
Thor Anderson promoted to Green Belt (5')
Kevin Romano promoted to Yellow Belt (7')
Kamau Hill promoted to Yellow Belt (7')
Thomas Jones promoted to Yellow Belt (7')
Belt Tests (March 6 2004)
On Saturday March 6th in San Francisco, students of the
Kwan Um Do Kwang School of Zen Sword were promoted in
rank after demonstrating their skills. Students from
the San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose sword schools
depicted their forms, demonstrated their fighting
forms and participated in chanting and bowing with
Headmaster KJN Marc Fortin. Of special note was the
strong showing from the San Jose School, especially
the two youngest warriors, Ruby Meyers and Samantha
Ferrell. They showed great promise and potential to
grow into fierce students and warriors. Also
noteworthy was Timothy Williams? faithful depiction of
the sword form "Sword of the East."
The next test will include Sword as well as Shin Boep (which is a weaponless form of self defense) and a public demonstration of blindfolded forms, higher level sword forms and interactive sword fighting. This will take place on Saturday April 17th at 1:30 pm in San Francisco. A celebratory Korean meal will follow immediately afterward.
Test Results:
Jacqueline Sohn promoted to Green Belt (5?)
Timothy Williams promoted to Green Belt (5?)
Ruby Meyers promoted to Yellow Belt (7?)
Samantha Ferrell promoted to Yellow Belt (7?)
Arien Ferrell promoted to Yellow Belt (7?)
Congratulations to all on a job well done!
Zen Sword Workshop (February 21 2004)
Sabom Nim Rich Julius held a 3-hour sword workshop in the Cupertino studio, sponsored by the Independent Martial Arts Confederation (IMAC). Nine participants, including four black belts from both Korean and Japanese martial arts schools, were introduced to the history of KUDK, learned basic forms and fighting drills, and learned the first sword form (kata).
Above, KUDK Sabom Nim Rich Julius and Tae Kwon Do Sabom Nim Dustin Cloud practice head defenses alongside two of Sabom Nim Cloud's senior students. (Sabom Nim Cloud is the IMAC representative in Northern California, and may be contacted at martialarts_usa@yahoo.com.)
Below, testing new skills by free-fighting Sabom Nim Julius.
Cupertino Demo (November 1, 2003)
To celebrate the grand opening of the new Cupertino school, Master Fortin and instructors from San Francisco and the South Bay hosted a demonstration of sword, long stick, two-sword, shin boep, and self-defense techniques at the new KUDK center in Cupertino, California, on November 1, 2003.
Tang Soo Do Lake Tahoe Clinic (September 13, 2003)
Master Fortin was invited to teach a series of sword workshops at the Tang Soo Do Lake Tahoe clinic, a weekend event that attracted over a hundred Tang Soo Do students, instructors, and masters from schools across the Northwestern Pacific.
Sudents learned basic forms as well as special advanced forms, on a beautiful white sandy beach at the southwestern banks of Lake Tahoe. Master Fortin was assisted by Tang Soo Do Master John Bennet (who is also a KUDK black belt), Sabom Nim Rich Julius, and cho dan Anthony Hill.
Tehachapi, California Black Belt Test (April 19, 2003)
KUDK black belt candidates were welcomed as guests of the breathtaking Tae Go Sa temple (Mountain Spirit Center), a Korean Zen Buddhist temple under the direction of head abbot Mu Ryang Sunim of the Kwan Um Zen School.
Instructors Gretchen Ramos and Rich Julius passed their third star (third degree black belt) tests, and received the title of Sabom Nim (full instructor).
Several students from the University Nevada Reno KUDK Club passed their first star test:
Scott Goodwin
Daniel Steinke
Levi Fay
Mike Vidal
Anthony Hill from the San Francisco dojang also passed his first star.
Reno, Nevada Tournament (November 23, 2002)
The free fighting tournament was again held at Master John Bennett's Tang Soo Do studio in Reno, Nevada. Zanaan Bennett provided a tumbling workshop before the sword tournament, and then went on to win the tournament. Nice job, Zanaan!
Reno, Nevada Test (November 22, 2002)
Students from the University of Nevada Reno KUDK Club successfully passed their sword tests:
Scott Goodwin, brown belt
Mike Vidal, brown belt
Levi Fay, brown belt
Daniel Steinke, brown belt
Lauren Reeser, Ken Williamson, and Ben Bowyer: green belts
Christopher Ard, Adam Bousum, David Dubois, Charles Eggleston, Alberto Hancock, and Paul Reynolds: yellow belts
Reno Tournament (April 27, 2002)
The Spring 2002 free fighting tournament was held at Master John Bennett's Tang Soo Do studio in Reno, Nevada. Over 24 participants from the Nevada and California clubs participated. Longtime Zen Sword practitioner Steve Tynan defeated all challengers.
Reno, Nevada Test (April 26, 2002)
Students from the University of Nevada at Reno held a belt test and semester "final exam."