International Offices: 1300 Kenmore Blvd, Akron, Ohio 44314
(330) 753-3114 Fax (330)-753-6967 eMail: usakf@raex.net

Return to Report Index

1st Annual Standards Symposium & Promotional Assembly #309

Akron, Ohio
Thursday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 15, 1996
Hanshi George Anderson, Director

We had a full house and the turnout was greater than expected. The instruction was held at Hickey's Center for the Martial Arts, in Stow, Ohio, a great new facility, large, spacious, sunny, mats on the complete floor (both judo and karate tatami) - a facility that left those less fortunate drooling.

The seminar was not nickel and dime and a full copy of Hanshi Anderson's - Ippon Kumite, Volume 1 (in manual form) was included with the course to all general participants. Financial aid was available to the worthy and distressed. There were mini-courses on all days for those that couldn't make the full symposium. Much effort went into this grand affair and it showed.

The symposium set out the weapons standards system, talked about teaching and grading, then put it into place the kanbu for weapons grading. Also targeted was the general pedagogy of our style and the relationships and effects imprinted on our the standards and grading.

The functional kanbu forms for the weapons were displayed and the responsibility for the standards and grading assigned for the Tonfa, Sai, Bo, Nunchuku, Kama

Open hand Kata (Hyung) included AM-HOC and at least 2 of the WUKO kata were broken down for standards and instruction in the same manner.

All the USA Kwanmukan Shihan were present including: David Ames, Jerry Andrea, Pat Byrnes (Pennsylvania), Jim Del Garbino (Massachusetts), Michael Dunphy, Jeff Ellis, Larry Feldman, Pat and Pam Hickey, Larry Hodges (N. Carolina), Sensei Bryan LaBrecque (Maine), John Linebarger (Arizona), Bob Magnuson, Sheriff Overholt, Michael Piaser, Carl Wilcox (N. Carolina).

All Kwanmukan students and instructors were strongly encouraged to attend this weekend of great training. A problem that has plagued us is that we are always talking to either students of shihans and cannot put the combined what to -how to - when to -context together in nay kind of sense. We overcame that problem here.

Winning tournament is important, but standing alone, it has an empty ending. We are martial artists and our cup can be running over, as the psalm says.

The sold out Gala Banquet was held at the superb Carousel Dinner Theater. Kyoshi Pat Hickey emceed the affair and did a superlative job. A highlight of the evening was when the shihan and sensei took their formal obligations of professorship, this was a solemn and impressive ceremony, done for the first time in public. After the obligations many historical stories were told and more than a few dignitaries of the assemblage were recognized. Everyone enjoyed a great dinner and evening of fellowship and fun.

Subjects covered in conference:

1. History - understanding of styles and our relationships
2. Future of the KMK
3. Standards, principles of grading
4. Instruction methodology
5. Grading - Regulations, procedures, and protocol
6. Study of styles controlled, Karate, Kobudo - Bong Sool, Taekwondo, Kwanpo, Jujitsu - Aiki-Jitsu, Judo, and a general overview of our areas of interest
7. Lectures on Kumite, Waza, Kata, Weapons, Self Defense, Police Instruction, Jujitsu, Kobudo, Bong Sool, all in the 3 areas of---1. Developmental, 2. Demonstration, 3. Competition.

Subjects covered in floor practice:

Kwanpo forms and techniques, Hyung drills, Kicking Drills, Hand Drills, Kumite, Kata (Am Hoc, Kwanmu 1-2-3), Weapons drills and forms, Jujitsu basics.

The symposium ended on Sunday with the successful completion of the 309th promotional assembly at the University of Akron. As usual, it was large and efficient and the tired but satisfied yudanshakai and there students returned home to study and contemplate the information received at this notable event.