Talk to an instructor to order!2009 Midwest Hwa Rang Do Championships
Springtime in Wisconsin means the return of flowers, songbirds, green grass, and fierce competition at the Midwest Hwa Rang Do Championships. On May 2 2009, students from Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin met for a day of rivalry and fellowship at the annual inter-school tournament. As Master Kijek explained to the competitors and spectators gathered that morning, “This is our family reunion. Some families play softball at their big get-togethers. We have sparring matches.”
The venue was familiar at Prairie View Middle School, in Sun Prairie just outside of Madison, but two new events changed the face of the day’s competition. For the first time ever, this year’s Midwest Championships featured Gotoogi (grappling) and Moogi Daeryun (weapon sparring) along with the customary sparring, team sparring, weapon form, and open-hand form events. And not only were there more events, but also more participants. The 2009 tournament set the record for the largest number of competitors in any Hwa Rang Do event in the Midwest. Congratulations to everyone who helped make this a historic day!
Great warrior spirit was evident from the very first Little Dragons event that kicked off the morning, and it continued throughout the day to the last Moogi Daeryun matches and the hotly contested team sparring competition. (Returning champions Madison West beat their longtime rival Minneapolis in a nail-biting tie-breaker.) Tae Soo Do students Jeff Dye and Mark Repetti from Madison also made history by performing open-hand forms from their wheelchairs. Jeff and Mark are an example to all students of what hard work and determination will accomplish.
By far the greatest success of the championship was the camaraderie shown by all participants in the face of tough competition. This is a testimony to the strength of Hwa Rang Do. Instructor Sirny wrote shortly after the tournament: “Truly it was a privilege having so many people throughout the region participating in a competitive event with so much respect and even admiration for one another. I have been around many martial art events, and this quality always leaves a deep impression on me as it can be found nowhere else.”
Tournament competition is not the main focus of Hwa Rang Do. Most students take part in only two or three tournaments every year, and some students attend only one. Yet participation in these events is important for each student’s development as a complete martial artist. Competition is an amplifier. It strips away the façade and sharpens what is left behind, bringing our strengths and our weaknesses into stark relief. We are inspired to give our best performance and challenged to polish the rough spots in our training. More importantly, through competition we gain the opportunity to test our character. Who has the courage to face the opponent? Who has the endurance to keep a competitive edge through a long, tiring day? Who will show trust and brotherhood among friends, regardless of the outcome? By confronting these questions we test our progress and strengthen our resolve to train even harder the next time we are in the dojang.
After the tournament, students, instructors, and families treated themselves to a well-earned dinner at the Prime Quarter steakhouse. Master Kijek reminded everyone after the meal to celebrate our successes and analyze our shortcomings. “Don’t place blame,” he said. “Accept responsibility.” Students who take this to heart know what they must do to improve their training. Through competition we strengthen ourselves and the entire organization of Hwa Rang Do, preparing already to make the next championship even better than the last.
- Jo Kyo Purvis