Talk to an instructor to order!2010 Midwest Hwa Rang Do Championships
Midwest Championships 2010; Madison, WI
As the last weekend in April draws near, the weeks and months prior take on a more urgent pace. Sparring and grappling are more intense; weapons are tested and spun about with vigor and focus. Physical fitness steps up to a new level, and an awareness of both intensity and drama in martial movements is rediscovered.
The Midwest Championships have arrived again.
Mugi Dae Ryun
The Madison tournament has grown and grown over the years, with each year demonstrating more and more capable students and impressive performances in all categories. It has grown so large that it cannot be contained to a single day of competition, and as such, the Madison East Academy became a friendly battlefield the evening of Friday, April 23. Tae Soo Do and Hwa Rang Do students and Black Sashes met to compete in six weapon divisions, complete with the unique leg armor (hache hogu) that makes Hwarang Gumtoogi (Sword Fighting) and Bongtoogi (Bongtoogi) a different animal than Kendo or traditional Kumdo.
The first competition for non-Black Sashes was conducted as a full bracket of 16 warriors for the long staff competition. The seeding complete, the combatants squared off in a series of contests where after the first round, any match could go any direction. Fierce and spirited competition was the order of the day, and it was clear that those who rose to contest for the medal rounds had dedicated long hours of practice to weapons handling. At the same time, watching the Black Sash division in the next ring, it was also clear that all had a lot of work to do as we strive to raise our Hwarang weapon fighting to its potential as living art in motion.
“Hmmm…that armor is unscratched.”
Following the staff completion, the color belt division was broken into two full groups of eight, one for more experienced weapon fighters, the other for those with more limited practice. Much fun was had as the competition got underway, as it became a running joke whether a well-marked breast-plate indicated a good fighter with lots of practice, or someone with a poor defense. On the other hand, it was noted that those whose armor was marred deeply, at exactly the same angle and location, had all matched up with Jokyonim Alyssa Marlenee. Her precision and speed was put on full display that day, as she swept all six Black Sash weapon competitions, defeating all opposition with courage, faith, and skill.
The modified scoring system for mugi dae ryun was also on display, as competitors tried, and occasionally succeeded, in landing the more difficult throat and spinning strikes so prominently featured at the 2009 World Tour with Kuksanim Taejoon Lee. Only a few landed, though many were tried…one had to earn those two points!
Overall, the competition in each division was excellent with well-matched competitors and many close matches. Combatants In the beginner division kicked their spirit into high gear; in one twin-sword match, a young lady chased a burly man a foot taller than her around the ring, demonstrating that speed, pure form, and an indomitable spirit will carry the day over brute size and power.
The competition lasted long into the evening, and the team weapon-fighting event was postponed so that the high caliber of fighting on display that evening could be shown to a wider audience.
The group then retired from the field for the night, to pack up the matting and equipment so we could move the battleground to the Sun Prairie Middle School for the other events.
Weapon Forms
After the competitors gathered and the National Anthem was ably sung by Instructor Doug Purvis, the tournament got immediately underway. The first order of the day was weapons forms, and five rings were filled constantly with competitors from all divisions. The judging is based on weapon handling skills, drama, and of course spirit and focus. There are only three weapon forms in each of TSD and HRD, so the competitors are showing off their ability to master the same material, often year upon year. One would usually think that in each division, upper belts have the advantage; a blue belt has more training in his or her staff form than a green belt, for example. This is often true…but not always, and the reason for the competition is not to see who has the best form over days and weeks of training, but to call on each warrior to show their skill and spirit in one moment of time. One tiny mistake often separated the top places, and spirit and confident weapon handling won the day more often than not. Competitors trying to put that extra “oomph” into their forms might miss a grip or wobble; even a beginner belt confidently going through the form with no mistakes had a good chance of winning.
It has become somewhat of a tradition to break up the Hwa Rang Do forms into as few divisions as possible. After all, the competitors aren’t out to collect trophies, but to show their best that day. The Hwarang Ssang-jyel-bong, jang bong, and jang gum forms are all intricate and have ample opportunity to put a warrior’s skills on display. This year, it was decided to break up the division into two groups: ssang-jyel-bong and staff/sword. The sword and staff division was a fascinating spectacle. Separating victory from defeat were mostly tiny missteps. A pause here, an awkward catch of a twirling staff, or a sword blade not at the precise angle that would make for a proper cut. Out of such tiny and specific judgments were decided the winners of all the divisions.
Open-Hand Forms
After the weapon forms, the competitors gathered again to perform their open hand forms. These were more evenly divided in the TSD divisions, with men’s and women’s beginner, intermediate, and advanced divisions moving through their paces. Once again, in the HRD division, the decision was made to put blue sash and higher in one ring, while purple and below stood in another.
There were many impressive performances given that day; all who competed learned something about themselves, their art, and their fellow practitioners. But those who gathered in the back ring for the intermediate TSD open hand forms were treated to a rare and remarkable exhibition. Gathered before the judges were a half-dozen competitors, and among them was a gentleman in a wheelchair. After a few other competitors had gone, Jerry Alexander steered himself to the middle of the ring and began his TSD Green Belt form. He moved through the hand combinations as one would expect, and executed front and chop kicks while seated in his chair. Then he spun around for the second pass, and stood up to perform his chop and back kicks. He repeated his first pass, and then again stood to perform his kicks…supporting himself on a prosthetic foot. He completed his form with tremendous spirit, showing the true undaunted nature that we strive to achieve.
How many others showed such valor that day? Who amongst us has overcome as much to perform on the field of competition as he did? The winner of that division, a former Marine Recon soldier with years of training and fieldwork experience, spoke of how inspired he had been watching Mr. Alexander perform. And when Jerry’s name was called for a medal, the surprised pride on his face was wondrous to behold. Not a single competitor begrudged him the place on the victory stand so truly earned; their only commentary was wondering why he hadn’t placed higher. All who saw were inspired. We should all remember his spirit for the 50th Anniversary competition in LA!
Individual Sparring
While some of the competitors broke for lunch, the rings were readied for the individual combat events: sparring and grappling. The Black Sashes, of course, had little opportunity to take a break from the judging tables to eat or drink. Competitors rarely notice in the heat of the event that those running the tournament have, for those ten or so hours, dedicated themselves totally to the business at hand; all else is secondary.
The competition got underway, then, with five rings active at once. Competition was close and closely scored, with many close matches. The “no kihap, no point” rules were firmly enforced, and the competitors had a great time with kicking, punching, and the takedowns that make the Hwa Rang Do rules so unique and exciting.
Along with fierce competition also came fierce camaraderie. The TSD Advanced and Intermediate women’s sparring groups both began and ended each match with hearty group hugs, and more often cheers were to help someone behind in points gather a little more spirit to catch up than any sort of “route for the home team” form of taking sides. It’s very clear that our family remains strong and together, and though occasional overly-enthusiastic or mis-aimed blows are exchanged, it remains in good fun and nobody holds a grudge.
Those who watched the back ring again saw an inspiring testimony of the human spirit, as TSD students Jeff Dye and Mark Repetti competed in their own wheelchair sparring division. Although their mobility level precludes kicks or takedowns, they sparred with hand techniques according to the same rules as all other competitors: strikes must be focused, controlled, and accompanied with a loud kihap to score a point. Mr. Dye and Mr. Repetti are longtime students at the Academy of Hwa Rang Do Madison West, and in fact it was the World Hwa Rang Do Association stickers on their wheelchairs that inspired their friend Jerry Alexander to begin his Tae Soo Do training as well.
Position and Submission Grappling
As the day moved on, it was time for the grappling events. Dynamic and fast moving, even the juniors got into the action as the HRD junior boys competed in an exciting submission grappling division. Every year since its introduction, the grappling gets more and more dynamic, technical, and fun to watch. Attendance at the WHRDA World Tour seminars, which stress fundamentals every year, is looking pretty mandatory these days. One Little Tiger TSD position grappler went through the exact sequence of steps Grandmaster Lee had laid out on how to begin from kneeling, slip under an arm, arch the back to clear the space, step around, and attack for a three point rear mount. Flawlessly and systematically executed, it was the final three points that won the young man the match, and the first prize for that division.
In the women’s advanced TSD competition the competitors did their best to choke, bend, and otherwise work their opponents into strange and painful shapes. Technique predominated over mass or muscle, as some surprising victories were gained, and it was anyone’s guess who would emerge as the top three. The ladies were careful to rack up points as they worked their submissions, to ensure they didn’t find themselves at the end of the match time limit having “almost” submitted their opponent many times…but still lose the match!
Team Fighting and the Midwest Grand Champion
The tournament began to draw to a close, and thus it was time for the individual events to give way to the team fighting competitions. A new format debuted this year, more in keeping with the multi-disciplinary nature of the curriculum. There were five team events: men’s and women’s sparring and grappling, and the all-open weapon fighting. The winner of the Grand Championship would be the team that scored the most team points in all five events, rather than in previous years where the team sparring decided who brought home the coveted trophy. Black Sashes and color sashes mixed the teams this year, and the fighting was very intense.
In the end, Minneapolis held the day. The women’s teams won both their grappling and sparring events, and the men won sparring but were narrowly defeated in grappling, as the Madison West Academy won that event by a close and hard-fought match. In team weapon fighting, Jokyonim Marlenee kept her perfect record, defeating her opponent and winning the event, and securing the Championship trophy for the Minneapolis team this year.
Wrapup
Regardless of who went home with trinkets and trophies at the end of two days of hard competition, we closed Saturday with another successful HRD/TSD family event. Friends separated by distance but joined in the spirit of self improvement and martial valor met again, competed, and parted still friends. Injuries were few and minor, and attitude other than proper celebration was non-existent. No jeers or mocking taunts would have been tolerated, but due to the martial spirit of our art and practitioners, such are never found at our events in the first place.
The tournament grows larger and stronger every year, and 2010 was no exception. We now turn our eyes and hearts to the 50th Anniversary tournament in Los Angeles, with a reminder that every HRD and TSD student is now sharpening their swords in preparation for that moment.
Hwarang!
-Douglas Cole