Members of American Kang Duk Won Karate, including Canton and Hannawa Falls residents, gathered for the their 43rd International Championships March 25th, at Jefferson Community College. The …
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Members of American Kang Duk Won Karate, including Canton and Hannawa Falls residents, gathered for the their 43rd International Championships March 25th, at Jefferson Community College.
The tournament, coordinated by Master Robert C. Lawlor, president of AKDW, is one of the longest running traditional martial arts tournaments on the east coast. Approximately two hundred American Kang Duk Won instructors and students from forty class locations participated in the tournament.
Following a formal bow-in which opened the day’s events, black belts performed multiple board breaks for the large crowd in attendance. This demonstration was preceded by a meditation-oriented, barefooted walk by two instructors, Jennifer Palumbo, Canton and Master Rose Carpenter, Adams through trays of broken glass. This exhibited the body-mind focus and balance that karate training can produce.
American Kang Duk Won instructors performed many other highly disciplined demonstrations throughout the day. Master Robert Lawlor led a 34 member black belt demo team in a traditional fighting staff (bo) routine. The bo form had been composed by Master Frank Palumbo of Canton.
Master Debbie Hintopoulos of Hannawa Falls concluded the black belt performances with a Naginata form, traditionally practiced by Japanese warriors.
Students competed in three martial arts skill divisions: open hand kata (formal exercises), traditional weapons kata, and sparring.
Students as young as six years old and adults in their seventies comprised the novice (white belt) to advanced (brown belt) ranks. Trophies were awarded to competitors who placed first through fourth in a wide-range of kata and sparring groupings.
For more information about lessons, call 315-386-3029 or visit www.americankangdukwon.org.