United States
News:
Celebrating a Second Dan!
UCLA Professor Jerry Kang earned his 2nd Dan Black Sash on Saturday,
October 20, 2007. He was awarded his dan by Do Joo Nim at a ceremony
at World Hwa Rang Do Headquarters in Tustin on Saturday, November
17th. The West Coast Hwa Rang and Tae Soo Do students, though, were
unable to make the journey to show our support of his accomplishment,
though, because the winter TSD Black Belt candidates were taking their
3rd pre-test on the same day.
The West Coast, then, reconvened on the Saturday after Thanksgiving
to honor Professor Kang’s new rank. Feasting at Ham Hung Restaurant
on Ardmore in Korea Town, students were honored by Do Joo Nim and
Sa Bum Nim, as well as Doctor Janet Lee and Jo Kyo Nim Stacey Lee.
Susuk Kwan Jang Nim acted as Master of Ceremonies, as several toasts
were made to Instructor Kang before the tasty meal was feasted upon.
Sa Bum Nim Scott MacKnight and Jo Kyo Nim Olivia Vaatete also joined
us to congratulate Kyo Sa Nim Kang.
Filled and fueled by delicious Korean barbeque (and a little soju),
the party then moved a few blocks northwest, to the Soop Sok karaoke
establishment. Never a group to let their insecurities or fears stop
them from attempting anything, the remaining celebrants, led by a
very jovial Professor Kang, belted out current hits, past hits, and
even some never-were hits! From Born to Be Wild to Ebony and Ivory,
from Born in the U.S.A. to Roxanne, from Dancing Queen to We are the
Champions, the West Coast Hwarang sang as no one has ever sang before.
As we adjourned into the night, throats sore, heads light, heart fires
burning brightly, the last refrains drifted out the doors with us,
“We are the Champions, my friends/We’ll keep on fighting
‘til the end . . .”
Congratulations, Kyo Sa Nim Kang! Now it’s on to 3rd Dan!
Reynaldo Macias
Press Secretary/KCC Chief Editor
Kid’s Birthday Party at the Dojang:
Francesca’s Birthday Celebration was a Smash Hit!
She was hooked by the sword.
Master Lee had mentioned in passing that he threw birthday parties
and that the birthday girl would get to cut her cake with His Sword.
And so, many months later, when her mother asked what she wanted
for her birthday, Francesca pulled out a crumpled piece of paper that
had been in her Hwa Rang Do® bag …a pamphlet for birthday
parties at the West Coast Hwa Rang Do® Academy. On November 10,
2007, Francesca with 26 friends celebrated her 9th birthday with Chief
Master Lee and his full force of dedicated assistants, the Teuk Gong
Team (TGT).
After a brief meditation, Francesca’s friends cast nervous
glances as Master Lee, in his usual charismatic manner, introduced
the children to our Art, teaching them to bow and some basic tenets.
They soon warmed up during the high-energy class led by Jokyo Nim
Day and were having a great time. Parents who stayed to observe marveled
at how efficiently the many TGT smoothly transitioned each activity
into the next. The children were breaking boards, popping balloons,
racing to finish cookies covered in whipped cream, running through
an obstacle course, and attacking the piñata with a Jukdo—and
laughing with glee all the way.
And naturally, Francesca was pleased as punch when she used Master
Lee’s sword to cut her cake in a perfect line—with a loud
kiap AND his help, of course.
The party was yet another manifestation of the Spirit of Hwa Rang
Do - the attention to every detail to make the party the very best
it could ever be. In the end, it wasn’t just the sword that
did it. It was the love and care of Master Lee and his TGT who worked
so hard that gave the birthday girl the best party of her life.
International
News
Gotoogi
& Kyuktoogi Clinic in Our Own New Dojang in Genoa
On November 11, 2007 Hwa Rang Do Kyosanim Marco Mattiucci held a
four hour long Gootoogi and Kyuktoogi clinic in Genoa. All the students
were highly motivated and excited to participate in this intensive
training session and did not mind getting a little banged up.
Giuseppe Catania (HRD 1st Dan Black Sash) arranged the event. He
is the first Italian instructor who has committed himself full-time
to teaching HRD/TSD. He teaches and practices HRD every day and opened
his own beautiful dojang. This event was an opportunity for everyone
to see and try out the new facility. Kudos to you Ins. Catania! We
look forward to many others following in your footsteps.
Hwarang forever!
Ins. Marco Mattiucci
Chief of the Italian Branch of the WHRDA
Introduction of TSD/HRD to Pisa
On November 17th, 2007 Kyosanim Marco Mattiucci held an introductory
Hwa Rang Do/Tae Soo Do class which was open to the general public
in Pisa. This event was to launch a new Tae Soo Do Club in Pisa. There
were a lot of people from Rome, Pisa and Genoa who attended, making
it a tremendous success! Pietro Picconi accepted this challenge amd
is currently teaching Tae Soo Do in Pisa. We wish him much success!
Also, Ins. Mattiucci took the opportunity to give Giuseppe Catania
and Luca Gelati the new HRD black sashes and certificates, which they
received after successfully passing their Black Sash Promotional Examination
during the Black Sash Conference in July of 2007. They broke in the
new World Headquarters in Tustin, CA with its very first Black Sash
Examination. An open discussion followed about what it means to be
a Black Sash, a Hwarang warrior.
Hwarang forever!
Ins. Marco Mattiucci
Chief of the Italian Branch of the WHRDA
