BE WHERE THE ART IS… 2015 NATIONAL FESTIVAL- Region 1 Hosting
Dear Fellow Moo Do In, June 22, 2015
The 2015 National Festival is just around the corner, scheduled to begin on July 30th through August 1st 2015 in Danvers, Massachusetts, USA, a beautiful region not far from Boston! Region 1 Leadership undertook an aggressive initiative and succeeded in hosting the 2015 National Festival, and acquired the necessary support to bring back the Gup Competition to the 2015 Festival.
I’ve been involved in the Moo Duk Kwan since 1967 when I first entered my original Do Jang in a local YMCA in Brooklyn, NY. In 1968, I attended one of the first New York City Moo Duk Kwan® Tournaments and Dan Shim sa held in an old Manhattan Armory on the West side. My original instructor, Mr. Michael Masley, Jr., (dan bon 10180) was the Grand Champion. It was the first time I stood in line, which was as a minimum, 10 rows deep with Dan members and Gup members from all over New York City. The pride I felt being part of such an event was overwhelming, and it will be something… I will never forget.
Considering we had no “Federation” at the time, we were well organized and very involved in our Art. Hwang Kee’s Moo Duk Kwan® School was alive and kicking (excuse the pun) in NYC!
2015 marks the 70th anniversary of Hwang Kee’s Moo Duk Kwan® School, and as many of you know, the 70th Anniversary will be held in South Korea this coming October. Many of you will make the trip to celebrate this milestone along with our Kwan Jang Nim H.C. Hwang and many of the senior leadership from around the world.
So, this 2015 National Festival has a special meaning for all of us. Not only are we gathering as a member organization in Danvers, MA, but also as Martial Artists. We will also be able to pay tribute to our Kwan Jang Nim in support of the upcoming 70th anniversary. It will be a most memorable event, and you should be part of it. Especially those who will not be able to attend the celebration in South Korea, for various reasons, like myself.
You can make this year’s National Festival a most memorable event, not only for you and your family, but we can stand together in our first line up and reflect on those who stood there, in those same lines, before us, and make “Moo Duk Kwan® History”… This will only happen if you, as a Moo Do In, come to the Festival. If you are a studio owner, this is your opportunity to make history with your Do Jang, invite all your Dan and Gup members to attend. There are many special events being planned at this year’s festival and your members should not miss out on this historic event in Danvers, MA. Invite your greatest supporters, PARENTS! As a parent, I understand the feeling I get when I see my son in Do Bok, accepting recognition after a hyung demonstration at a National event, it’s priceless!!
I’m especially looking forward to seeing the Tae Guk Kwon (Tai Chi Chuan) hyung being introduced by the Chairman, of the World Moo Duk Kwan®, Larry Seiberlich, Sa bom Nim (dan bon 1815), not to be missed. Plus I understand there is an indoor water park, which the children and adults will enjoyed.
Larry Seiberlich, Sa Bom Nim
So, feel the connection of many years of Moo Duk Kwan®, come celebrate and share that feeling during Line Up, and during the entire Festival. This is my personal way of saying … Come to the Festival, Be Where the Art is…
In Moo Do,
Roberto Bonefont, Sr., Dan Bon 13927, WMDK® web volunteer,
Region 2
In Memory of Victor Martinov, Sa bom Nim
Nationals registration packets are now available.
http://festival.soobahkdo.org/event-registration-2015/
If you have already received a registration packet from the Federation by mail or if you downloaded one prior to June 19, please note that this new packet (linked and attached here) contains an “Iron Package” discount that corrects the event pricing to bring the total cost of entering forms & sparring down to $99, as in previous years.
The hotel room block is sold out, but our event coordinator, Ruth Rudnick, can help you to book other affordable options nearby. She can be reached at (617) 484-3558 (work) or (617) 797-3239 (cell).
We also need volunteers to make this event a success! All volunteers who register will receive free spectator tickets. Please sign up here:
http://soobahkdo.com/score-keepers-time-keepers-and-ring-assistants/
