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New
KunTaoSilat Class
Starting in March 2008, KunTao Silat
instructor Ted Garcia will be teaching classes every Thursday
evening and Saturday afternoon at EMAA. Ted's broad martial arts experience as
well as his extensive KunTao Silat experience studying under the widely
respected Master Ba Pak Willem de Thouars makes him an awesome addition to the
EMAA team.
Take a look at the KunTaoSilat section of the website for schedule and pricing and to find out more about
this colorful, yet devastating Indonesian martial art.
Next TKD Test
The date for the next MAMA Group belt test is planned for:
Saturday, March 1st at 1pm.
The venue is the Gilpin County
Community Center.
(map
and directions link)
The folks at Clear Creek Gilpin
Academy have arranged for a Pot Luck immediately after the test.
Tang Soo Do Black Belt for Ten-Year-Old
 On
Saturday the 26th of January, Evergreen Martial Arts Academy competed
in a Tang Soo Do tournament with schools from Lakewood, Blackhawk and Idaho
Springs . The tournament comprised forms, weapon forms and sparring for all ages
and ranks. There were close to a hundred competitors in all and Evergreen
Martial Arts Academy (EMAA) accounted for about a fourth of them. EMAA won a
total of ten gold, three silver and four bronze medals and Zach Stubbs received
the high point award for the whole event (three gold medals!).
The adult white and yellow belt division
produced some surprisingly high quality sparring matches and a very exciting
closely-contended final match which resulted in EMAA’s Bob Borberg taking the
gold. There were excellent performances from five year-old Duncan Emmons and
four year-old Maureen Borberg who received gold and silver medals for their
forms.
While tournaments and competitions are
not the main focus of EMAA’s Tang Soo Do program, they provide excellent
motivation for students to improve their forms and sparring, other than belt
tests. Everyone who participated looked like they were enjoying the event and
there was a wonderful sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship throughout the day.
Remarkably, the competitors in this tournament spanned a range of ages from four
to fifty-four years old.
Tang Soo Do Black Belt for Ten-Year-Old
 On
Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th of December, ten-year-old Stefan Emmons
earned his Tang Soo Do black belt. It was an excellent test performance by any
standard, but was particularly remarkable given Stefan's young age.
Stefan's test started on the Friday evening when he was put through his paces by
his peers during the closed phase of the test. During the public phase of the
test on the Saturday afternoon, Stefan demonstrated an excellent set of original
one-step techniques incorporating many different striking and kicking
techniques, takedowns and throws and a number of submission techniques. Stefan's
standard forms, one-step techniques, wrist and clothing techniques and pressure
points clearly showed how well-prepared he was for the test. Of particular note
was Stefan's Chinese broadsword (Dao) form with its spectacular slashing
movements and accompanying swooshing sounds. In the final stages of the test,
Stefan surprised everyone by breaking a two-inch-thick patio stone with a
palm-heel strike and punch-breaking a wooden board - significant achievements
even for an adult.
New Kung Fu Classes
Starting on the 6th of November
2007, instructor Christine
Nguyen will be teaching Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu classes every Tuesday
and Thursday evening at EMAA. Many of you know that we have been trying to
attract a Kung Fu instructor for some time and we are fortunate to be able to
host Christine's new program.
Take a look at the Kung Fu
section of the website for schedule and pricing and to find out more about
this fascinating and practical style of Kung Fu.
Matt Serra Seminar
On Sunday the 4th of November 2007, five members of the MMA
class attended a Matt Serra Seminar in Castle Rock. Matt Serra is the current
UFC champion in his weight class and is due to defend his title against Matt
Hughes later this year.
From the moment we got there until the moment we left, Matt Serra was 100%
dedicated to the seminar participants. The seminar content was varied and
interesting with something for all ability levels and his coaching was
excellent. Even during the break and after the seminar, Matt accommodated
everyone's photo and signature requests with enthusiasm.
New MMA Class
The latest addition to EMAA's broad spectrum of martial
arts programs is a Mixed Martial Arts class on Friday's at 6pm. The first class
is on the 5th of October. The class will comprise three segments; the first
thirty minutes will emphasize striking skills, the second thirty minutes will
emphasize takedown skills and the last thirty minutes will emphasize ground
fighting skills. This will be a fast-paced class suitable for those interested
in MMA competition, those wanting to improve their sparring skills and for those
just wanting to improve their fitness level. For more details, check out the
MMA section of the website.
First belt
test for Foothills Aikido in 5 years!
On April 26th
2007, Steve Nelson sensei, Rory Ramig sensei and Ferenc Gyulafia sensei
presented rank certificates to Ellen Kassay, Brian Kassay, Kathleen O’Leary,
Jordan Hagen and Matt Emmons. Black belt certificates were also awarded to Dave
Snopoli and John Harms. Dave and John performed their black belt tests five
years ago, but there has not been an opportunity to formally present their
certificates until now.
At the time that Dave and John tested for black belt, Foothills Aikido was based
in Golden, but the big snow storm of 2003 crushed the dojo building and for the
next four and a half years, the organization’s future was uncertain. Foothills
Aikido limped around Golden and Evergreen unable to find a suitable and stable
venue. In July 2006, just before the organization was about to close it’s doors
for good, a new home was found at EMAA. Since then, Steve Nelson sensei has set
Foothills Aikido on a course to reclaim its former success.
The turnout for the test was terrific. We were fortunate
enough to have one of the founders of Foothills Aikido attend the test, Ferenc
Gyulafia sensei (center of the back row). Rory Ramig sensei (left end of back
row) and Mindy Ramig (left end of front row) were honorary guests and we had an
appreciative audience of family members and friends.
Black Belt for Mike Longwell
On Friday the 2nd and Saturday the 3rd of June 2006, Mike Longwell tested for and
passed his Tang Soo Do Tae Kwon Do first-degree black belt test.
Mike put on an excellent performance throughout his two-day test, but of
particular note were his 25 original one-step techniques and his jump kicks. His
25 original one-step techniques were a nice balance between traditional and
contemporary influences and he performed a few combinations that few of the
board members had seen before. Mike's jump kicks were similarly varied and were
all executed with terrifically high jumps.
Mike has been studying Tang Soo Do Tae Kwon Do under Master Bishop's guidance for about
five years and is a very worthy member of our black belt community.
Congratulations Mike!
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