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WELCOME to all the new members that joined
us this year at Triple T’s and the YMCA. Also our newest club
location and members from First Baptist Christian School. Their
program was kicked off in Feb. Mon and
Wed.
COMPETITION NEWS-
Spring is here and the competition
season as well. I hope some of you will have a chance to taste
the competition ring. All ages and belts are encouraged to
compete, however you must know your form for your rank and have
some sparring skills. No need in wasting your parent’s money
going to a tournament to be someone’s kicking bag at $50.
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April – The AAU State
Championship will be held in Woodbridge, VA. This is about a
2.5-hour drive from Suffolk. To compete, you must be an AAU
member ($12 youth/ $22 adults). You may join on-line or when you
register for the tournament. You must pre-register. NO door
registration! ($50 for forms & sparring -$5 spectator fee) If
you win gold in sparring in your division by defeating your
opponents, you will be promoted to the next higher color belt
immediately!!! Winning by default does not count. Crystal
McCracken did so a few years ago. If you place 1st
thru 3rd, you will be eligible to compete in the AAU
TKD Nationals if you so choose to go. If you are interested, you
may view and print the info from out web site (vatkd.com).
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June- The Va State Game is
once again hosted by Gentle East MA-Master Robinson. This an
annual TKD tournament and another good one for rookies to start
their competition careers. I don’t have all the details except it
is at Clover Hill HS in Midlothian (Richmond-1.5 hr drive from
Suffolk). This is always a well-run competition and fairly close
too. This tournament is part of the Commonwealth Games that is
held throughout VA for most sports. Part of the proceeds goes to
Muscular Dystrophy.
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June- The annual MS150
(Multiple Sclerosis) fundraiser / ride is once again held in
Suffolk. You have to raise a minimum of $200 to participate. We
depart the Suffolk airport Saturday morning around 7:30 and cycle
to Chowan College. Sleep and eat on campus and return to the
Suffolk airport Sunday morning. It is 75 miles there and 75 miles
back. There are rest stops every 8-10 miles with water, food and
lavatory facilities (porta Johns). Plus there are volunteer bike
mechanics that cruse the road for folks with flats or mechanical
problems. Last year I had three flat tires before lunch on
Saturday. (bad rim) There are also SAG crews that will pick you up
and take you to the college on Saturday or on Sunday to the
airport. This will be my 4th ride and I challenge
all. Well you must be 18 or with a parent/guardian. In the past,
we have a cookout on the campus as well as eating in the dinning
hall. My son Matt, has done it three times on his mountain bike.
His first time was at age 14 and he beat me there and back. You
can find all the details and register on line at vatkd.com. Last
year I never made the first practice ride and I made it there and
back successfully. To encourage you, I will wave your next test
fee for you or your child if you ride. If you would like to test
your abilities first, you can join me on fifty miler one Sunday
afternoon by cursing the back roads and site seeing the lakes
around Suffolk. Volunteers are also needed for the event if you
so desire.
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June- Our annual summer TKD
picnic is again scheduled with our sister school and friends from
Morgan’s Martial Arts of Windsor. It will be held in the same
location near Smithfield. It is at a hunting club that has a
large fishing pond. We played softball, volleyball, horseshoes
etc. This year may include an overnight campout as well. More
details later for this event. I will have a sign up sheet this
year! Only a few showed last year and I ate hamburgers and
hotdogs for a month!! So stay tuned for more info. Instructor
Wayne Spencer |
