Dogged Downpours
Don’t Dampen Region 7’s Determination
Tenacious downpours, gale force winds, knee deep puddles, traffic bottlenecks and heavy fog did not deter Grandmaster Jae C. Shin, 182 competitors, judges and family members from trudging to scenic Charleston, SC for the Region 7 Regional Tournament on the weekend of October 24 and 25th, 2008.
Friday evening, black belts sloshed their way to the middle school gym for a workout with Grandmaster Shin. Participants practiced Bassai to the beat of the drum, enhancing the nuance and timing of the form. After the workout, Master Joe Scota (with help from the Grandmaster and Master Jim Mars) fine tuned the black belt demo which featured Bassai, Ho Sin Sul, Jo Ki and Soo Ki techniques and a little spicy sparring action.
We awoke Saturday morning to partly cloudy skies which eventually broke blessedly to blue. Black belts began competition at 9:00 a.m. and Opening Ceremonies kicked off at noon with the return of the 2007 Championship Cups, belt promotions, prayer, championship oaths and a word from the Grandmaster. Grandmaster Shin promoted two new Region 7 masters; Master Wilson Smith (Twin Dragons) and Master Joel Gilreath (Gilreath Karate). Fourteen new Region 7 black belts were promoted. Region 7 Hall of Fame recipients were recognized as follows: Family of the Year- the Patzer Family (Kurt Patzer, Cho Dan, also does a mean bong form), Student of the Year- Mr. Zach Rovner, E Dan, Studio of the Year- Charleston TSD, Community Service Award-Twin Dragons and Instructor of the Year- Mrs. Mary Mars, E Dan. Mr. Christopher Dunn, Sam Dan, won the Fall Black Belt Spirit Award. Ms. Terra Brannon, E Dan, (Gilreath Karate), and Mr. Andrew Summers, Cho Dan, (Twin Dragons) were awarded $1000 and $500 college scholarships respectively.
Tiny Tigers and Little Dragons enjoyed the attention of the Grandmaster and ki haps were heard resounding throughout Mount Pleasant, SC and across the Cooper River Bridge into Charleston proper.
The tournament concluded at 3:15 with Closing Ceremonies and the presentation of the 2008 Championship Cups. Region 7 champions were: Mr. Alex Radke, E Dan, (Scota Karate) - Junior Black Belt Champion, Mrs. Jillian Pruitt, Cho Dan, (Scota Karate) - Adult Black Belt Champion, and Mr.Eric King, Sam Dan, (Charlotte TSD) - Senior Black Belt Champion.
Gup division champions were as follows: Junior Advanced Champion-Jordon Beeler (Twin Dragons), Senior Advanced- Stephanie Smith (Twin Dragons), Adult Advanced- Braylin Bloise (Scota Karate), Junior Gup Champion- Konnor Thomas Harris (Gilreath Karate), Senior Champion- Graig Marz (Carolina Martial Arts) and Adult Gup Champion- Maxim Williams (Scota Karate).
Participants gathered to relax, dine and socialize after the competition. Region 7’s spirit and brotherhood were evident again as friends re-connected with their TSD family; laughing, sharing competition tall tales and harrowing recollections of the Friday drive in torrential rains.
Sunday skies were pristine blue with balmy temperatures. The beautiful drive home brought closure to another Region 7 gathering of fun, fellowship and competition.
Kathy Scully, Cho Dan
Scota Karate Academy