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2006 Summer Camp in McCloud
McCloud became training ground for martial arts students
By Gene Eagle
Published: Wednesday, August 16, 2006
(NOTE: This article is reprinted with the kind permission of the Mt. Shasta Herald, www.MtShastaNews.com)
More than 100 enthusiastic students attended the University of California, Berkeley’s 31st Annual Korean Martial Arts Summer Camp this past weekend at McCloud High School.
The camp began Thursday morning when students, staff and instructors, representing Idaho, Wyoming, Washington DC, UC Berkeley, a group from Korea, and six students from Yongin University began setting up tents on the well-groomed, grassy lawn at McCloud High.
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Taekwondo instructor Master Chuck Buhs, left, stands with Dr. Kyung-ho (Ken) Min, and UCMAP director, Dr. Russell Ahn during a break from an early Saturday morning training session. Dr. Min founded and developed the University of California Berkeley Martial Arts Program 37 years ago. |
Instructors for the camp included Dr. Kyung-ho (Ken) Min, founder of the UC Berkeley Martial Arts Program, and several master instructors, including Olympic medalists.
Taekwondo instructor and event organizer Master Chuck Buhs said Dr. Min, who founded UCMAP 37 years ago, “was one of the first Koreans to bring taekwondo to the U.S.”
UCMAP, according to Buhs, “provides quality instructors in martial arts, for students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community of Berkeley.”
Instructors for the McCloud camp included:
-- Two-time heavyweight Olympic Gold Medalist (1992, 2000) and three-time Heavyweight World Champion (1993, ’96, ’97) Master Je Gyoung, a 7th degree black belt;
-- Two-time Olympic medalist (1996 bronze; 2000 silver), two-time World Champion (1997, 2001 includes MVP), three-time World University medalist (1995 and ’96, gold, ’99 bronze) Professor Inchul Cho, a 5th degree black belt; and
-- Two-time Korean National Champion (1999, 2000), Olympic Games (2000, 7th place) Master Ji Whan Han, a 5th degree black belt.
Master Buhs, a Berkeley graduate, began his formal martial arts training there. He was with the program for five years, then moved on to teach at The George Washington University in Washington D.C. Last fall he returned to California to teach at St. Mary’s College in Miraga, CA. This past summer he taught taekwondo classes at Berkeley.
“These classes are P.E. credit classes,” he said, “not recreational. Students are getting credits for taking them.”
The instructors, maintained a daily regimen of physical, intellectual, and spiritual training for students throughout the four-day camp, starting with a 6 a.m. morning run, extensive warm-up, stretching sessions, and intensive instruction of various techniques in martial arts.
Participants were encouraged to try different martial arts throughout the day, for example, they could choose either taekwondo on the grassy campus grounds, or yongmudo training in the Douglas DeBortoli gymnasium.
Students had ample free time, and evening lectures were offered to enrich their understanding of the martial arts.
Dr. Min credited Master Buhs and Dr. Peter Halt of Mount Shasta for successfully organizing Summer Camp 2006, and for selecting beautiful McCloud as the camp’s site.
Dr. Halt, a radiologist at Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta, began teaching taekwondo in this area in 2001.
He went to college in Berkeley and started training with Dr, Min in 1980, spending 10 years in his program as instructor and president of the Martial Arts Program.
Halt went to medical school in 1989. He presently teaches taekwondo classes at the Wellness Clinic at the Physical Therapy Center in Mount Shasta.
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So Yeong Choi, foreground above, and Chris Choi train students in kumdo during the 31st Annual Korean Martial Arts Summer Camp held this past weekend at McCloud High School. |
“They have a small gymnasium there, and I teach classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings,” Dr. Halt said.
“UCMAP is recognized nationally and internationally as a wonderful example of how the martial arts curriculum can be incorporated into the mission of colleges and universities for higher education, not just as recreational activities but as a potential training grounds of leadership skills,” he said
Promotional testing for 1st Degree Black Belt was held Saturday morning for four students from Washington D.C. [MSMAP Editor's Note: Four people did test, however, two people were from MSMAP -- Crystal Coulter-Nava and Joe Alva.]
Two students from Wyoming, were also tested for 2nd Degree Black Belt, and Brian Wright of Washington D.C. was tested for 6th Degree Black Belt.
A long way from home, but enjoying the event, Kyle Gilman, age 12, of Powell, WY, has been a student of taekwondo for two years.
“I think it’s really a great experience, I am continuously challenging myself,” Kyle said. “I am making new friends and learning self defense.”
When asked what he thought of the program, Kyle replied, “I’d like to say it’s a great program for everyone. It builds strength and character. Anyone can be in it, you don’t have to be a certain person to join.”
Kyle says when he grows up he wants to be either a geologist, chemist or meteorologist.
“I’ve always had the desire to be in martial arts,” said Michael Redman, 11, of Boise ID. “I am learning how to defend myself and getting a lot of self confidence. It’s a lot of fun.”
Both students agreed, “McCloud is really a great town, and we enjoy being here.”
Following training Sunday morning, a closing ceremony was held in the Douglas DeBortoli gymnasium, where students demonstrated their skills in acrobatics and self defense. The ancient art of kumdo was also demonstrated. Kumdo is a modern martial art of fencing. The name means, “the way of the sword.”
A promotional ceremony was also held, formally recognizing the black belt candidates who had passed their requirements.
“They are now black belts at their respective levels, and receive certificates stating as much,” explained Buhs.
Dr. Min expressed appreciation to Siskiyou Union High School superintendent Dick Holmes, McCloud High principal Jim Burger, school groundskeeper Nick Nicholas, and his wife Susan, for providing the grounds and facilities and their help in making this year’s summer camp a success.
“The scenery is absolutely beautiful, and the mountain is magnificent,” Dr. Min said. “And the people are very generous.”
Dr Min celebrated his 70th birthday this year. He is a 9th degree black belt.
There are 10 degrees in black belt; the 10th is given posthumously.
“I don’t want my 10th degree black belt any too soon,” Dr. Min said with a smile.
[MSMAP Editor's Note: Read about the upcoming summer camp in Idaho in Summer 2010:
Go to: 2010 International Korean Martial Arts Summer Camp]
