2008 Camp Pictures

AMERICAN KANG DUK WON KARATE

2008 Camp Pictures
July 3 - 6, 2008

(Thumbnail pictures are given here. To see larger pictures, click on the picture, then use your browsers "Back" button to return to this page.)

Wednesday evening, before camp opens, the final preparations are being completed, tents are raised, and class aids are put in place. All campers present, black, brown , and colored belts, pitch in cooperatively to get the work done.

The camp opened on Thursday, July 3 with intermitent light rain, but insufficient for any serious concerns. The remaining days were dry, with beautiful blue skies, warm days, and cool nights.

Camp opens, and the black belt instructors are ready to go.
Every day starts with a bow in and a short workout.
Immediately after the opening bow in, everyone gathered in the main tent, and heard a statement from the AKDW directors. The Robert C. Lawlor Rock Garden was to be established on and around a small knoll near the headquarters building. The intent is to have each dojang contribute a rock characteristic of its location, and also to have a small pond in the garden area. Later in the camp, Master Lawlor placed the first rock at the location of the rock garden.

During the day, many classes are available to the students. Some work on essentials of regular classes: katas, stretching, kicking, self-defense, sparring, etc. Other classes are designed to introduce the students to new experiences: traditional martial weapons weapons, self-defense against weapons, the combat course, the Physical Rediness and Training (PRT) course, the Self Awareness For Everyone (S.A.F.E.), course, etc. Pictures from a number of the class activities are given here.

Combat Course. The combat course is run twice during the four days of camp and is required of all students. A few pictures from the start, along the trail, and the black belt ninjas are given here.

Friday was special topics day with the students being divided into three groups and progressing through these groupings throughout the day: S.A.F.E. and Self-Defense programs, Ropes Area activities, and Intro to Kendo.

S.A.F.E. Course (Self Awareness For Everyone) and Self-Defense. These events are to represent possible situations that one may encounter in everyday life followed by a debriefing to help the participant better understand the best reaction to the situation. Here we have a withdrawl at an ATM, a meeting with some hunters/campers, a dispute in a parking lot, a pan handler in the park, and a terrorist in an airplane. Practice of traditional self-defense is always necessary.
Ropes Area activities. A number of different, but related activities occur in this wooded area of the camp. These activities are a test of the student's dexterity, balance, etc. and involve several low ropes courses, climbing cargo nets, target practice with jarts, small handheld slingshots, tomahawks, the air pressure tennis ball cannon shooting at a target across the swamp, a zip line ride across the swamp to recover the tennis balls, and to use the larger ground-fixed slingshot at the target back across the swamp. The swamp is crossed this time using the suspension bridge.
Kendo. The students get a brief introduction to the art of Kendo. In place of traditional weapons,, , well padded, blunt weapons are used in the competitions. Everyone has fun!

Many classes are available for the students selection. Pictures are not available for all classes, but for those that we do, the pictures are grouped in somewhat similar categories, where possible.

PRT Course (Physical Readiness Training). The PRT course is a short obstacle course with challenges to go over, under, through, across, and climbed.
Regular class topics. These classes work on the techniques which are part of every class during the year - Stretching, Kicking, Kata (colored and brown belt), and Sparring.
Weapons. Students have a chance to receive an introduction to some of the traditional martial arts weapons, Sai, and Jo, as well as some some "camp only" experiences, Spear and Knife throwing. Another class introduces students to Knife Fighting self-defense.
Other classes. Board breaking, Tournament judging, Judo, Chin Na, Climbing wall.
Labyrinth and Meditation Areas. These areas are locations where one can go for a quiet, peaceful meditative time. Both areas are illuminated with tiki torches during the evening hours, so they offer a different experience during daylight and darkness.

While regular scheduled classes end with the dinner hour, both the students and the black belt instructors keep going with various activities.

Students. - Forms, games, assault on Napunde Castle, water balloon dodgeball, etc.
Black Belts.
- Spear throwing, cutting water soaked grass mats with swords, trebuchet, fireworks, .
- Fire Walking. Fourteen black belt instructors undertook the fire walking experience. The coals were prepared by burning a large quantity of wood in the pit, then smoothing it to give a nice relatively uniform charcoal bed. Master Hintopoulos gave a presentention on how to prepare oneself with mediatation, then the participants proceeded to the hot charcoal pit. The pictures given here are not of the best quality, but are the best that could be obtained from a number of sources.
- Black Belt Picnic. Saturday noon the black belt instructors take time for a picnic at Battery Point, relax, and have target practice with the cannons at a target across the swamp.
The Last Class and The Camp Closing Bow Out. All students attend the last class of camp. The class is presented by Master Palumbo on the topic Traditional Philosophy. After this class the students preceed directly to the final assembly for the camp closing bow out.