Masters Training
July 10, 2023
Written by Paul Noriega (Fathom Martial Arts)
My spirits were truly lifted earlier this March at our Regional Black Belt training session.
On March 4th Masters Robert Johnson and Kelly Goodwin from Coastal Canyon Tang Soo Do lead the other Ko Dan Ja, Black Belts, and Cho Dan Bos of Region 20 in the execution of 100 forms. This challenging and fulfilling evolution has become a Region 20 tradition that was started by Coastal Canyon back in 2011.
Personally, this class is something that my family and I look forward to doing every year. I still remember going for my first time as a Cho Dan Bo. It is a bit of a bittersweet memory since I was injured and could not physically participate. It was frustrating for me to sit there and watch my oldest son out there on the floor working his tail off with everyone else out there. The room was electric. Even though I was just sitting there on the bleachers watching, I could feel the energy that my brothers and sisters were sharing with one another. It truly was an awesome experience.
This year's 100 form workout was no different. Before we got into our workout, we took time to do some Black Belt promotions. Ms. Susan Baker from Coastal Canyon Tang Soo Do was promoted to E Dan. She has proven to be an outstanding addition to our region and I look forward to many more years of training with her. Additionally, Ms. Diana Nackley from my very own school was promoted to Cho Dan. Ms. Nackley is our very first student from Fathom Martial Arts Carlsbad to be promoted to the rank of Cho Dan since my family has taken over that program. We are all very proud of the hard work and dedication she has shown to earn her Black Belt.
Immediately after promotions it was time to get to the task at hand. And while the rest of our regional leadership got going on their 100 forms. I quickly joined Mr. Efrain Perez and Ms. Laura Barerra in a separate space for Online Master Candidate training. Master Roy Uttech, Master Susan Strohm, and Sa Bu Nim Lena Crane have put together an outstanding training syllabus to help ensure all of our association's Master Candidates are properly prepared to attend the U.S. Masters' Clinic at the end of this month. I cannot thank them enough for all they have done and the guidance they have provided me in preparation for this huge milestone in my martial arts career. On this day we had the great fortune of having Bu Kwan Ja Nim Allen Sharpe leading us in our training. Any time you can share training space with him is a gift. He shared with us some very specific insights in regards to executing our one-step training techniques that I know will prove useful in the next couple of weeks.
As soon as we bowed out from our online training, the three of us packed up on laptops and electronics as fast we could so we could join the rest of our brothers and sisters in the 100 forms workout. Luckily we were coming in right after one of the short breaks and to make things even better, we were jumping right into Ro Hai (affectionately known at Casa Noriega as dad's favorite form). As soon as I found my place on the floor with my usual suspects, I could feel the energy in the room. It felt exactly like the first time I was in this setting.
During my lifetime many things have changed, but it is great to know that the feeling of unity and brotherhood/sisterhood will never go away when training with my fellow members of the World Tang Soo Do Association.
