08 was great! ... the year gone by

Here's a brief re-cap of what went on with our Complete Self Defence Hapkido in 2008, with links to the Hapkido Forum, Master G's blog and this blog. There is no doubt that '08 was great!'

We had the opportunity to 'pose' and have some professional pictures taken with family and Hapkido friends. With so many taken you've got to have a couple to treasure.

One of the biggest events during the year was Moorebank's CSD renovation, truly a fresh face and new beginning for the Dojang. It also marked the start of the OTR Sydney, again an awesome mix of instructors, techniques and fun with Masters Tooby, Cale, Floro and MG.

We also held our 10th Annual Ki Award Celebration to announce our yearly award winners (called 'Ki Awards') and to hold a dress-up dinner. This was the last of the current Ki Awards and it was fantastic to have all the nominees in attendance (a new award series will be announced next year).

Of course, the attendees certainly looked spectacular in their pants, shirts and dresses (not all at once of course). Throughout the night we congratulated the award winners (and heard their impromptu speeches), enjoyed the company of our Hapkido family and a good meal and competed in our first 'Martial Arts Trivia' night.

We did some travelling with the Sydney metropolitan Dojangs kicking off the first year of the 'Tri-Series' seminars (lookout in 2009 for this series, bigger and better):

• 'Body' at Parramatta (Dynamic Self Defence), go here
• 'Mind' at Hurstville (St George Self Defence), go here and there
• and topping it off with 'Spirit' at Moorebank (Complete Self Defence), go here.

And our Regional Dojangs hosted wonderful OTR's in Melbourne (Power Hapkido) and Wagga Wagga with great hospitality and events; 'old skoole' and the world famous Hapkido olympics.

Back in Moorebank CSD there was more training, training, training throughout the year. We had Technical Focus Classes taught by MG on 'kicking', 'striking' and 'difficult techniques' (to name a few) and several Black Belt Club Seminars including 'Free sparring' and 'Street fighting for beginners'. Of course there was the 'Sun Bae' training for Red and above, instructors courses, along with the UHS Lite and the Return of Hell Week.

We also managed some Senior Degree promotions along with Colour Belt promotions througout the year!

And did we mention the opening of the full-time Parramatta Dojang? What a year!

To wrapup this 'look-back' we must go back to the start of '08 where we held a huge celebration to herald the 15th Anniversary of the AHG in style.

With the return of guest instructors Sirs Terry and Elias along with techniques presented by Sirs John, Jimmy, Phil, Hassan and Maam Tina, the day was a fantastic gathering of Hapkido family (past and present).

Master Geoff wrapped up the day with some techniques and fending off the '20 questions' from the crowd where he shared his thoughts on the creation of our Hapkido and his experiences with GM Ji Han Jae.

Look out for the New Year which is coming fast and full - it's already packed to the rafters so check out the list of 2009 events now!

Regards

The CSD Team

December Grading and other congratulations

December grading
Congratulations to those students who successfully graded on Saturday and have achieved progression to their next belt.

Well done to Armadeus H, Darjan G, Dion K, Nick P, Steven, and Adrian.

Other congratulations
All of the excitement leading up to Christmas has meant we've now remembered to acknowledge and congratulate the following students of the month for December: Natasha L, Chloe L and Jane P.

Hell Camp III... Dare to dream and accept the challenge

At the Christmas Party Master Geoff announced that Hell Camp III is coming. Well, as announced on the Hapkido Froum, now is the time to accept the challenge and make the decision to come along. Time is of the essence because the venue will not be available much longer!

"Dare to dream, to achieve, something you never thought possible" by a Hapkidoist longing for Hell Camp

I remember when I was first starting out in Hapkido, all the talk was about Hell Camp. Hell Camp this, Hell Camp that. How awesome and challenging it was. How it left you buzzing for weeks and months after and how thinking about it years after still made you smile. Speak to Sir's Adrian, Nick or Graham about Hell Camp II and see how their faces light up even now!

Unfortunately I sit in the boat with the hapless many who missed out on Hell Camp II back in 2001, and have spent every year since in the hope that this year would be the year for Hell Camp III.

8 long and sad years have gone by, and there hasn't been a Hell Camp III... But now, finally, the GREATEST of NEWS!

Master Geoff announced that (provided we get sufficient numbers) Hell Camp III will be run on the weekend of 20 and 21 June 2009!! 40 is the magic number (not 42) and maybe I am optimistic but I don't think 40 students is that hard a number to reach.

Surely everyone wants to go to Hell Camp III!! Hell Camp III will be challenging and loads of fun. You will sweat and laugh, you will make yourself proud, and do things you probably never thought you could do.

And long after the weekend has gone by, you will think back on Hell Camp III and it will bring back the fondest of memories, it will make you smile, and you will feel a better person for having achieved something you did not think possible.

The Hell Camp III venue is very popular and we only have 2 weeks to pay our deposit of $50 each to make sure we lock the dates and venue in. If we don't get sufficient numbers with paid deposit by next week, Hell Camp III will not go ahead.

What do you have to do? Now you need to get yourself to Moorebank before the end of next week and pay your $50 deposit so we can lock in the venue and make sure that Hell Camp III goes ahead in June next year!

Good things, as in REALLY good things, come only very rarely and are few and far between. Let's grab those special opportunities when presented and not let them pass us by. It's so easy to make sure that Hell Camp III goes ahead!!

Christmas timetable and Super Saturdays

The CSD Moorebank timetable has been modified for the Christmas period. Along with adding everyone together to keep up the heat and enjoy the Xmas cheer, Master Geoff has added Super Saturdays.

Super Saturday start December 13

Super Saturdays start this Saturday (December 13) where the class will have more focus on pad work, strikes, kicks and drills. You should expect a driven work out drink water in the morning and bring a drink bottle to class. Also, it will be beneficial to ensure you have some gloves for the pad work!

Christmas / New Year timetable

Tonight was the first combined Adults class which was full of sweat and fun. So from Wednesday 10 December - Wednesday 7 January 2009 the modified timetable for ADULTS during the Christmas / New Year is as follows:

DECEMBER 2008

11th Thursday 7:15-8:30 Adult Mixed

Friday - No Classes

13th Super Saturday 12:00 - 1:00pm Adult Mixed

15th Monday 7:30 - 8:30pm Adult Mixed

16th Tuesday 7.15-8:30pm Adult Mixed

17th Wednesday 7:30 - 8:30pm Adult Mixed

18th Thursday 7.15-8:30pm Adult Mixed

Friday - No classes

20th Super Saturday 12:00 - 1:00pm Adult Mixed

22nd Monday 7:30 - 8:30pm Adult Mixed

(Note that the 22nd Monday is the Kids Last Class for 2008)

23rd Tuesday 7.15-8:30pm Adult Mixed - Last formal Adults class for Christmas

24th Wednesday - Open Mat (Informal Class) 

25th Thursday - Closed 

27th Saturday - Open Mat

29th Monday - Open Mat 

30th Tuesday - Open Mat 

31st Wednesday - Closed 

JANUARY 2009 

1st Thursday - Closed 

2nd Friday - Kids - First Class for the New Year 

3rd Super Saturday 12:00 - 1:00pm Adult Mixed Class AND First Class for the New Year 

5th Monday 7:30 - 8:30pm Adult Mixed

6th Tuesday 7.15-8:30pm Adult Mixed

7th Wednesday 7:30 - 8:30pm Adult Mixed

8th Thursday 7.15-8:30pm Adult Mixed

Please check the Forum for more on our Christmas period opening times.

Warm Regards 

The CSD Team

CSD Christmas Party

The CSD Hapkido Christmas Party was held on Saturday 6 December 2008 and a great deal of fun was had by all!

There were 86 people in attendance at the Black Rose Cafe - 86 being seat capacity! That's right, every single seat at the cafe had a person sitting on it with no room for any latecomers!

The food was in abundance with all the pizza and pasta you could eat. It just kept coming out long after every one was full! Master Geoff had to tell them to stop cooking at one point because they were happy to keep on making pizza even though everyone had stopped eating.

The Eagle Awards winners were announced at the Christmas Party - well done to the following students:

Adults:

Sean P - Best Attitude, Nick P - Best Technique, Dion K - Best Effort, David Q - Best and Fairest

Falcons:

Luke D - Best Attitude, Dylan V - Best Technique, Daniel G - Best Effort, Jacob D - Best and Fairest

Hawks:

Joshua P - Best Attitude, Cameron C - Best Technique, Alasta L - Best Effort, Dylan H - Best and Fairest

Well done and congratulations to all the winners. Receiving an Eagle Award is a great achievement and something to be very proud of!

Master Geoff also announced Hell Camp III to be run mid-2009. This was great news and 35 students put their name on the list to attend! Those students who were in attendance at the Christmas Party and put their name on the list got a special ticket which will mean extra credit at the Hell Camp, so they're already one step closer to possibly being Knighted at the Hell Camp!

All in all the CSD Hapkido Christmas Party was a great success and a great way to spend the day with fellow Hapkidoists.

Hell Camp 2009 announced

The plans for Hell Camp III (a major Hapkido event for 2009) was announced at the CSD Christmas Party.

Friday 7pm June 19th to Sunday afternoon June 21st are the tentative dates, so put them in your calendar and get your name on the list at the Dojang.

More information will be posted when it's available and follow this link to the forum to talk about the event some more.

(Click on the picture to get the Hell Camp flyer)

Revolutionary New Black Belt Syllabus

Great news for all Black Belts in the International Hapkido Alliance!

Master Geoff is currently working on a new Black Belt Syllabus which will revolutionise the way Black Belts are taught and will set a new standard of Black Belt both within and outside the organisation.

No doubt one of the major attractions of the IHA is the opportunity for Black Belts to continue training beyond Black Belt, to continue learning new techniques and to become even better Hapkidoists. The new Black Belt Syllabus will set all IHA Black Belts even further apart from all others.

The fun begins in January with the release of a prototype for Black Belts to play around with. The official release of the Black Belt Syllabus is expected to be at the International Training Seminar in the US in April 2009.