In
late July and early
August of 2016, a group
of Saenghwal Hohup Kwan
(Breath of Life School)
Tang Soo Do Federation
Instructors and Dan
members from the U.K.
and the U.S. made a
journey to the High
Tatras in Slovakia. The
trip was arranged as a
part of the 4th
Dan project for one of
the group, Miss Martina
Chovancova. Miss
Chovancova originates
from Slovakia where she
trained in GoJu for
twelve years before
moving to Warwickshire,
England where she has
trained in Tang Soo Do
under Master Dove for
the past ten years.
In
addition to the chance
to train in a beautiful
location, the excursion
offered the travelling
party an opportunity to
expose Slovakia to the
Martial Art of Tang Soo
Do, an art that
previously was unknown
in that Country.
With that in mind, local
martial artists were
invited to join the
group for an exchange of
ideas and technique. It
was our hope to build a
little brotherhood in
the process. Of the
Slovakian Instructors
invited to meet and
train with the visiting
party one in particular,
Mr Michal Turcanik,
expressed an interest in
a continuing education
in Tang Soo Do. This was
an historic event, and
the exchange left
everyone enriched by the
experience. Not only
were there great
training sessions and
exchanges of culture,
there was a genuine
spreading of respect and
friendship that is in
keeping with the concept
of Grand Master Hwang
Kee’s Project 2000.
 |
 |
Miss Chovancova
performing Dan
One Steps |
Observing
variation in
technique |
I
am delighted to be able
to report that as a
direct result of these
exchanges Mr. Turcanik
has elected to open the
first Tang Soo Do class
in Slovakia. His actions
benefit us all by
continuing the
international growth of
our much loved Martial
Art. Saenghwal Hohup
Kwan Instructors will be
returning to Slovakia in
October.
