News

Dear Masters

Haidong! I hope you are all well and training hard. I am writing you this letter in regards to the first USA Western Open Haidong Gumdo Championships. This Championships will be held the first weekend of November in Phoenix Arizona and will coincide with the semi-annual Masters training held by headquarters headmaster Jeong Woo Kim.

The tournament will be held at 9:00 on Saturday, November the 7th and we will work to be finished by 5pm.

• Individual event, $30.00.
• Bamboo cutting is $40.00.

If you wish to compete in both an individual event and bamboo cutting you will receive a $10.00 discount for a total of $60.00.

• Individual gum bup.
• 4 student gum bup.
• Bamboo cutting.
• 4 student candle snuffing
• One-on-one gyuk gum.

The age categories will be sent to you soon. This will of course depend on the number on contestants involved. There will also be Black belt testing beginning a 8:00 am Sunday and a students seminar beginning at 9:30 am. This schedule has been designed to help as much as possible so that students and employees will only have to miss one business day of travel on Friday, and be able to catch PM flights on Sunday to be able to return to work or school Monday.

We need all of your help to make this a successful first step in creating future USA Open championship and National championship tournaments which is a necessary step to progressing towards a n Olympic sport. The World Haidong Gumdo Federation is taking direct control of the financial aspect of this tournament and needs your direct involvement to be a success. We of course will need qualified individuals to referee. We must also have a estimate of competitors no later than Sept. 30. So we can order the proper amount of medals. USA Championship t-shirts must me ordered directly from the Headquarters in Korea at $20.00 per shirt. Pre-orders only, also by Sept. 30th.

Please note that the title USA "Western" Open's is a term to indicate where the championships is being held and in no way is meant to segregate the USA or other competing countries. In the future we look forward to holding the USA Eastern, Southern, or Northern Opens, once again only indicating where the championships are being held, not who is invited. Please understand this.

Keeping with the traditions of the Haidong Gumdo way , there will be a one Demonstration performance. These demonstrations are limited to 5 minutes maximum time allowance. I have been asked to be the Demonstration Team Leader and am asking that all Master who wish to participate contact me as soon as possible with your demonstration concept. Also keep in mind that is a traditional Haidong Gumdo event, and are looking for Haidong Gumdo demonstrations including paper cutting, fruit cutting, Gyuk Gum, Sword dance, bamboo cutting, straw cutting, and gum pup.

Marshall Parnell, Chief Master
Demonstration Team Leader USA Western Opens

• Jeong Woo Kim, Headquarters Headmaster, Tournament Director
• Peter Oien, Chief Master, Assistant Tournament Director
• Ralph Estrada, Chief Master, Assistant Tournament Director
• Laura Clements, Chief Master, Assistant Tournament Director
• Jerry Laurita, Master, Assistant Tournament Director