KOREA MARTIAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2022

The Korean Martial Arts Festival 2021 Everybody Wants to Belong By Master Guy Edward Larke

Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came You want to be where you can see Our troubles are all the same

You want to be where everybody knows your name - Gary Portnoy, Theme Song to Cheers

The COVID crisis has hit the world in so many ways, financially, politically, health-wise and so on. The damage to the martial arts community in general has been immense as well. The amount of school closures and even organizations closing or downsizing in unprecedented. The one thing that no one discusses, whether it’s because it seems unimportant or as an afterthought, is the comradery in the martial arts community. As the old adage goes, no man (or woman) is an island. More than ever, the martial artist (whether professional or hobbyist) needs a place to call home without selling their soul to some organization. Enter Master Thomas Gordon’s brain child, the Korean Martial Arts Festival. It was birthed over 15 years ago simply as a way for exponents of the Korean arts to come together, regardless of rank, style or any other perceivable barrier. It started with modest, but hopeful response and grew every year without fail. Readers of most martial arts publications in North America should be well acquainted with Master Gordon’s legacy, as well as the brotherhood he has formed over the years. Despite the crippling effects of the global pandemic, he has fought to bind the spiritual ties of the martial arts community tighter. Where most events are exclusive or try to draw new people into their organization, Gordon only wants people to share their passion, their spirit and sweat with one another. Is that too much to ask as a requirement? Last April celebrated the 15th event! How man organizations can claim that? Not just in America, but internationally. What follows was the itinerary:

For KMAF2022, on the Session Leaders’ side, the following are confirmed (in no particular order):

Dr He-Young Kimm GM Rudy Timmerman (tentative) GM Michael DeAlba GM Jimm McMurray GM Kevin Janisse GM Joe Cayer GM William Widmeyer GM Jimmie Faralli Master Stinson CM John Orndoff Master John Ellis Master Chris DuFour Master Calvin Longton Master Alain Burrese SBN Amanda Howard SBN Luke West

Others may join the line-up as time goes on.

Master Chris Dufour: If you’re a martial artist on a journey to continually improve yourself, then the KMAF is the event for you. The quality and variety of instruction provided for all ages and ranks is amazing. Each year, Master Gordon goes above and beyond to provide an experience that exceeds the previous. The ego free training environment is the best. We hope to see you at KMAF 2022!

Master Jae-Sik Yang: My Jikimi Taekgyeon team and myself flew from South Korea for this event and we were floored by the hospitality of the host, his students and all who attended the event. EVERYONE got on the floor and trained. There was a lot of sweating, laughter and memories. Hope to return…

Next year’s event will be April 22nd-24th, 2022. Interested parties can call +1-850682-0720 or go to www.KMAF.info .

Senior Master Guy Edward Larke has spent most of his life enamored with the martial arts of Asia and Asian cultures in general. These led him to move to South Korea 20 years ago where he continued to study, research, and write about the various disciplines that shaped his life. In addition to teaching martial arts in Korea, USA, Malaysia and Denmark he has written over 800 articles in over 20 magazines. He named the synthesis of his pilgrimage KisaDo Muye (the Knights Way Martial Arts). Larke can be found on Facebook or by e-mail at kisadomuye@gmail.com.