MA and ME (Cap.11 PROFESOR Carlos Damasco

MARTIAL ARTS and ME (p. 10)

Professor Carlos Damasco

On Wednesday, August 3 of the current, with my partner and friend Carlos García Arocena, we undertook a trip to Porto Alegre. In a twelve hour trip, in the morning we reach our destination. Master Alexandre Gomes, Eighth Dan of Taekwondo WT, and Eighth Dan of Hapkido Um Yang were waiting for us there. From there, we moved to his gym. We witnessed the development of various classes for children. At noon we had lunch, and then went to rest. In the afternoon, we went to practice at the gym. The first class was Hapkido, with a high level and we were trying to assimilate everything taught in it. Next, I participated in a Taekwondo class. Basically, my trip had the objective of training in the art, to perfect techniques as a student of the Master. In this class I was able to evacuate techniques and perfect them. After training, I stayed to wait for my partner Carlos who participated in another Hapkido class. It is noteworthy that my partner is a Second Dan of Hapkido, from the Uruguayan Center, and an active practitioner of said art. In October of this year, he will travel to Korea to do a special training for fifteen days, in a place similar to a Temple, and he will live and practice with people from various countries. It should be noted that Carlos is Second DAN OF TAEKWONDO I.T.F. , emphasizing that today it is not his usual practice. I was recording his Hapkido training, which is always interesting and educational. Finally we went to our place of lodging to take a restorative bath, have dinner, and chat reliving the experiences of the day. Not much later we went to rest, because the next day we had a long day ahead of us, and we

had to recover our strength. Early Friday we did a Taekwondo class, coinciding with the presence of GM Liandro Pimentel Technical Director of the Brazilian Poomsae Team. I had the opportunity to be corrected by him in Poomsae de Danes, something that I consider to be of exceptional technical value. Sensei Eduardo De Mattei, Seventh Dan of Karate Do Wado Kai, WKF Pan American Karate Champion also participated. He and the Master are united by a great friendship. We finished the day in the morning, and had lunch, and then went to rest. In the afternoon I did the second Taekwondo class of the day with great intensity, Finally at night and with Maestro Gomes, I had a personal class. It consisted of the realization of all the Poomsaes of Gup and those of Danes, up to the level of fifth Dan, in total thirteen forms performed three times each and with their technical application. Under the watchful eye of Master during my practice, he made the corresponding technical corrections. In the end, we are both satisfied with what has been done. Ending the day's work, a good bath and a restful sleep awaited me. On Saturday morning, the two of us had one last Hapkido class. which was very intense and at the same time enriching. Next, I did one last Taekwondo practice, having reviewed the forms of Danes. We returned to our lodging, and later we went to have lunch with the Master, his Mrs. and his daughter. A mutual friend also joined us and Hapkido student Eduardo Rímoli. We share a good lunch and then we all together tour the beautiful city of Porto Alegre. Around the afternoon, we went to prepare our luggage for the return, since at 7:00 p.m. we embarked for Montevideo, ending our trip. With the satisfaction of duty accomplished, twelve hours of return awaited us. Until next time!!!