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As the leaves began to turn in their autumnal hues so did all eyes towards New Hampshire for the annual APTSDF North East Regional tournament. Taking place on Saturday 13th October and after a few years in Connecticut the tournament returned to New Hampshire making its debut at the Henry Wilson Memorial School in Farmington. The gymnasium was the biggest venue so far to host the competition which was perfect since a record number of Tang Soo Do practitioners signed up for this year's edition. A grand total of 113 people registered to compete marking a massive 25% increase in the number of competitors from just one year ago and a testament to the growth of schools in the region. The region was well represented with competitors from New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Maryland all making th e journey on a brisk October morning.

The beautiful B Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, welcomed the Atlantic-Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation for their Annual Ko Dan Ja Retreat / Shim Sa and Bi-Annual Championship event. Competitors traveled from near and far in anticipation of a gathering that would include representation from as far as our sister federation, Asia Pacific Tang Soo Do, in Australia!

The Southwest Region of the Atlantic-Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation celebrated its 4^th annual Leadership Camp and Dan Review over the weekend of May 4, 5, & 6^th. This marked the Federation’s 2^nd event at Butman Methodist Camp, in Merkel, TX. A number of students, instructors, and chaperones from a variety of schools within the region traveled many hours to participate in the Leadership Camp, coming together, once again, to enjoy the spirit and camaraderie so closely associated with The Federation’s camps and retreats, as well as to enjoy a variety of seminars, lectures, practical lessons, physical drills, leadership training sessions, and general education in the martial arts. This coming together of like minds was the embodiment of the camp’s theme, this year; “Passion, Purpose, Principle, Pilsung.”

The southeastern regional spring cycle Dan Shim Sa (Black Belt test) and annual championships took place in Cleveland, GA on April 20th and 21st. We started off with a great black belt test consisting of over 50 Black Belts and Cho Dan Bo (Black Belt Candidates) on Friday night April 20th. The test was a great demonstration of skill from all the participants, but we always have a few that stand out and go home with the coveted best of test trophies. For this test they were William Townsend for the adults and Katie Paris for the children, both from Eagle leadership Martial Arts.

 In its customary venue of Camp ASCCA in Jackson’s Gap, Alabama, the Southeastern region of the Atlantic-Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation held a successful and enjoyable Black Belt Camp under the watchful eye of Grandmaster John St. James and Twelve other Masters from a variety of schools around the Southeast. 

Warm fall weather and the changing of the leaves was a perfect backdrop for the 2017 Northeastern Region APTSDF Championships and Regional Dan Shim Sa or black belt test. Federation schools from across the region gathered on Saturday, October 14th at Bethany Covenant Church in Berlin, CT for what turned out to be our largest Championships in years. Over 90 competitors and 8 Federation Masters took part in this spectacular gathering. Special thanks go out to Kwan Jang Nim St. James and International Master Deborah Jett for taking the time to join us and having an ever presence in our regional events.

The Atlantic-Pacific Tang Soo Do Federation’s Southwest Region held its 5th annual Dan Shim Sa (black belt test) and Championship Tournament September 29-30 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kwan Jang Nim John St. James traveled from Atlanta, Georgia to oversee the event. Kwan Jang Nim St. James was joined by Sunim Sabom Nim Mark Farquharson, who traveled from Aurora, Colorado. Regional school owners, and their students, from Thunderbird Martial Arts, Albuquerque, NM; Colorado Tang Soo Do, Aurora, CO; Abilene Karate Academy, Abilene, TX; and Cornerstone Martial Arts & Leadership Academy, Arlington, TX made the trip to participate. The event was hosted by Mr. Tom Witterholt, Bu Sabom, of Thunderbird Martial Arts, and the venue was The Boys & Girls Club of Central New Mexico.

Sixteen V-Town Family Karate students of Master Navarra attended an overnight camp at John Carroll High School in Birmingham, Alabama. We are grateful to the Atlantic Pacific Tang Soo Do Foundation for the support and transportation to and from the event. We are grateful to the 5 Vredenburgh chaperones and the adult workers at John Carroll who fed us and organized the event.

Serve, Lead and Inspire! This was the theme for the 2017 Kodanja (Master’s Clinic) and the New England Regional Black Belt Camp held at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts from June 23rd to the 25th. This year was the first Kodanja which was held at Springfield College and it was one to remember for the ages. The two separate events shared some venues on campus and yet there were two distinct schedules and no shortage of valuable instruction. It was a real treat!