Summer Training Camp
American Kang Duk Won holds a summer training camp in Southern Jefferson County at Lorraine, New York. The camp provides four days of intensive training in all aspects of the martial arts. To give you a taste of the experiences available, the following is sampling of some of the courses offered at camp.
NEW! Photos from the 2007 American Kang Duk Won Karate Summer Camp.
A student's journal and photos from the 2006 camp.
General information and photos (American Kang Duk Won website).
Photos from the 2005 camp.
Spiritual and Intellectual Study
Grandmaster Arndt is often quoted as saying that the martial arts are 90% mental. This emphasis is apparent at camp where the spiritual and intellectual side of Tae Kwon Do is explored. In addition to the classes offered on meditation and the roll of a martial artist in society, an extensive meditation garden and many other resources are made available to the students. Being able to sit and study a Zen garden or to slowly walk through a meditation labyrinth provides an important contrast to the physical nature of many of the other classes.
Empty-hands Techniques
Students are able to participate in a variety of seminars that incorporate teachings and training methods from other martial arts to extend the empty-hands techniques taught during normal classes. In the past, seminars have included:
- Balance and footwork
- Board breaking
- Cha-Na Self-Defence—An extremely effective form of Chinese self-defence
- Close quarters combat
- Judo—A martial arts style that focuses on throwing techniques rather than strikes
- Wing Tsun—A martial arts style which includes, amongst other teaching methods, training against wooden dummies
Self-defence
One of the main reasons people study martial arts is for self-defence training. American Kang Duk Won has recognized this and teaches basic self-defence in normal classes. Learning self-defence at camp is a more intense experience as the instructors have the resources to prepare involved simulations. Students can participate in a S.A.F.E program which consisted of a series of staged encounters that that may vary in severity from identity theft to road-rage or a mugging. Mature students have also been able to participate in an optional "high-stress" self-defence session.
Challenges
On top of all the martial arts sessions, a climbing wall, ropes course, and high element challenge are available to students. The ropes course and high element are changed each year so that returning students are always faced with a surprise. These activities are designed to help students push themselves to do things you would not have thought possible.
Introduction to Weapons
Because of the large number of instructors at camp, it is possible to offer a number of introductory weapons courses. Weapons covered have included:
- Escrima
- Kama
- Sai
- Spear
- TaiChi Sword
- Tonfa
In addition to traditional weapons forms, weapons combat has been introduced in classes such as spear vs. spear, spear vs. sword, and weapons self-defence.
Special Events
Being surrounded by such a large number of students allows for some very special activities that could only take place in a similar environment. The assault on Nopunde Castle and the combat course are central aspects of camp that must be experienced to be understood. If you want to find out more about camp or these activities, speak with any of the club members who have a camp patch on their uniform. They will be pleased to regale you with stories of their trips to camp.
