Hello all Instructors and AHA members,

Yes, after two years' of cancellations due to COVID lockdowns and restrictions it's back and we want it to be better than ever! The annual AHA Interclub Challenge will be held on Sunday 28 August from 8am to approximately 4.30pm.

PERSONS WISHING TO ENTER THE INTERCLUB CHALLENGE MUST BE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE AHA.

IMPORTANT!!: This year the Interclub Challenge will be returning to its original venue - Niagara Park Sports Stadium (formerly known as Central Coast Youth Club) at 18 Washington Avenue, Niagara Park (on the NSW Central Coast).  The drive time from Sydney is approx. 1.25 hours - exiting the expressway at the Gosford exit.. More information will provided once each participant registers for the event.

Our competitions, and the many open competitions Ron and I have attended with our students are nothing like what you might have seen in some martial arts movies (e.g. the most recent Karate Kid movie with Jackie Chan and Jayden Smith) - no light up signboards flashing competitors' names and/or photos, no screaming crowds - just supportive families and friends who attend - and NO vicious contact or 'grudge' matches. Our events are friendly and not much different to the training and sparring you do in your own dojangs. Good sportsmanship, making new friends and catching up with old ones is the name of the game.

Prizes are awarded for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place in each event plus you get a point for each event you enter - just for competing - so why not give it a go?

Please do not be concerned about it being too competitive or about getting injured. In the 25+ years that I have been involved with our Hapkido tournaments I can only recall one injury that required hospital treatment. First aid at our tournaments usually involves nothing more than applying a few bandaids and a couple of ice packs (and those mostly to minor bruises and strains). Our tournaments, and the many open tournaments Ron and I have attended with our students are nothing like what you might have seen in some martial arts movies (e.g. The Karate Kid movies) – no light up signboards with competitors’ names and/or photos, no screaming crowds – just families and friends who attend – and NO vicious contact or ‘grudge’ matches. Our tournaments are friendly and not much different to the training and sparring you do in your own dojangs.

The tournament offers competitors four events:

Sparring: This is broken up into four divisions: Novice – Yellow Belt and Green Tip; Intermediate – Green Belt to Blue Belt and Senior Belt – Red Tip to Black Tip. There is also a Black Belt Division – 1^st to 3^rd Dan. In the Novice division NO contact is permitted, while in the Junior belt division – only very light controlled ("touch" contact) is permitted. All sparring bouts are strictly controlled by our black belt referees.

There will also be Male and Female divisions as well as age and weight group divisions, depending on the number of entrants, so encourage your training mates to enter – the more competitors we have, the more we can subdivide the groups.

All males must wear groinguards (a small number will be available for use at the event but we strongly advise you supply your own, for comfort and added hygiene) and all competitors must wear approved protective headgear (this will be supplied by the AHA at the event).

Patterns/Drills: Contestants must do pattern/drill they used for their last grading i.e. the pattern/drill from their previous belt level. For example: yellow belts will do the yellow tip drill, green tips will do the yellow belt pattern, and so on. Black Belts: 1^st Dan – black tip drill (note: not the Eagle pattern), 2^nd Dan – 1^st Pole pattern, 3^rd Dan - 2^nd Pole Pattern.

Self Defence routines: These routines are always interesting and entertaining and greatly improve participants’ self defense skills. Routines may be a maximum of 45 seconds’ duration and should depict a realistic and reasonable (depending on age and belt level) Self Defence scenario. There are Junior, Senior and Black Belt divisions as well as kids’ subdivisions for under 16s.

The division your team will compete in will be determine by the belt level of the most senior-ranked member of your team and the age of the oldest member of your team. Please see the Challenge rules (which will soon be posted on the AHA website) for an explanation of how divisions are determined.

If you wish to compete in the Self Defence routines event please provide the names of your self defence team mate/s in the space provided in the registration screen. Note: teams must consist of either 2 or 3 persons, no more.

Breakfalling: A Flying Cat Roll competition will be open to those Green Belt and up in Junior, Senior and Black Belt Divisions.

Please see the Challenge rules - the full version and a set of condensed essentials (which will soon be posted on the AHA website) for further information.

PAYMENT:

There is a single entry fee of 30 dollars and competitors can compete in as many divisions as they qualify for. Competitors must register and pay no later than COB Friday 19 August. Note: to help students in outlying areas the AHA will not charge an entry fee for competitors from outside the Sydney/Newcastle area.

You may pay your tournament registration fee here and now as part of this AHA/revSPORT registration process OR you may pay later ( but no later than Monday 22 August) - see payment options below*.

*PAYMENT OPTIONS

1.   Internet Banking – Payments can be made to the Australian Hapkido Association:

BSB: 062190

Account Number: 10101231

Please put “tourn – <your name>” in the deposit description

2.   Direct Deposit - Deposits can be made to the Australian Hapkido Association at any Commonwealth Bank:

BSB: 062190

Account Number: 10101231

Please put “tourn – <your name>” in the deposit description

If you have any questions please contact Melissa Rees by email at this address or by phoning or texting 0411 718 556.

Thank you for your participation and enthusiasm.