Boston 2008

Thursday 6th March 2008 saw Master Trudgill, accompanied by Carol Trudgill, Scott Richards, Aaron Nicholas Keith Husband, Claire & Alison Davies flying from Heathrow Airport to Boston Logan Airport to compete in the 2008 All Tang Soo Do Championships. The Tournament was being held at the Colonial Sheraton Hotel Lynfield (which was also where we were staying), some 30 minutes drive from the airport.

After checking in we were taken to the “99” bar& grill for a meal. We were joined by instructors and students from Holland who had arrived earlier in the day. Everyone had an enjoyable meal and, by the end, all were very tired after their long journeys. All decided to have a reasonably early night.

Friday was to see the start of the tournament with registration at 6pm and the competition beginning at 7pm, but first things first, breakfast. Breakfast in America is an experience everyone should try. Take the great British breakfast, multiply it by 2, then, add pancakes, waffles, syrup and fruit. Wash it all down with gallons of tea, coffee, and an assortment of juices and that’s your typical American breakfast (minus the Heinz baked beans).

As the competition didn’t start until the evening, we decided to go into Boston city. So, like the night before, Wales joined forces with Holland and got onto the hotel shuttle bus and headed off to the nearest train station. After purchasing our tickets from the delicatessen store (yes that’s right), we headed onto the platform to wait. When the train arrived we had to run up the platform to the front because they only open one carriage at a time. One of the Holland party had spent a lot of time in America and acted as our guide. The first port of call was the U.S.S. Constitution. Launched on October 21st 1797 it is the oldest commissioned warship afloat today. After a visit aboard we headed off on a trolley bus passing the statue of Paul Revere who acted as a courier for the revolutionists in 1775.

The next step on our tour was to “Quincy” market. Originally built to sell produce, it is now a popular place to eat and has food stalls of all different types down its 535 feet length (naturally we all had try the food on offer). Following a brief visit to Boston’s China town it was time to head back via the Boston subway, train and hotel bus back to the hotel to prepare for the evenings events. There were three categories to be contested on Friday. Haidong Gumdo, Weapons and Chil Sung & Non Traditional Forms competitions. 

With competitors from all over the U.S. Canada, Holland and ourselves from Wales it was an exciting prospect. There were eight rings organised for the evening with at least one Master judging in each. Events started with Haidong Gumdo whose practitioners concentrate on the use of the sword.

The weapons division provided a variety of weaponry including longswords daggers and bo staffs. Along with these were some more exotic weapons not normally seen in competition in the UK. Fans (used to great effect and can be quite noisy when they are opened quickly) Chinese broadsword,  Kama (Sickle like weapons wielded in both hands and evolved from weed cutting tools from Japan), Nunchaku (a short flail thought to be derived from a farm tool) and possibly the most exotic (and largest) being the Guando or Kwandao (a broad bladed knife on a 5 to 6 foot long pole with a pointed counter weight on the other end. All of our group took part performing various staff forms. Following on from this was the Chil Sung & Non Traditional forms category with Carol, Scott and Aaron Performing Chil Sung O Ro and Keith Alison and Claire performing Chil Sung Sa Ro.
The evenings competitions finished at around 10pm and we all went back to the hotel restaurant for some supper then off to bed to get some rest ready for the next day.

Saturday morning sees the start of day two of the tournament. We all line up in grade order to salute the flags and the host nations anthem is played. In the first line are the dignitaries including Grandmasters Byrne, Giacobbe and Ferrero. Two full lines of masters follow and so on down the grades. Next comes the presentation of plaques of appreciation to the dignitaries and masters. Some of the 3rd dans are presented with their masters belts. When master Trudgill is called to receive his plaque there is an extra surprise. He is presented with an extra plaque to mark his induction into the American Tang Soo Do Association Hall of Fame. This is a great honour and one that we his students feel that he richly deserves.

With all the presentations over the tournament can begin in earnest, starting with the junior gup grade competitions. As with our own tournament competitors are called to their ring and complete all of their events (forms, breaking & sparring). As we were not required to judge we were able to walk around the rings and watch the various events. The standard of competition was high and there was a great feeling of camaraderie between both competitors and spectators. As the day progressed it was the turn of the masters demonstration division. The breaking event allowed the use of any material and, while wood boards were mostly used, the audience saw the newly promoted master Donna Roberts smash her way through 7 concrete slabs.

The time was fast approaching when our own categories would be called and everyone started their final preparations. Our high spirits had been further raised by the news that Wales had beaten France to win the six nations Championships with a Grand Slam.

With the continuing high standard our events went well and everyone from our group performed well with medal placings for everyone. The final event of the tournament was the grand champion forms competition with winners from dan grade Chil Sung & non-traditional and traditional forms categories taking part. The winner was Mr. Scott Richards, becoming the first person to take the title outside the U.S. in the 35-year history of the event. With events finished off it was time to rush off and get ready for the tournament Banquet. Good company and good food made the evening very enjoyable. It was nice to see people out of their do boks and relaxing.

Sunday was our day of rest with no more competitions to do. After a lazy morning at the hotel we all climbed into taxis and headed to the nearest shopping mall to look for the obligatory presents to take home. After stopping for lunch, most of us were all shopped out and we decided to return to the hotel.

The journeys back proved to be quite eventful. The first taxi managed to get lost and the second (with Scott, Aaron and myself in) had a driver who looked as though he may have been an escapee from a “state run institution”, but we all made it back.
While some rested in their rooms, Master Trudgill, Scott and I decided to take advantage of the sports club facilities and have a sauna & swim. The club was well equipped and modern (not to mention large). It is is the official health club for the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics

The evening saw us back at the “99” bar & grill (minus our Dutch friends as they had left for home earlier) for our final meal in Boston with the party continuing at the hotel bar afterwards. With the time getting late and a very early start in the morning (and the bar closing), it was time for bed.............Well, not quite for all, as some never actually made it to bed.

 At six am we said our goodbyes and headed to the airport. Our flight was on time and would take only six hours. The time difference meant that we would arrive back in the UK at around eight pm, which was not far from correct. The final drive to Wales went quickly and most of us were in our homes by around midnight.