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Martial Arts Mania in Sussex County

| 28 Apr 2015 | 01:45
    Martial artist Courtney Price demonstrates her skill with the cane in the weapons competition. Price won first place.
    Martial artist Courtney Price demonstrates her skill with the cane in the weapons competition. Price won first place.
    Eleven year old Grace Cuttone soars through the air during a leaping kick and breaks a wood board. She won second place in the board breaking competition. Cuttone represents DayHan Holistic Martial Arts of Leonia, N.J.
    Eleven year old Grace Cuttone soars through the air during a leaping kick and breaks a wood board. She won second place in the board breaking competition. Cuttone represents DayHan Holistic Martial Arts of Leonia, N.J.
    Two little martial artists go toe to toe in the sparring competition.
    Two little martial artists go toe to toe in the sparring competition.
    An apple is sliced by the sword welded by blindfolded Grandmaster Ik Hwan Kim without touching the neck of a fellow martial artist. Kim is the promoter and MC of the event.
    An apple is sliced by the sword welded by blindfolded Grandmaster Ik Hwan Kim without touching the neck of a fellow martial artist. Kim is the promoter and MC of the event.
    Eighteen year old Courtney Price does a flying kick and breaks a board held by her instructor Master Sam White. Price won 1st place in the weapons competition. Price represents Flying Tiger Martial Arts Academy of New Jersey.
    Eighteen year old Courtney Price does a flying kick and breaks a board held by her instructor Master Sam White. Price won 1st place in the weapons competition. Price represents Flying Tiger Martial Arts Academy of New Jersey.
    Grandmaster Ik Hwan Kim shows physical and mental discipline while breakinig a board standing on broken glass with two buckets pinned to his forearms with metal pins. The pins go right through his flesh but he does not bleed. Kim is the owner of Universal Martial Arts Institute of Lafayette, N.J.
    Grandmaster Ik Hwan Kim shows physical and mental discipline while breakinig a board standing on broken glass with two buckets pinned to his forearms with metal pins. The pins go right through his flesh but he does not bleed. Kim is the owner of Universal Martial Arts Institute of Lafayette, N.J.
    Four year old Sade Adeyeri gives a hard elbow strike to a wood board. Adeyeri represents DayHan Holistic Martial Arts of Leonia, N.J
    Four year old Sade Adeyeri gives a hard elbow strike to a wood board. Adeyeri represents DayHan Holistic Martial Arts of Leonia, N.J
    Seven year old martial artist Tade Adeyeri breaks a wood board with a leaping kick. Adeyeri won second place in the board breaking competition. Adeyeri represents DAYHAN Holistic Martial Arts of Leonia, N.J.
    Seven year old martial artist Tade Adeyeri breaks a wood board with a leaping kick. Adeyeri won second place in the board breaking competition. Adeyeri represents DAYHAN Holistic Martial Arts of Leonia, N.J.

By George Leroy Hunter
NEWTON — Several martial arts teams from Sussex County and the tri-state area participated in the 2015 Universal Martial Arts Institute Goodwill Games Tae Kwon Do Championships on Sunday, April 26 at Long Pond School in Newton.

The Korean martial arts Taekwondo and Hapkido were showcased. Taekwondo emphasizes kicking and striking and Hapkido emphasizes joint manipulation and throwing. Both self defense systems utilize kicks and strike techniques.

The following martial arts organizations participated:

Cherry Hill Martial Arts Training Center of Cherry Hill

Universal Martial Arts Institute of Lafayette

Flying Tiger Martial Arts Academy of Tewksbury and Whitehouse

Rising Phoenix Martial Arts & Fitness of Oakland

DayHan Holistic Martial Arts of Leonia

Martial Arts Training Center of West Orange

Impact Martial Arts of Clinton

Clifton Martial Arts of Clifton

Mountain Taekwondo of Hackettstown

Rico's Martial Art School of Portchester, N.Y.

Martial Arts fans watched several hours of combatants test their mettle at the Universal Martial Arts Institute Goodwill Games. Individuals were graded in various categories. Sparring, forms and weapons were the categories martial artists competed in. Trophies and plaques were awarded to the best competitors in each category.

Martial artists in Sunday's tournament ranged from grade school age to adult.

The Universal Martial Arts Institute Goodwill Games is an annual event. Korean martial artist Grandmaster Ik-Hwan Kim is the organizer and Master of Ceremonies. Kim is the founder of Kim's Martial Arts aka Universal Martial Arts Institute in Lafayette. Kim has more than 40 years of martial arts training. He is 9th Dan in both Taekwondo and Hapkido.

The youngest of six children Kim was born and raised in South Korea where he honed his skills as a martial artist. In the early 1980's Kim immigrated to the United States. Kim continued training and trained others in self defense. He has one daughter who is also a martial artist.

The Sussex County Branch of the New Jersey State Police and United States military personnel in South Korea are among the organizations Kim has instructed in self defense.

Grandmaster Kim has several affiliated branches of his martial arts school scattered around the world. Aside from his many training facilities Grandmaster Kim also has produced a few instructional martial arts videos. There are also video highlights available on YouTube.

"Years ago when I was a young child I wanted to learn how to protect myself," Kim said. "Then as I got older I got more into mind and body control. Physical fitness is very important. I want to pass on what I have learned. I travel and teach all around the world."

For more information about Universal Martial Arts Institute visit http://universalmartialarts.com.

— Photos by George LeRoy Hunter