[Image of group in uniform.]

AHMA students at the conference. Standing: James Huelsman, Ted Huelsman, Master Donald Moore, Justin Love, Jeff Constable. Kneeling: Sandy Solinski, Kera Radke, Nanci Bizik. Sitting: Vito Maglio, Justin Lupa

South Elgin Martial Arts/Academy of Hosinsul attended the ICHF / ITA Training conference and Banquet, held in Lexington, Kentucky on November 4-5, 2006. The conference offered the rare opportunity to train with no less than four legendary martial artists, all grandmasters and all four members of the Black Belt Hall of Fame.

[Image of group in evening dress.]

Back row: Ted Huelsman, James Huelsman, John Bizik, Jeff Constable, Justin Love, Sandy Solinski. Middle row: Mrs. Lupa, Mrs. Maglio, Nanci Bizik, Kera Radke, Donald Moore. Front row: Justin Lupa, Vito Maglio.

Grandmaster Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace presented the stretching and kicking techniques that made him an undefeated point fighting champion in the 1970's. Next, Grandmaster Mark Shuey taught several of his Canemaster techniques. Later, older students experienced some of the pressure point and energy techniques that Grandmaster George Dillman introduced into the United States. Sunday, those students not called away to matters at home continued training with Grandmaster John Pellegrini, who augmented his Hapkido techniques by calling on Master Mark Gridley to identify pressure points.

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Grandmaster Pellegrini (right) presents the recognition of Yeon Oh Kwan to Master Donald Moore

Of course the real draw was the gala banquet Saturday night. Grandmaster Pellegrini put the cap on months of planning by formally recognizing Yeon Oh Kwan as a style of Tae Kwon Do, with Master Donald Moore as it's founder and headmaster. This is the first officially recognized Kwan of Tae Kwon Do since the 1950's - truly a historic event.

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Seated: Grandmaster George Dillman, Grandmaster Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, Grandmaster Mark Shuey.

Yeon Oh Kwan inaugurates the Kwan recognition program of he ITA. Grandmaster Pellegrini is himself the founder of Chon Tu Kwan Hapkido, the first Kwan of Hapkido to be granted to an American by the Korean government.

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The official plaque for Yeon Oh Kwan.