David Arnebeck: International Black Belt Sparring Championships - Tang Soo Do
November 20-21, 1982: At 18 years old, and after only 16 months of training in the martial art of Tang Soo Do, and only 1 month after achieving his Tang Soo Do Black Belt*, David Arnebeck competed in the International Tang Soo Do Championships held at Resorts International in Atlantic City NJ. Teams from many countries traveled to compete. Mr. Arnebeck won 3rd Place in the individual Black Belt sparring and was also a member of the national team which placed 2nd.
Photos below. Click to enlarge and scroll.
Photos below. Click to enlarge and scroll.
Click here for Black Belt Magazine's coverage of the event.
Tang Soo Do competition is fierce. Due to the traditional methods of Tang Soo Do, no protective gear is allowed in the competition even though heavy contact occurs. Theoretically, the Black Belts are required to stop short of causing injury, however, in the heat of competition matches often escalate into dangerous heavy contact. At one point during the Black Belt sparring competition, Grandmaster Kee Hwang ordered the entire tournament to stop due to the numerous injuries that were occurring. He then called all center referees to the head table where he proceeded to communicate his displeasure concerning the injuries. Once the tournament resumed, there were more disqualifications than before, but without any safety gear or gloves, the sparring continued to be quite dangerous. A couple examples of tournament injuries... One competitor sustained a life threatening injury from a kick, his skull was fractured in several places! Mr. Arnebeck also clashed (both attacking at same time) with Chuck Norris's student, Terry Updike and kicked two of Mr. Updike's teeth out.
Below are a few photos of competitors requiring medical attention at the event.
*According to Region 7 Examiner and Master Instructor, Lawrence Seiberlich, David Arnebeck was one of only 5 individuals in the history of the US Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan to achieve Black Belt in 15 months. This was due, in part, from extensive Boxing and Kung Fu training prior to starting Tang Soo Do in 1981. More info here.
* In the traditional belt system of Tang Soo Do the "Dan" rank (Black Belt Level) was actually a deep midnight blue color. The founder, Kee Hwang, believed that black represented an end, but the Dan level was just the beginning of expert level training in preparation for master level training. Now many Tang Soo Do instructors and Tang Soo Do organizations use Black Belt to represent Dan level.
* In the traditional belt system of Tang Soo Do the "Dan" rank (Black Belt Level) was actually a deep midnight blue color. The founder, Kee Hwang, believed that black represented an end, but the Dan level was just the beginning of expert level training in preparation for master level training. Now many Tang Soo Do instructors and Tang Soo Do organizations use Black Belt to represent Dan level.
David Arnebeck
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