Clark Martial Arts

CLARK CUONG NHU SHO JIN DOJO KARATE
SCHOOL WINS 19 TROPHIES AT TKD TOURNAMENT

On Sunday, April 6, 2003 students of the Clark Cuong Nhu Shojin Dojo (karate school) entered the TKD Karate Kung Fu Championships and brought home 19 trophies. Representatives of the group included girls, boys, men and women of various ages competing in the white, green brown and black belt categories. Most of the students competed in both the kumate (sparring) and kata divisions. Kata, or forms, are formal exercising consisting of a prearranged series of block and attacks performed against imaginary opponents. Sensei Keith Ford one of the black belt teachers who runs the school said, "The students worked very hard preparing for the tournament". He said he was overwhelmed and tremendously pleased with the performance of his students.

Sensei Keith Ford and Sensei Laszlo Lerant run the Shojin Dojo (school) of Cuong Nhu Oriental Marital Arts, which is sponsored by The Clark Township Recreational Program. The Sensei's accompanied the students to the tournament. Sensei Keith Ford also competed. Sensei Chris Baglieri, a Sho Don, who previously ran the school, was also on hand to support the competing students.

The Vietnamese style of Cuong Nhu, pronounced "kyung-new", meaning hard and soft styles, is a worldwide organization that was founded by Grandmaster Ngo Dong in 1965 and brought to the United States in 1971. Cuong Nhu is a well-rounded Martial art system that is heavily influenced by Shotokan Karate, Aikido, Judo, Boxing, Tai-Chi Chuan, Vovinam and Win Chung Kung Fu.

The Township of Clark has sponsored the free martial arts program for more than 15 years. Unlike most private martial arts programs the Shojin Dojo is a non-profit school and is located at the Clark Brewer Recreational Center. The school currently has over 40 students and some have been participating for more than 10 years. Sylvia Castillo a high school student at Mother Seton in Clark is a green belt and has been participating since she was 5 years old. Sylvia was one of the students competing. She placed first in the forms competition and second in sparring. Nicole Pandolfo, a middle school student at the Kumph School in Clark said, "This is the first tournament I've competed in". Nicole placed first in both sparring and forms competition for her age category.

There is no fee for the training classes but Sensei Ford says, "The students are expected to pay with effort and improve themselves, their abilities and their moral character". Children's classes are held on Wednesday's from 7:00 to 8:00 pm and Friday's from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Adult classes are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:00 to 9:00pm. Classes are held 52 weeks a year. The school is always open to new enrollment and welcomes all interested students. New students interested in joining can contact Sensei Keith Ford at (732)500-5009. As the childr3en progress they are slowly worked into the adult classes. "The students build self confidence, self control, and a non defeatist attitude while becoming both morally and physically fit," said Sensei Keith Ford.

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