‘More than punching and kicking’ (10 photos)

The Sault’s Soo Dan Hapkido Cornacchio’s Martial Arts Centre (located at 181 Gore St.) played host to the 2018 Soo Dan Hapkido Open Martial Arts (provincial) Championships at the Sault Ste. Marie Armoury Saturday.

Participants of all ages, from the Sault and across northern Ontario, took part in a range of martial arts activities.

Sault Ste. Marie and Soo Dan Hapkido Cornacchio’s Martial Arts Centre will also host the Fourth World Martial Arts Championship Canadian Open in 2019.

The Worlds will take place July 25 to 28 at the GFL Memorial Gardens, expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates from countries around the globe, including Canada, the U.S., South Korea, Iran, France, Chile, India, Brazil, Bahrain and Malaysia.

“Everything’s falling into place (regarding organization of the 2019 world tournament to be held in Sault Ste. Marie),” said Tracey Cornacchio, tournament director for Saturday’s event (also tournament director for next year’s World Martial Arts Championship), speaking to SooToday.   

The ‘Soo’ in Soo Dan Hapkido, Cornacchio explained, is a combined acknowledgement of Sault Ste. Marie and a Korean phrase ‘Soo Dan’ meaning ‘the way of martial arts, ‘Hapkido’ a particular style of martial arts.

“We have competitors from under five to 65,” Cornacchio said of Saturday’s provincial event.

“A lot of people look at martial arts and they think it’s all about punching and kicking. What we’ve brought in to martial arts is teaching kids family values, respect, dealing with bullies, confidence, how to focus better, being a good and kind person and citizen. We teach self defence, to avoid violence and conflict, we want preservation of life and longevity and how to give back to the community. We teach a lot of values at the school. This is Hapkido,” Cornacchio said.

Cornacchio estimated approximately 100 competitors from across the north took part Saturday, accompanied by family members.

“We have competitors from all over northern Ontario here today, and what we’re trying to do is showcase the events we’re going to put on in 2019 at the Worlds.”

Trophies and medals were awarded to competitors in each age category at Saturday’s tournament.

There were also martial arts activities for individuals with special needs.

“We want to create a venue where special needs kids can come and be able to compete in a martial arts tournament, get medals and feel the rewards of doing their best,” Cornacchio said.