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| Ames to Celebrate March 6th as ISU Martial Arts Day |
| Thursday, March 04, 2010 |
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Ames Mayor Ann Campbell has officially proclaimed March 6, 2010 as ISU Martial Arts Day in Ames, IA. This proclamation has been made possible due to the outstanding martial arts program at Iowa State University. Since 1963, more than 35,000 students and 500 black belts have been members of the ISU Martial Arts program, which includes the ISU Judo Club, the ISU Taekwondo/Karate Club and the ISU Hapkido Club. Through martial arts, students learn discipline, respect, confidence and self-control, all of which they apply to their daily lives. In addition, these groups are committed to serving and educating the entire Ames community through self defense instruction for students, residents, the Ames Police Department and the ISU Department of Public Safety.
2010 signifies a milestone for the ISU Martial Arts program. They will host their 35th annual ISU Martial Arts Awards Banquet on Saturday, March 6, 2010. This event is expected to bring more than 350 people to Ames to help celebrate the martial arts program. In addition, they will host their annual ISU Black Belt Reunion on Friday, March 5, 2010. More than 170 black belt members are expected to come to Ames for this year’s reunion celebration.
“The martial arts promote qualities that enhance an individual’s personal character for a lifetime,” stated Grand Master Pak. “In addition, members of the ISU Martial Arts program have incredible opportunities during college and beyond to learn martial arts skills, to apply these skills during regional and national competitions and to help their communities.”
Grand Master Yong Chin Pak has brought national recognition to ISU’s Martial Arts program through his influence and leadership in local, regional and national martial arts programs, since 1973. Master Pak is currently a member of the ISU faculty of Health and Human Performance and has been teaching martial arts at ISU for more than thirty years. During his time at ISU, Master Pak has received a number of local and national recognitions, including the 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Advancing One Community Award. He has served as president of the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (NCTA) and has been a three-time NCTA Coach of the Year. Master Pak has also coached five national Taekwondo championship teams at ISU and regularly leads the ISU team to a top three finish at the national tournament.
The ISU Martial Arts Program has also hosted prestigious state and national events in Ames under Master Pak’s leadership, including the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (NCTA) Championships in 1995 and 2000, the United States Taekwondo Union Senior Nationals/Golden Seniors/Junior Black Belt Festival in 1998 and has hosted the annual Iowa Governor’s Cup Taekwondo Championships in Ames since 2003. For more information about the ISU Martial Arts Program, visit www.stuorg.iastate.edu/tkd, www.stuorg.iastate.edu/judo or www.stuorg.iastate.edu/hapkido.
For more information, contact:
Grand Master Yong Chin Pak
ISU Martial Arts Program
Senior Lecturer, Department of Kinesiology
Iowa State University
515. 294.5966
Seann DeMaris
Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau
Sports and Leisure Sales Manager
515.956.4604
seannd@amescvb.com
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