Charlestown Demostrations - November 2011
This 2011 has been a year of renewal for the Charlestown Class. The class itself had completely closed in the previous year for the building of the new and improved Charlestown Square. This construction work had seen the demolition of the old Charlestown Community Centre and our training facilities. Facilities that instructor Darrel Sparke first established as a class back in 1996. But now it was all new. Twice the shopping centre and twice the training facilites. The new facilities opened back in January of this year and our class started up not long after in February. As with all new centres there needs to be a Grand Official Opening and for the newly renamed "the Place" it was a November event. The class itself was invited by the Place management to take part in the grand event and so a team of dedicated few jumped at the chance. For all but two in the team this was going to be their first demonstration. Or atleast it was going to be until we received a second invitation, demo at the Charlestown Public School Fete. This was going to be even more exciting as this was before the grand centre opening and would be performed in front our club members primary school class mates.
Charlestown Public School Fete :- Well nerves were new and excitement high. Our first ever demo, in front of all our friends from school and their parentsl. And what a demo it was ! We packed the tiny school hall with kids and the cheers as we stepped out to begin washed all the nerves away. A demo team of just four yellow belts, a blue and a black belt ! Sounds thin but there wasn't a little boy or little girl in that hall who didn't want to be one of the team by the end of the demo. Synchronised horse riding techniques lead the demonstration, followed by the Jacob and Eliza, brother and sister with synchronized pattern. Next we had the power girls one step with Eliza and Hayley. I could feel the little 10 year old boys of their class at school gasp with admiration. Out onto the floor then stepped the big guns.. 2nd Dan Justin Clarke. Justin's powerful aerial display of kicking techniques now had children and adults alike, jaw dropped and resonating a magnificent "Awwwwww". It was time to put all the growing power to use with board breaking. The silence surrounding the little girls performing their simultaneous front snap kicks was shattered only by the roar of the crowd as timbers flew after each girls kicks. Then blue belt Jacob stepped up to show off his crushing highrising kick. The board never stood a chance. Raising the bar was the mighty flying Harzl, who's perfect flying side kick started a significant fan club. Then to finish the big guns himself. The roof of the building seemed to lift as Justin's 180 degree lead in jump with flying reverse turning kick had everyone on their feet and clapping widely. Yes you could say it had been a great first demo...it was brilliant ! The team them moved off to the oval to repeat the performance for the remaining public and enjoy sunshine. * check out the pictures from the oval
Charlestown Square , The Place, Grand Opening :- A whole new crowd and a whole new adventure but the team was still on a high from the school fete the week before. Although this was a very official event and for Emma and Hayley, the youngest two, it was even more exciting as they were lucky enough to be sharing the very ribbon cutting ceremony itself with the Lord Mayor. Ribbon cutting aside it was time to get into "Wow" mode. The format remained the same, the crowed ready to be awe struck. This time we had increased the team with some extra members who hadn't made the fete. As you can imagine the crowd went wild. The team did wonderful and the jaws remained open in the audience until the last. I think the Lord Mayor may have even wanted to add three little Hwarangdo girls to his body guard ranks at the end.
