Leavesden Hospital F.C.

Leavesden Hospital Football Club was a football club based in Leavesden, England.
History.
On 9 October 1870, the Metropolitan Asylum for Chronic Imbeciles was founded by the Metropolitan Asylums Board in Leavesden, Hertfordshire. Following a name change to Leavesden Asylum, a football club baring the same name was founded due to recreation being encouraged at the facility. The club entered the Hertfordshire Senior County League Western Division in 1908, leaving the league system in 1910, before returning in 1912. Following World War I, now under the guise of Leavesden Mental Hospital, the club entered the FA Amateur Cup for the first time in 1919, losing 3–1 against Langley Park. In 1922, the club once again left the Herts County League, joining the reformed league in 1927, winning the league for a fourth time in the 1927–28 season. Following World War II, the club rejoined the London League under the name of Leavesden Hospital. In 1955, the club joined the Herts County League, winning the league in 1958, 1961, 1962 and 1964, before joining the Spartan League in 1965, rejoining the Herts County League two years later. In 1974, the club entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest cup tie in football, with seven ties between played against London Colney between 6 November and 17 December 1971 in the Herts Intermediate Cup. In the 1988–89 season, the club played their final season in senior football, finishing 15th in the Herts County League Division One.
Ground.
The club played at Woodside Road in Leavesden. The ground was later used by Kings Langley.


John Cottle

John Cottle (born 11 August 1949) is a New Zealand equestrian. He competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Olympics.


Laith Pharaon

Laith Gaith Pharaon is a global hospitality entrepreneur and real estate property developer. Earlier in his career, he competed on the offshore and F1 powerboat racing circuit for several years.
Life and career.
Laith Pharaon was born September 8, 1968 in London, UK to Ghaith Pharaon (deceased) and Hala Pharaon.
Entrepreneurship.
Pharaon is founder and chief executive officer of Orca Holding, an international investment holding company based in Valletta (Malta), with affiliated companies in several countries. He is member of the Board of Directors of National Refinery Ltd and Attock Refinery Limited.
Racing titles and achievements.
From 1995 to 2006, Laith Pharaon competed internationally in offshore Motonautics races Class 1. He was inducted into the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Hall of Champions in 1996. He won 4 races of the World Championship F1; a Championship of the USA (1996); European and World Titles (1997); Pole Position World Title (1998).


All Pacific Championship

The All Pacific Championship was the secondary singles women's professional wrestling title in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling or AJW. The belt was started as the Hawaiian Pacific Championship in 1977 and was renamed the All Pacific Championship in 1978.


Hiyori Kon

 is a Japanese amateur sumo wrestler, who is known for advocating for equal rights for women to compete professionally in Japan. She has been included in the BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2019.
Life.
Born August 1997 in Ajigasawa, Aomori, Kon started wrestling in first grade when she was six, inspired by her siblings' interest, and began competing and winning against boys. When she reached university, studying gender theory at Ritsumeikan University, she became the third woman to join its sumo club. Kon believes sumo wrestling is not just a sport, but a form of expression.
Japan is the only country in the world where sumo is practiced professionally, governed by the Japan Sumo Association. According to sumo's ancient Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, women are not allowed to enter or touch the wrestling ring ("dohyō") as they are "impure." The JSA follows this tradition that has been firmly maintained through the centuries, believing it would be a dishonor to all of their ancestors to change it. This has been enforced to the point where two women had gotten in trouble with a referee for entering the ring to perform first aid on a man who had collapsed in 2018. Although a JSA official later disapproved of the referee's actions as it was a life-threatening situation.
There are several amateur sumo competitions in Japan and around the world where women compete. Kon won the heavyweight division of the Women Junior World Sumo Championships in 2014 and 2015. She also competed in the 2018 and 2019 Sumo World Championships, where she won silver both times. Kon was the subject of "Little Miss Sumo", a 2019 Netflix documentary directed by Matt Kay that followed her to the 2018 championship. After graduating from university, Kon joined the sumo works team sponsored by Aisin Seiki as its first female member.


Coppit

Coppit is a running-fight board game created in 1927 by Otto Maier Verlag which was originally called in (or Capture The Hat in English). It was renamed and has been re-released several times, most notably by the Spear's Games company in 1964. It is a game for two to six players and is based partly on luck with a die and partly on strategy. It is similar to the game Ludo and is nominally a children's game.
The game.
Each player has four conical, or hat-shaped, playing pieces all of the same colour that start off in their home 'base'. The object is to move out of your base, capture, or 'cop', your opponent's pieces by landing on top of them, carry them back to your base, and 'imprison' them there. A player can have any number of pieces out of their base at any time. However, while you are moving back to 'base' with a captured piece other players may in turn capture your piece. The winner is the last player to have an uncaptured piece. There are a few squares on the board that are of a different colour to the rest; if a piece is on these squares it cannot be captured.


Russian Futsal Super League

The Russian Futsal Superleague (; complete official name Parimatch-Russian Futsal Championship among the club teams of Superleague, ) is the premier professional futsal league in Russia. It was founded in 1991. The Super League, which is played under UEFA rules, currently consists of 9 teams.


Eduard Gufeld

Eduard Yefimovich Gufeld () (19 March 1936 – 23 September 2002) was a Soviet International Grandmaster of chess, and a chess author.
Chess career.
Gufeld began participating in chess tournaments in 1953 and won the junior championship of Ukraine the following year. He became an International Master in 1964 and an International Grandmaster in 1967. In 1977, he ranked 16th in the world with an Elo rating of 2570.
He moved to Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, where he coached Maia Chiburdanidze, who became the youngest women's world chess champion in 1978. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he emigrated to the United States.
He started the FIDE Committee on Chess Art and Exhibition.
Gufeld was one of the most prolific authors in all of chess, writing over 80 chess books. His proudest achievements, however, were his win with the King's Indian Defence, Sämisch Variation against Vladimir Bagirov, which he called his "Mona Lisa"; and his 1967 win over Vasily Smyslov (see below). The first of these games made it into John Nunn's collection of the hundred greatest games of all time, "Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games", and the 112-game collection that followed it. Gufeld beat Smyslov again in 1975.
He used to say to those who laughed at his English: "I think that my English is better than your Russian!"
Death.
In September 2002, Gufeld suffered a stroke and heart attack. Following a period of unconsciousness, he regained consciousness but was unable to speak or walk. He died two weeks later at the age of 66 in the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Notable games.
Here is Gufeld's 1967 win over Smyslov:


Denis Yuskov

Denis Igoryevich Yuskov (; born 11 October 1989) is a Russian speed skater. He is a three-time gold medalist in men's 1500 meters (2013, 2015, 2016) at the World Single Distance Championships and the World Cup-2016 holder at the distance 1500 m.
Personal life.
Yuskov is married and has one son, Adrian (born on 27 March 2010). His mother was Master of Sports of the USSR in volleyball. His wife Alla, her brother Anton and Denis's sister Yana were all skaters in the past. His nephew is professional ice hockey player Ilya Antonovsky.
Career.
Yuskov was born in Moscow, but spent his early childhood in Moldova. He later relocated with his mother back to Moscow before starting school. Dennis first met his sister from skating practice at the school, and then he started to do it, thinking it was a football team. Soon Yuskov became a member of the selected team of Moscow, setting national records in different age categories and at different distances and in the allround. Yuskov has been invited into the national junior national team.
2011–12 season — after this suspension was lifted, Denis Yuskov returned in the international field by competing at the 2012 European Championship, where he finished in 8th place. Later that year Yuskov competed at the World Single Distance Championships finishing in 6th place in the 1500 meters and 7th place in the 5000 meters. He also won a bronze in the team pursuit along with his compatriots Ivan Skobrev and Yevgeny Lalenkov.
2012–13 season — he won a World Cup event in Inzell, and on 21 March 2013, he became world champion in men's 1500 meters, 2013 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships held at the Adler Arena in Sochi, updating the track record of 1:46.32. At the 5000 meter and team pursuit, he missed out the podium.
The Olympic season 2013–14 began Yuskov with a 3:34.37 at the 3000 meter run in a quartet starts during a training race before the first World Cup race of the season. This is the fastest time ever ridden, but is not recognized as an official world record. Yuskov competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, however only 6th place in 5000 m, 17th in men's 1000 m and finished on the 4th place in the 1500 meters. In March 2014, at the 2014 World Allround Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen, Yuskov won the 1500 meters and took a new personal record in the 10,000 meters. He came 3rd in the allround standings earning him the bronze medal. In early April, at the National championships in Chelyabinsk, he won the gold medal in the 500 m, 1500 m, 5000 m and 10,000 m. Thus, becoming the new undisputed champion in allround of Russia.
In the 2014–15 season, Yuskov competed at the 2015 European Championships winning the allround bronze. On 13 February 2015, at the 2015 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships, he repeated as gold medalist in 1500 meters.
In the 2015–16 season. Yuskov opened his season winning the 1500 m gold at the 2015–16 ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Calgary, setting a new personal record clocking a time of 1:41.88. He then competed at the Inzell World Cup in Germany winning gold in men's 1500 m and a silver in 1000 m behind Dutch speed skater Kjeld Nuis. At the 2015–16 ISU World Cup in Heerenveen, Yuskov won 2 silver medals in 1000 m behind teammate Pavel Kulizhnikov and in 1500 m behind American Joey Mantia. In December 2015, he repeated as the allround champion at the 2016 Russian Nationals. On 9–10 January, Yuskov competed at the 2016 European Speed Skating Championships in Minsk where he placed first in men's 500 m and 1500 m however he was unable to finish the allaround events, as he later withdrew in men's 10000 m because of a minor groin injury. He returned to competition in 29–31 January at the ISU World Cup in Stavanger where he won gold in 1500 and bronze in 1000 m. On 11–14 February, At the 2016 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships in Kolomna, Yuskov won the gold in men's 1500 m and silver in men's 1000 m behind teammate Pavel Kulizhnikov.
Yuskov then competed at the 2016 World Allround Speed Skating Championships however he withdrew after the 500 m distance event because of a minor groin injury. On 11–13 March, after the World Cup Final in Heerenveen, Yuskov won the World Cup of the 2015–16 season in the 1500 m distance.
In the 2016–17 season. Yuskov won 1500 meters at the 2017 European Championships and took the 7th place on the all-round. In 2017 World Allround Speed Skating Championships Denis won the 1500 meters, but stopped on tree distances. On 9 December 2017, at the 2017 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships, he was the silver medalist in 1500 meters, while Kjeld Nuis won gold and Sven Kramer won bronze. Yuskov won the silver on ISU World Cup after the gold medalist Kjeld Nuis.
In the 2017–18 season. Denis Yuskov competed four time before the winter Olympic games at the ISU World Cup and four time won the gold in distance 1500 meters and in Salt Lake City broke World record. In the distance 1000 m also won the gold medal. In 5–7 January 2018 Yuskov competed at the 2018 European Speed Skating Championships and won two gold medals in 1500 m and team sprint, and the silver medal in 1000 m.
Personal records.
He is currently in 8th position in the adelskalender with 145.896 points.
<br>* National record


Fight Night (film)

Fight Night (also known as Rigged) is a feature-length action/adventure film directed by Jonathan M. Dillon. It was produced in the United States in 2008. It was shot mostly in the state of Kansas. It was released in the US in 2009.
Plot.
Michael Dublin (Chad Ortis) is a shyster specialised in illegal betting. One night during an illegal car race he gets beaten up by a participant whose car he's previously sabotaged. When his opponents are about to stash him away, a feisty female neighbor steps in. Katherine Parker (Rebecca Neuenswander) saves him and Dublin is impressed by how artfully she decks her much heavier, more muscular opponent. The next morning, Dublin finds Parker and asks her to hire him as promoter. She refuses him at first, but after she ends up in prison for attending an illegal boxing event and Dublin manages to get her out, he persuades her to go on a tour with him. Picking up fights all over the country, Parker gains notoriety as a skilled fighter, and aims to participate as a challenger in a notorious annual underground boxing event in Miami.
Critical reception.
The film received mixed reviews. It has been characterised as a "fast-talking, hard-hitting romp" Robert Koehler of "Variety" called it similarly "a lean and mean saga" but objected to the intentional crowdpleasing happy end. Christopher Armstead from Film Critics United criticised a certain lack of reality in regards to Katherine Parker shown as being able to knock out much heavier men, yet he admitted watching Neuenswander's performance he eventually "did buy into the fantasy of it all".


Patrick Favre

Patrick Favre (born 30 July 1972) is a former Italian biathlete. At the Biathlon World Championships 1997 in Osrblie he won a bronze medal with the Italian relay team. Two years later at the Biathlon World Championships 1999 in Kontiolahti he won a silver medal in the sprint event. In the 1994–95 season he came second in the overall World Cup behind Jon Åge Tyldum. After the 2000–01 season, he retired as biathlete, though he had a short-lived comeback during the 2003–04 season. Following his retirement, he became a coach, spending seven years with the Italian national biathlon team before joining the French national men's biathlon team in June 2018 on a four-year contract.
Biathlon results.
All results are sourced from the International Biathlon Union.
World Championships.
"3 medals (1 silver, 2 bronze)"
Individual victories.
"2 victories (1 In, 1 Sp)"


Primera Nacional

Primera Nacional (usually called simply Nacional B, in English "National B Division", and known as Primera B Nacional until the 2019–20 season) is the second division of the Argentine football league system. The competition is made up of 32 teams, divided into two zones.
It is played by teams from all over the country. Clubs from Buenos Aires surroundings, as well as some from Santa Fe Province, are promoted from or relegated to the Primera B Metropolitana ("Metropolitan B Division") while for teams from the other provinces the Torneo Federal A ("Federal A Tournament") is the next level down. In Argentine football, Nacional B is the second-highest league, and from it the three best teams are automatically promoted to Primera División.
Primera B Nacional games are often transmitted to Argentina and abroad on television by TyC Sports.
History.
It was created in 1986 to integrate unaffiliated clubs into the Argentine football structure, which until then had only participated in Nacional championships of Argentina's First Division tournament. It brought together teams from the old Primera B (until then, the second division) and regional leagues from several Argentine provinces.
After the 1985–86 season, the Primera B Nacional became the second hierarchical league in Argentina's professional football, after the Primera División, and it is above the Torneo Federal A and the Primera B Metropolitana, the last one started to act as a third division for the teams directly affiliated to AFA.
Beginning in the 2019–20 season, the name was changed dropping the B to simply be known as Primera Nacional.
Format.
For the 2019–20 season, the number of teams has been increased from 25 to 32. Clubs will be divided into two zones of 16 teams each, playing each other in a double round-robin tournament. Teams will receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss, being ranked by total points.
The upcoming season incorporates 5 teams promoted from Primera B Metropolitana and 2 from Torneo Federal A, plus 4 relegated from Primera División, which add to the 23 remaining from the previous season.
The champion will automatically promote to the highest division. Teams placed from 2nd to 9th qualify to play the "Torneo Reducido", a small tournament in a double knock-out stage. Winner of Reducido will be the second team to promote to Primera División. On the other hand, the two teams with the worst average will be relegated to lower divisions (Primera B Metropolitana or Torneo Federal A wheter the club is from the Buenos Aires metropolitan area or from any other province of Argentina).
List of champions.
Since the first season held in 1986–87, the following teams have crowned champions of the division:


Jarvis and Kaplan Cup

The Jarvis and Kaplan Cup is an annual inter-provincial team squash tournament that takes place in South Africa (and previously Zimbabwe).
After the death of A.K. Jarvis in 1960 his family donated the trophy, in his memory, for a men's inter-provincial competition. In the same year, Cecil Kaplan and his wife Dorothy donated a trophy for the women's inter-provincial competition. The tournament thereafter became known as the Jarvis and Kaplan Cup.
Through the years other trophies were donated and awarded to eligible recipients. The Gary Thomson trophy is awarded to the province with the best overall results. The Seccie de Villiers award and Clifton-Parks cup is awarded, respectively, to the male and female player who display sportsmanship, tournament support, participate in all events and hold the spirit of the tournament in high regard. The Greg Hammond and Lisa O’Grady trophies are awarded to the most promising men's and women's player. The Lance Sibbald and Glenda Erasmus trophies are awarded to the most improved men's and women's player.
The inaugural tournament took place in 1960 with the women's event played in Johannesburg and the men's event played in Port Elizabeth. The two tournaments were played separately until 1968 when it was decided that both tournaments should be played simultaneously and at the same venue. The host city of the tournament changes every year giving each province the opportunity to host the event.
The tournament is renowned for its traditions and camaraderie. Such traditions include the filing and sharing of the contents of the Jarvis cup, by the winning team's captain, with every player in the tournament. However, there has been some break from tradition as in recent years the tournament has allowed teams to import a player who holds citizenship outside South Africa.
Men's Team Championship.
Note
Women's Team Championship.
Note


Amanda Chidester

Amanda Marie Chidester (born April 11, 1990) is an American, former collegiate All-American, National Pro Fastpitch All-Star, softball player at third base originally from Allen Park, Michigan. She is the reigning NPF Player of The Year for the Chicago Bandits. She has been a member of the USA Softball Women's National Team on-and-off since 2012. She previously played for the Michigan Wolverines softball team from 2009 to 2012 and was named First Team All-Big Ten three of her seasons. She was twice selected as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American. Chidester was named a member of Team USA for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Early years.
Chidester was born in 1990 and grew up in Allen Park, Michigan. She attended St. Francis Cabrini High School, graduating in 2008. As a senior in 2008, she was selected as the Detroit Catholic League Female Athlete of the Year. In 2007, she was named the Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year. She was also selected as a first-team EA Sports All-American in both 2007 and 2008.
University of Michigan.
Chidester enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2008. As a freshman in the spring of 2009, Chidester appeared in 58 games and led the Michigan softball team with a .350 batting average. She was selected as a second-team NFCA All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten player.
As a sophomore in 2009, Chidester started all 57 games for Michigan, including 56 games at second base.
As a junior in 2010, Chidester moved to third base. She started all 58 games for Michigan, including 51 at third base and seven at catcher. She led the team with a .423 batting average and 75 RBIs. At the end of the season, she was selected as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year and a first-team NFCA All-American at third base.
As a senior in 2011, Chidester was the captain of the Michigan softball team. She started 58 games for Michigan, including 13 at third base and 45 at first base. She compiled a .347 batting average with 46 RBIs and was named Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. On May 25, 2013, she became the second Michigan Wolverines softball player to reach 200 career RBIs.
Team USA.
In June 2012, Chidester was named to the USA Softball Women's National Team. She hit a grand slam to lead Team USA to a victory over Brazil in the 2012 World Cup of Softball.
Professional career.
During the 2019 season, Chidester was named the NPF Player of the Year, NPF Offensive Player of the Year, and Home Run Award winner.
Personal life.
Chidester is openly lesbian and is engaged to a Mexican softball player Anissa Urtez.


Kawasaki Caribbean Challenge

Kawasaki Caribbean Challenge is a Super NES racing game that was released in 1993 exclusively for the North American market.
Gameplay.
Either one or two players can race six different Kawasaki vehicles across three different Caribbean islands. Players must finish five laps and finish in first place in order to be credited with a win.
There are a lot of treacherous curves and bends on the race track as the player(s) race for top supremacy and for a finish in the top spot.


Erica Bougard

Erica Marsha Bougard (born July 26, 1993) is an American heptathlete. She was NCAA indoor champion in 2013 and represented the United States at the 2013 World Championships.
Biography.
Erica Bougard was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but grew up in Byhalia, Mississippi. Her first sport was basketball; she took up track and field at Byhalia High School. Erica Bougard won 2011 Mississippi High School Activities Association state outdoor track and field long jump title. Erica was the 2011 Mississippi state long jump leader.
Erica went to Mississippi State University on a track scholarship.
She won the heptathlon at the 2012 United States Junior Championships, scoring 5547 points; she trailed Kendell Williams through six events, but overtook her in the 800 meters. She made her international debut at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona, placing 13th. In the heptathlon, Bougard is strong in the five running and jumping events, but weak in the shot put and javelin throw.
As a sophomore, Bougard won the pentathlon at the 2013 NCAA indoor championships, scoring a school record 4399 points. At the outdoor NCAA meet she placed fourth in the heptathlon (with a personal best 5976 points) and sixteenth in the long jump. Two weeks later, she improved to 5990 points at the 2013 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, placing third and qualifying for the senior World Championships in Moscow. Bougard scored 5829 points at the World Championships, placing 24th.
At the 2014 NCAA indoor championships Bougard was second to Williams with 4586 points; both Williams and Bougard broke the previous collegiate record of 4569 points by Makeba Alcide. Outdoors, Bougard redshirted the collegiate season but broke 6000 points for the first time at the United States championships, repeating her third place from the previous year with 6118 points.
In 2015 Bougard again placed second to Williams at the NCAA indoor meet, this time with 4566 points; outdoors, she scored a personal best 6250 points at the SEC championships and entered the NCAA outdoor championships as the collegiate leader, but only placed fourth as Akela Jones won. At the 2015 USATF championships Bougard placed third for the third consecutive year, improving her best to 6288 points and qualifying for the World Championships in Beijing.
In 2016, Bougard completed in three events at 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in in long jump to place 12th, in high jump to place 5th and 6088 points in heptathlon to place 2nd. Three weeks later, Bougard placed seventh in heptathlon scoring 6070 points at 2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field).


Belle Brockhoff

Belle Brockhoff (born 12 January 1993) is an Australian snowboarder, who has represented Australia at the FIS Snowboarding World Championships and the Winter Olympics. She competes in snowboard cross.
She was a competitor in the 2013 FIS World Championship snowboard cross, and in the 2014 Winter Olympic snowboard cross.
Brockhoff came out as a lesbian in August 2013. She is a supporter and endorser of the Principle 6 campaign, part of the Olympic protests of Russian anti-gay laws, but pledged to be cautious about how actively she protested while in Sochi due to the risk of arrest. In 2014 she appeared in the documentary film "To Russia with Love".
Brockhoff currently studies a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University.


Senior CLASS Award

The Senior CLASS Award is awarded to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in 10 NCAA Division I sports. An acronym for "Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School," the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages them to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The awards were sponsored by Lowe's until 2012 and were popularly known as the "Lowe's Senior CLASS Awards" during this time.
History.
The award was born in 2001 when sportscaster Dick Enberg suggested a national award for senior basketball players during the CBS telecast of the NCAA Final Four championship game. In that game, Shane Battier led Duke to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball title. Battier's decision to turn down the NBA and return for his senior season was one of the media stories of the year in college basketball. Soon after, Premier Sports Management, in partnership with Lowe's, announced the formation of the Senior CLASS Award. Enberg agreed to serve as honorary chair of the award and CBS Sports provided broadcast support, announcing the winner each year during the Final Four telecast. The scope of the award program was expanded the following year with the addition of a women's basketball award, and still further in 2007 with the addition of six NCAA Division I sports: men's and women's soccer, men's lacrosse, men's ice hockey, softball, and baseball. The Football Bowl Subdivision was added in 2008 and women's volleyball in 2010. The current spokesperson is CBS Sports's Emmy-award-winning sports broadcaster Jim Nantz.
In 2021, Premier Sports Management announced a modification to the nomination process with respect to the 2020–21 school year. Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the NCAA ruled that the 2020–21 school year would not be counted against the eligibility of players in fall and winter sports. As a result, many student-athletes are likely to return for a de facto second senior season in 2021–22. The policy for these individuals is:
Selection process.
Selection of candidates from the many nominations is based on four criteria that exemplify a "complete" student-athlete: community, classroom, character, and competition.


Willis Augustus Lee

Willis Augustus "Ching" Lee Jr. (May 11, 1888 – August 25, 1945) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Lee commanded the American ships during the second night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 14–15, 1942) and turned back a Japanese invasion force headed for the island. The victory ended Japanese attempts to reinforce their troops on Guadalcanal, and thus marked a turning point in both the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Pacific War itself.
Lee was also a skilled sport shooter, and won seven medals in the 1920 Olympics shooting events (including five gold medals), tied with teammate Lloyd Spooner for the most anyone had ever received in a single games. Their record stood for 60 years. He was the most successful athlete at the 1920 Olympics.
Early life.
The son of Judge Willis Augustus Lee and Susan Arnold, he was known as "Mose" Lee to family and friends.
He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1904. While at the Naval academy, his Chinese-sounding last name, compounded by his fondness for the Far East earned him the nickname "Ching" Lee.
Following graduation, Lee joined the academy's rifle team twice. He was assigned to the battleship from October 1908 to May 1909, before returning to the naval academy and re-joining the rifle team. From November 1909 until May 1910, Lee served aboard the protected cruiser , and then transferred to the gunboat . Upon being detached back to the United States, Lee re-joined the Academy shooting team a third time. In July 1913, Lee re-joined "Idaho", and in April 1914 he transferred to the battleship to participate in the occupation of Veracruz.
During World War I, Lee served on the destroyers and .
1920 Olympics.
Lee participated in 14 events at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. He won 7 medals (5 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze), all in team events. His teammates for the various events were Dennis Fenton, Lawrence Nuesslein, Arthur Rothrock, Oliver Schriver, Morris Fisher, Carl Osburn, Lloyd Spooner, and Joseph Jackson.
Lee and Spooner ended the 1920 Olympics with 7 medals each, the most anyone had ever received in a single games. Boris Shakhlin was the next person to reach 7, in 1960. It would not be until Alexander Dityatin in the 1980 games that anyone would beat the record.
Interwar years.
Lee attended the Naval War College in the late 1920s, and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1936.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, Lee was several times assigned to the Fleet Training Division, commanded the light cruiser , and served on the staff of Commander, Cruisers, Battle Force. In early 1942, following his promotion to the rank of rear admiral, Lee became Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet.
World War II.
Lee's specialty in life was gunnery. At the age of 19 in 1907 "he became the only American to win both the US National High Power Rifle and Pistol championships in the same year." In 1914 during the Veracruz campaign in Mexico he drew the fire of three enemy snipers, thereby exposing their positions and then shot them at long range. He understood the powerful guns of a battleship as an extension of the law of ballistics and adapted his expertise to the new age of technology. When Admiral Lee engaged the Japanese Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō's battleship on the evening of 14 November 1942 in the waters off Guadalcanal, he became naval history's first battleship commander to conduct a "gunfight" primarily by radar remote control.
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
In August 1942, Rear Admiral Lee was sent to the Pacific to command Battleship Division Six, consisting of the battleships and .
Flying his flag in "Washington", Lee engaged an Imperial Japanese Navy surface fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Kondō during the second night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on the night of 14–15 November 1942. While riding in the battleship "Washington", which served as his flagship during this sea-fight, Lee's battleship decisively gunned the battleship "Kirishima" into a wreck, resulting in her scuttling shortly afterwards. With 300 Imperial sailors still entombed within her hull, she slid into Ironbottom Sound, leaving Admiral Lee's flagship "Washington" the only American battleship during World War II to sink an enemy battleship in a "one on one" gunfight.
Lee, who "knew more about radar than the radar operators", used the SG radar installed aboard "Washington" to skillfully maneuver his ships during the night.
After Guadalcanal.
Lee was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at the battle, promoted to vice admiral in 1944 and placed in charge of the Pacific Fleet's fast battleships, as Commander, Battleships, Pacific Fleet (ComBatPac).
In May 1945, he was sent to the Atlantic to command a special unit researching defenses against the threat of Japanese kamikaze aircraft, the Composite Task Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. While serving in that position on 25 August 1945, Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee died suddenly after suffering a heart attack, ten days after the Surrender of Japan. He collapsed and died in a motor launch that was ferrying him out to his flagship, the gunnery training ship USS "Wyoming" (AG-17) in the harbor of Portland, Maine. Lee was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Family.
Willis Lee Jr. was a distant relative of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the third Attorney General of the United States, Charles Lee. He married Mabelle Allen Elspeth (1894–1949) on July 14, 1919. They had no children.
Willis' father, Judge Willis Augustus Lee Sr., was one of fourteen children of Nathaniel Wiley Lee (aka Nat Lee, founder of Natlee) and Frances Abbott, of Owen County, Kentucky. While in the Pacific theater, Lee unofficially adopted two Korean children in Vietnam after the children's family requested that Lee take the children to the United States.
His great-grandparents were early Kentucky settlers, Joseph R. Lee and Mary Wiley. His grandfather Nathaniel W. Lee operated a distillery at his namesake village of Natlee. In 1893, Nat Lee's sour mash whiskey was taken to the Chicago World's Fair where it won the Gold Medal over 5000 other entries.
Namesakes.
The was named for him.
Awards and decorations.
Here is the ribbon bar of Vice admiral Willis Augustus Lee:


Butterfly loop

The butterfly loop, also known as lineman's loop, butterfly knot, alpine butterfly knot and lineman's rider, is a knot used to form a fixed loop in the middle of a rope. Tied in the bight, it can be made in a rope without access to either of the ends; this is a distinct advantage when working with long climbing ropes. The butterfly loop is an excellent mid-line rigging knot; it handles multi-directional loading well and has a symmetrical shape that makes it easy to inspect. In a climbing context it is also useful for traverse lines, some anchors, shortening rope slings, and for isolating damaged sections of rope.
History.
The earliest known presentation of the knot was in A.A. Burger's 1914 work "Rope and Its Uses", included in an agricultural extension bulletin from what is now Iowa State University. Burger called the knot a lineman's rider stating it was often used by "linemen and especially telephone men". The knot's security and ability to withstand tension in any direction are both discussed.
The knot's association with mountaineering—and with butterflies—originates from a 1928 article in "Alpine Journal" by C.E.I. Wright and J.E. Magowan. The authors claim to have developed the butterfly noose themselves while attempting to improve the selection of knots available to climbers. The name is "so styled on the basis of a more or less fanciful resemblance imagined in the form of the knot." In the second part of the article they express dissatisfaction regarding their earlier use of the word "noose," since the knot is non-collapsing, and refer to the knot as butterfly loop or simply butterfly. Wright and Magowan call the butterfly loop "new," along with several other of their knots, in the sense they were unable to identify any earlier record of them. However, they prudently added that it "might be rash to claim they have never been used before."
When Clifford Ashley covered the knot in 1944, calling it the lineman's loop, he attributed its first publication to J.M. Drew but made no specific reference as to the source of this claim. A 1912 article called "Some Knots and Splices" by Drew appears in the bibliography of "The Ashley Book of Knots". A 1913 reprint of this Drew article does not mention the butterfly loop.
Use.
The loop is typically attached to a climbing harness by 2 carabiners together with gates to opposite sides from each other.
It can also be used to isolate a worn section of rope, where the knot is tied such that the worn section is isolated in the loop (which of course does not receive a carabiner nor bear any loads in this case). The loop portion is isolated when the other two legs are loaded, and in fact the butterfly can be tied as a bend with the ends emerging where the loop would be.
Errors in tying the butterfly loop can produce a similar looking but inferior knot, the so-called "false butterfly", which is prone to slipping. However, some sources suggest this behavior can be exploited purposely for shock absorption. Wright and Magowan called this less secure loop knot the "half-hitch noose".
Variations.
The double butterfly loop has two non-collapsing loops, allowing for two clip in points, both of which have the same advantages and disadvantages of a single-loop butterfly.


Kunlun Mountain Fist

Kunlun Mountain Fist is a style of Chinese martial arts. The history of this style is unclear, but there are two likely sources for this style:
Forms.
Empty Handed Forms:
Weapons Forms:
Teachers.
There are no public teachers in North America or Europe.
Shifu Jason Baaht taught this style along with Wudang styles in Indianapolis, but he died in 1997 and left no clear successor.
Jason Baaht (Ba Yexing)'s senior disciple was named Damien Baaht (Ba Demen). Both names are Taoist names. Jason Baaht was of Hakka Chinese descent, and Damien Baaht was an Englishman.
Related Styles.
Due to the similarities between the forms in this system and those of Kunlunquan, it has been suggested that one style is an offshoot or variation of the other. All the Kunlun Mountain Fist forms fit into the category of the Daoist martial arts, and some of the Kunlunquan forms seem to belong to the Southern Hakka styles, so it has been argued that Kunlunquan is a hybrid of the Kunlun Mountain Fist, but there is no consensus at this time.


Hapkido

Hapkido ( , , also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do; from Korean "hapgido" ) is a hybrid Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, throwing techniques, kicks, punches, and other striking attacks. It also teaches the use of traditional weapons, including knife, sword, rope, nunchaku (ssang juhl bong), cane (ji pang ee), short stick (dan bong), and middle-length staff (joong bong), gun (analogous to the Japanese jō), and bō (Japanese), which vary in emphasis depending on the particular tradition examined.
Hapkido employs both long-range and close-range fighting techniques, utilizing jumping kicks and percussive hand strikes at longer ranges, and pressure point strikes, joint locks, and throws at closer fighting distances. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, redirection of force, and control of the opponent. Practitioners seek to gain advantage over their opponents through footwork and body positioning to incorporate the use of leverage, avoiding the use of brute strength against brute strength.
The art was adapted from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu as it was taught by Choi Yong-Sool (최용술) when he returned to Korea after World War II after having lived in Japan for 30 years. This system was later combined by Choi's disciples with kicking and striking techniques of indigenous and contemporary arts such as Taekkyon, and Tang Soo Do; as well as various throwing techniques and ground fighting from Japanese Judo.
Name.
"Hapkido" is rendered "" in the native Korean writing system known as "hangul", the script used most widely in modern Korea. The art's name can also however be written "" utilizing the same traditional Chinese characters which would have been used to refer to the Japanese martial art of "aikido" in the pre-1946 period. The current preference in Japan is for the use of a modern simplified second character; substituting for the earlier, more complex character 氣.
The character "hap" means "coordinated", "joining", or "harmony"; "ki" literally means air, gas or breath but is used to mean spirit or so-called 'internal energy'; and "do" means "way" or "art", yielding a literal translation of "joining-energy-way". It is most often translated as "the way of coordinating energy", "the way of coordinated power", or "the way of harmony".
Although Japanese aikido and Korean hapkido share common technical origins, in time they have become separate and distinct from one another. They differ significantly in philosophy, range of responses, and manner of executing techniques. The fact that they share the same Japanese technical ancestry represented by their respective founders practice of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, and that they share the same Chinese characters, despite being pronounced "ai" in Japanese and "hap" in Korean, has proved problematic in promoting Hapkido internationally as a discipline with its own set of unique characteristics differing from those common to Japanese martial arts.
History and major figures from Korea.
The birth of modern hapkido can be traced to the efforts of a group of Korean nationals in the post-Japanese colonial period of Korea, Choi Yong-Sool (최용술) (1904–1986) and his most prominent students; Chinil Chang, his personally chosen successor, Seo Bok-Seob, the first student of the art; Ji Han-Jae (born 1936), one of the earliest promoters of the art; Kim Moo-Hong, a major innovator; Myung Jae-Nam, a connector between the art of hapkido and aikido, Myung Kwang-Sik the historian and ambassador, all of whom were direct students of Choi or of his immediate students.
Choi Yong-Sool.
Choi Yong-Sool (최용술)'s training in martial arts is a subject of contention. It is known that Choi was sent to Japan as a young boy and returned to Korea with techniques characteristic of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, a forerunner of aikido.
The subsequent history is quite controversial in Daitō-ryū circles but is claimed by many contemporary hapkido-ists and is attributed to Choi in an interview that took place during a trip Choi made to the United States in 1980 to visit his direct lineage successor Chin il Chang in New York City. In the interview with Chin Il Chang, Choi claimed to have been adopted by Takeda Sōkaku when he was 11 years old and to have been given the Japanese name, Yoshida Asao. He claims to have been taken to Takeda's home and dojo in Akita on Shin Shu mountain where he lived and trained with the master for 30 years. The interview also asserts that he travelled with him as a teaching assistant, that he was employed to catch war deserters and that he was the only student to have a complete understanding of the system taught by Takeda.
This is contradicted by other claims asserting that Choi was simply a worker in the home of Takeda. The meticulous enrollment and fee records of Tokimune Takeda, Takeda's eldest son and Daitō-ryū's successor, do not seem to include Choi's name among them. Therefore, except for claims made by Choi himself, there is little evidence that Choi was the adopted son of Takeda, or that he ever formally studied Daitō-ryū under the founder of the art.
Stanley Pranin, then of Aiki News and now editor of the Aikidojournal.com, asked Kisshomaru Ueshiba about Choi Yong-Sool and hapkido:
Some argue that Choi Yong-Sool's potential omission from the records, and the ensuing debate over hapkido's origins, may be due to tensions between Koreans and Japanese, partly as a result of the Japanese occupation of Korea. At the height of dispute, it is claimed by hapkido practitioners that Koreans were excluded from listing, though this is contradicted by Takeda's records which contain other Korean names. While some commentators claim hapkido has a Japanese lineage, others state that its origins lay with indigenous Korean martial arts.
Choi Yong-Sool's first student, and the man whom some claim helped him develop the art of hapkido was Seo Bok-Seob, a Korean judo black belt when they met. Some of Choi's other respected senior students are: Chinil Chang, Lim Hyun-Soo, Ji Han-Jae, Chung Kee Tae, Kim Moo-Hong, and arguably Suh In-Hyuk () and Lee Joo-Bang () who went on to form the arts of Kuk Sool Won and modern Hwa Rang Do respectively (though some argue that their training stems from time spent training under Kim Moo-Hong).
Seo Bok-Seob.
Choi's first student and the first person known to have opened up a dojang under Choi was Seo Bok-Seob (서복섭, also spelled Suh Bok-Sup).
In 1948, when Seo Bok-sub was still in his early 20s, he had already earned his black belt in judo and was a graduate of Korea University. After watching Choi Yong-Sool successfully defend himself against a group of men when an argument erupted in the yard of the Seo Brewery Company, Seo who was son of the chairman of the company, invited Choi to begin teaching martial arts to him and some workers at the distillery where he had prepared a dojang.
In 1951, Seo opened up the first proper dojang called the "Daehan Hapki Yukwonsool Dojang (대한합기유권술도장)". Seo also incorporated many of judo´s throws and ground work techniques to the teachings of master Choi. The first symbol for hapkido was designed by Seo, which was used to denote the art was the inverted arrowhead design featured in both the modern incarnation of the KiDo Association and by Myung Kwang-Sik's World Hapkido Federation. Choi Yong-Sool was also employed during this time as a bodyguard to Seo's father who was a congressman. Seo and Choi agreed to shorten the name of the art from 'hapki yu kwon sool' to 'hapkido' in 1959.
Ji Han-Jae.
Ji Han-Jae (지한재) was undoubtedly the prime mover in the art of Korean hapkido. It is due to his physical skills, technical contributions, promotional efforts and political connections as head hapkido instructor to the presidential body guard under Korean President Park Chung-hee that hapkido became popularized, first within Korea and then internationally.
If the martial art education of Choi Yong-Sool is unconfirmed, the same must be said for martial art history of Ji Han-Jae's training, apart from his time as a student of Choi. Ji was an early student (Dan #14) of Choi. He details that prior to opening his martial art school in Seoul, the Sung Moo Kwan (성무관), he also supposedly studied from a man known as 'Taoist Lee' and an old woman he knew as 'Grandma'.
As a teacher of hapkido, Ji incorporated traditional Korean kicking techniques (from Taoist Lee and the art Sam Rang Do Tek Gi) and punching techniques into the system and gave the resulting synthesis the name hapkido in 1957. Hapkido is the Korean pronunciation of (Japanese) aikido and is sometimes erroneously referred to as its Korean cousin.
Although a founding member of the Korea Kido Association(대한기도회) in 1963 with Choi Yong-Sool as titular Chairman and Kim Jeong-Yoon as Secretary General and Head Instructor for the association Ji found himself not able to exert as much control over the organization as he might have wished. To this end and with the support of the Head of the Security Forces, Park Jong-Kyu, Ji founded the very successful Korea Hapkido Association (대한 합기도 협회) in 1965.
Later when this organization combined with the organizations founded by Myung Jae-Nam (Korea Hapki Association/한국 합기회) and Kim Moo-Hong (Korean Hapkido Association/한국 합기도 협회) in 1973 they became the very extensive and influential organization known as the Republic of Korea Hapkido Association (대한민국 합기도 협회).
In 1984, after being released from prison for fraud, Ji moved first to Germany and then to the United States and founded Sin Moo Hapkido (신무 합기도), which incorporates philosophical tenets, a specific series of techniques (including kicks) and healing techniques into the art. Three of Ji Han-Jae's notable students in Korea were Kwon Tae-Man (권태만), Myung Jae-Nam (명재남) and Chang Young Shil (장영실) who is the current president of the International Hapkido Federation. Ji can be seen in the films "Lady Kung-fu" and "Game of Death" in which he takes part in a long fight scene against Bruce Lee.
After the death of Choi Yong-Sool in 1986, Ji came forward with the assertion that it was he who founded the Korean art of hapkido, asserting that Choi Yong-Sool taught only yawara based skills and that it was he who added much of the kicking and weapon techniques we now associate with modern hapkido. The reality being that Grandmaster Choi Yong-Sool taught him little of the original art and higher level techniques so he fabricated a new system on his own terms. He also asserts that it was he that first used the term 'hapkido' to refer to the art. While both claims are contested by some of the other senior teachers of the art, what is not contested is the undeniably huge contributions made by Ji to the art, its systematization and its promotion worldwide.
Chang Chin Il.
A direct student of Choi, Chin Il Chang(장진일) inherited the title of Doju in Choi's personal and complete system of Hapkido on January 15, 1985, becoming the second direct lineage Grandmaster.
On April 5, 1985 Choi personally awarded Chang with the title of Doju (Keeper of the way). Chang also had the privilege and honor of being the first Hapkido master awarded the 9th Dan certificate by Choi in 1980.
A large inauguration ceremony followed on April 11, 1985. The historic event was covered and documented by Korea Sports News and MBC Korean Television. Choi Young-sool, Chang, and Choi's son, the late Choi Bok-Yeol, were in attendance.<ref name="Chang Interview 02/02/13"></ref> Choi left the full documentation and recordings of the system to Chang, who continued to research and document the full history and development of Hapkido.
Furthermore, the future Grandmaster, who was a personally trained, closed-door disciple of Choi, was given Letter of Appointment certificates, the second dated December 1, 1977 and the third dated March 5, 1980. This gave Chang more progressive power and authority in Choi's Hapkido Association. These specific certificates, along with his 9th Dan ranking in 1980, and Doju title in 1985, amply demonstrate that Choi was grooming Chang to be the future Grandmaster of Hapkido.
Chang's intimate video interview(one of several over decades) with his teacher Doju Choi during his visit to New York City has been abused through numerous interpretations and translations. Some have even claimed erroneously to have conducted the interview themselves, further clouding and distorting the truth and gravity inherent in the interview. These endless distortions were generally rebutted in various media each time they appeared.
Doju Chang continues to teach in New York City after decades of maintaining a commercial school, as well as a stint teaching Hapkido at the United Nations. He currently teaches a small group in NYC dedicated to the preservation of Hapkido. Many detractors have spread endless conjecture about him. One lineage created further controversy by stating Choi passed the system to his only son, Choi Bok-Yeol, which is incorrect, misleading, and insulting to the legacy and wishes of Choi. Black Belt Magazine, respecting Chin Il Chang as the second lineage successor, asked him to write a brief obituary on Choi that appeared in the April 1987 issue.
Doju Chang died peacefully in his sleep on February 23, 2018, at the age of 77 as a result of Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease.
Kim Moo-Hong.
A student from the Choi and Seo's Daehan Hapki Yukwonsool Dojang, was Kim Moo-Hong (김무홍), who later taught at Seo's main dojang in Taegu. Seo, who promoted Kim to 4th degree, credits Kim with the development of many kicks which are still used in hapkido today. Kim apparentally took the concepts from very basic kicks he had learned from Choi and went to a temple to work on developing them to a much greater degree. Later, in 1961, Kim travelled to Seoul and while staying at Ji Han-Jae's Sung Moo Kwan dojang they finalized the kicking curriculum.
Kim went on to found his Shin Moo Kwan dojang (신무관) in the Jongmyo section of Seoul, also in 1961. Won Kwang-Hwa (원광화) and Kim Jung-Soo(김정수) also served as instructors at this dojang. Kim's notable students were Lee Han-Cheol (이한철), Kim Woo-Tak (김우탁; who founded the Kuk Sool Kwan Hapkido dojang), Huh Il-Woong (허일웅), Lee Joo-Bang (이주방; who founded modern Hwa Rang Do), Na Han-Dong (나한동), Shin Dong-Ki (신동기) and Seo In-Hyuk (서인혁; who founded Kuk Sool Won).
Originally a member of the Korea Kido Association, the organization sent Kim to teach hapkido in the United States in 1969. Upon returning to Korea in 1970, Kim looked to Ji Han-Jae's move to set up his own organization and with the encouragement of his students followed suit and founded the Korean Hapkido Association in 1971. Later he combined this organization with the groups led by Ji Han-Jae and Myung Jae-Nam to form the Republic of Korea Hapkido Association.
Lim Hyun-Soo.
Lim, Hyun Soo was born in Gue-Chang Kyungnam Province in Korea on Sept. 7, 1944. In 1965 he visited Hapkido Founder Choi, Yong Sool and had his first meeting with Hapkido. In 1965, he began his training in Hapkido by Master Kim, Yeung Jae, the chief master at Choi Yong Sul's dojang. From 1978, Lim attained all of his rank and training directly from Choi Dojunim. During his time training in Hapkido, he endured strict and intense training. With Founder Choi's blessing, he opened the Jung Ki Kwan on October 24, 1974. In 1976 Founder Choi retired and closed his dojang, joined the Jung Ki Kwan, though he retired actively from public teaching. Founder Choi privately taught Lim during his visits. Founder Choi would also spend his days at the Jung Ki Kwan playing Baduk (Chinese chess) with Lim. It was during these times, Lim would further inquire to Founder Choi about various Hapkido techniques. Lim has the Jung Ki Kwan headquarters in Daegu City. He was promoted to 9th dan by Hapkido Founder, Choi, Yong Sool. He is an accomplished swordsman and created Chung Suk Kuhapdo after studying and investigating numerous sword styles in Japan and South Korea.. Choi Yong Sul told Lim Hyun Soo that learning the sword would be an essential component to his Hapkido training and approved of Lim's sword training. Lim attends the Jung Ki Kwan daily teaching students inside Korea and from around the world. Since 1996, he has visited the U.S. for seminars numerous times. In addition, he has visited Europe such as the Sweden and the Netherlands for Hapkido and Chung Suk Kuhapdo seminars.<br>
Han Bong-Soo.
Han Bong-Soo (한봉수) began his training in Hapkido after seeing a demonstration put on by the founder, Yong Sul Choi. From then on, he committed himself to Hapkido training under Choi and other teachers, but never received any direct high ranking from Choi himself. Han was one of the world's foremost practitioners of Hapkido, and is referred to as the Father of his own offshoot of modern Hapkido in the Western World. He led a dedicated effort in the development of his own version of Hapkido. He taught thousands of loyal students throughout his life with many becoming masters themselves. Other masters across all styles have sought out his wisdom and teachings.
In 1967, Han emigrated to the United States of America, first staying with and teaching at his friend S. O. Choi's hapkido school in California. Han later opened his own school in Los Angeles in 1968. His early years were difficult and he worked in a factory during the day while he taught at a struggling hapkido school in the evening located in an economically depressed area. Later, he relocated his school to the Pacific Palisades area in an effort to be closer to Hollywood and the movie industry.
On July 4, 1969, Han Bong Soo was giving a demonstration of Hapkido at a park in Pacific Palisades, California. In the audience was Tom Laughlin. After a spectacular demonstration, Laughlin approached Han about being involved in a movie project called "Billy Jack". Han gained critical acclaim for staging and performing some of the most realistic martial arts fight sequences in a film. Before "Billy Jack", movies contained at most brief references to martial arts, with fights portrayed by actors who had little training. With "Billy Jack", Han introduced authentic hapkido techniques to Western audiences. In its sequel, "The Trial of Billy Jack", he received a co-starring part where he spoke about and demonstrated the art, mentioning the art by name for the first time.
Han studied and refined this Korean martial art for more than 60 years. He was not a direct high level student of Grandmaster Yong Sul Choi but created and crafted his own limited version from various other teachers that he expanded and taught throughout the world.
Kim Jung-Soo.
Kim Jung-Soo (김정수) was born and raised in the Taegu area, Korea, and started training Hapkido directly under Choi Yong-Sool (최용술) in 1957. He was one of the earlier students of Hapkido, and one source puts him as the eight original student of Choi Yong-Sool. Kim Jung-Soo trained sporadically under Choi Yong-Sool (최용술) along with his primary teachers and influencers Kim Moo-Hong (김무홍) and Won Kwang-Wha (원광화) from 1957 until 1986.
In 1961, Kim Moo-Hong (김무홍) moved to Seoul to open a dojang, and Kim Jung-Soo (김정수) and Won Kwang-Wha (원광화) went with him and became his dojang's primary instructors. Together, they developed the Shin Moo Kwan(신무관) branch of Hapkido. In 1963 Kim Jung-Soo (김정수) decided to go his own way and opened his own dojang in Taegu under the banner of Yun Bee Kwan (윤비관). Later, his students began opening branch schools throughout the greater Taegu aerea, under various names, but still considered to be part of the Yun Bee Kwan (윤비관) family. These schools are known to hold tightly to the original teachings of Choi, Yong Sool (김정수), while also including most of the refinements done by Kim Moo-Hong (김무홍) in terms of kicking methods.
Kim Jung-Soo (김정수) is mostly known for being the founder and president of the Korea-based World Hapkido General Federation, also known as World Hapkido Federation, collecting most of the schools under the Yun Bee Kwan(윤비관) linage in one federation. This organization has since expanded worldwide. While having a similar name, this organization is not to be confused with the U.S. based World Hapkido Federation founded by Kwang Sik Myung (광시숭).
Kim Jung-Soo is currently teaching from his dojang in Taegu City, South Korea.
Myung Jae-Nam.
In 1972, Myung Jae-Nam (명재남) was one of the original members of the Korea Hapkido Association(대한 합기도 협회), which was formed in 1965 at the request of the South Korean President Park Jeong-Hee. The Korea Hapkido Association was formed with the assistance of Park Jong Kyu, who was the head of the Presidential Protective Forces and one of the most powerful men in Korea at the time.
Myung Jae Nam exchanged martial art techniques and information with an Aikido practitioner named Hirata in 1965, for a period of about four years and included many aikido-like techniques into his version of hapkido. He has produced Several books and videos on the subject of hapkido self-defense. Later Myung Jae-Nam broke away from all the other organizations and started to focus on promoting a new style, hankido. Until his death in 1999 he was the leader of the International Hapkido Federation.
Lee Chong-Min.
Chong Min Lee was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. He began his study of Hapkido as a teenager and continued studying Hapkido throughout his life though not a direct student of the late Grandmaster Yong Sool Choi. He is a self-promoted 9th Degree Black Belt, the Master Instructor of Hapkido Center, President of The World Hapkido Association.
Lee served as an Instructor with the 1st Special Forces Group in the Korean Army, and has taught martial arts to the Police Departments in Seoul as well as Plainfield, New Jersey. He has also served as the director of Hapkido demonstrations for such dignitaries as Hubert H. Humphrey and the Chancellor of the Republic of China, Mr. Chang, during their visits to Seoul, Korea. Lee came to the United States in June 1980. He currently operates a Hapkido Center in Warren, New Jersey and is also a member of the Law Enforcement Officers Association New Jersey State. He has been instructing students for over 42 years in Hapkido.
Kim Myung Yong.
Kim Myung Yong was born in Korea in 1942. He started at the age of 17 training at Seung Moo Kwan School under Grandmaster Ji Han Jae. He was a Hapkido instructor in the military camp of Wang Shim Ri. His style of Hapkido Jin Jung Kwan has locations all over the world and is one of the largest Hapkido styles practiced. He is now retired in Houston, TX. In 2012 Gm Kim appointed Michael Rhoades as Vice President and 8th dan as well as assigning him his Korean name Kim Tae Hun. In 2018 Gm Kim appointed Gm Rhoades as President and 9th dan of Jin Jung Kwan.
Kim Yun-Sik.
Kim Yun-Sik (김윤식)was born in Seoul, Korea in 1943. He is the founder of Bum Moo Kwan Hapkido. He began his martial arts training in 1954 under the direction of Choi Yong-Sool, and received the black belt from Choi in 1957.
In the same year he received the black belt in Tang Soo Do from Grandmaster Hwang Kee.
Kim is the founder of the Bum Moo Kwan style, in which the practitioner is instructed to finish the encounter quickly, using any available material as weapon or any part of his body, aiming the opponent's pressure or vital points. Bum Moo is one of the three original and government regulated Hapkido Kwans.
Residing, teaching and training in Brazil since 1977, Kim was the master of several Hapkido World Champions, such as Norberto Serrano Jr., Rafael Tercarolli and Leandro Heck Gemeo
Lim Chae Kwan.
Grandmaster Lim Chae Kwan is the Founder of Jin Mu Kwan.
The Jin Mu Kwan is a traditional art of hapkido.
JIN- Authentic, true.
MU- Martial
KWAN- School or training hall.
This school was founded by Grandmaster Lim Chae Kwan in 2007 after many years of research and study into the Hapkido of Founder Choi Young Sul. As a high school student, Lim, Chea Kwan began his Hapkido training under Grand Master Lim, Hyun Soo. Through the courtesy of his teacher at that time Grand Master Lim, Hyun Soo, president of the Jung Ki Kwan, he obtained a 4th dan certificate signed by Founder Choi Yong Sul. Since Choi's death in 1986 GM Lim studied with the top students of Founder Choi. Some of these Grandmasters were GM Jun Jeong Pil (kicking),GM Lee Jae Young (advanced wrist technology), GM Lee Young Hee (clothing grab defense), GM Chae Hung Jun (special offensive techniques for joint locking and throwing), GM Kim Yeong Jae (special self-protection techniques).
GM Lim Chae Kwan after studying Founder Choi's Hapkido style and feeling his very high level martial arts has studied diligently his whole life to become a skilled craftsman in Hapkido.
Principles.
On the "hard-soft" scale of martial arts, hapkido stands somewhere in the middle, employing "soft" techniques similar to jujutsu and aikido as well as "hard" techniques reminiscent of taekwondo and tang soo do. Even the "hard" techniques, though, emphasize circular rather than linear movements. Hapkido is an eclectic, hybrid martial art, and different hapkido schools emphasize different techniques. However, some core techniques are found in each school ("kwan"), and all techniques should follow the three principles of hapkido:
Hwa, or harmony, is simply the act of remaining relaxed and not directly opposing an opponent's force. For example, if an opponent were to push against a hapkido student's chest, rather than resist and push back, the hapkido student would blend with the opponent, avoiding any direct confrontation by moving in the same direction as the push and utilizing the opponent's forward momentum to execute a throw.
Won, the circle principle, is a way to gain momentum for executing the techniques in a natural and free-flowing manner. If an opponent attacks in a linear motion, as in a punch or knife thrust, the hapkido student would redirect the opponent's force by leading the attack in a circular pattern, thereby adding the attacker's power to his own. Once he has redirected that power, the hapkido student can execute any of a variety of techniques to incapacitate his attacker. The hapkido practitioner learns to view an attacker as an "energy entity" rather than as a physical entity. The bigger the person is, the more energy a person has, the better it is for the hapkido student.
Yu, the water principle, is analogous to the concept of a "moving target" wherein the saying, "In regards to a stream, you can't step on the same water twice," the current forever moves the water downstream and that persistent flow can erode away just about anything, even a boulder, which is often perceived as a substance that's "stronger" than water.
Hapkido is fluid and does not rely on brute force against force. Rather it is much like water as an adaptable entity, in that a hapkido master will attempt to deflect an opponent's strike in a way that is similar to free-flowing water being divided around a stone, only to return and envelop it.
Techniques.
Hapkido seeks to be a fully comprehensive fighting style and as such tries to avoid narrow specialization in any particular type of technique or range of fighting. It maintains a wide range of tactics for striking, standing joint locks, throwing techniques (both pure and joint manipulating throws) and pinning techniques. Some styles also incorporate tactics for ground fighting although these tactics generally tend to be focused upon escaping and regaining footing or controlling, striking, and finishing a downed opponent, rather than lengthy wrestling or submission grappling engagements.
The Korean term for technique is "sool" (). As terminology varies between schools, some refer to defensive maneuvers as "soolgi" (술기; loosely translated as "technique-ing"), while "hoshinsool" (; meaning "self-defense") is preferred by others.
Proper hapkido tactics include using footwork and a series of kicks and hand strikes to bridge the distance with an opponent. Then to immediately control the balance of the opponent (typically by manipulating the head and neck), for a take down or to isolate a wrist or arm and apply a joint twisting throw, depending upon the situation; Hapkido is a comprehensive system and once the opponent's balance has been taken, there are a myriad of techniques to disable and subdue the opponent.
Hapkido makes use of pressure points known in Korean as "hyeol" () which are also used in traditional Asian medical practices such as acupuncture point. These pressure points are either struck to produce unconsciousness or manipulated to create pain allowing one to more easily upset the balance of one's opponent prior to a throw or joint manipulation.
Hapkido emphasizes self-defense over sport fighting and as such employs the use of weapons, including environmental weapons of opportunity, in addition to empty hand techniques. Some schools also teach "hyeong" (), the Korean equivalent of what is commonly known as "kata" (or "forms") in Japanese martial arts.
Kicking.
The wide variety of kicks in hapkido make it distinctly Korean. Taekwondo kicks appear to be similar to many of the kicks found in hapkido, though again circular motion is emphasized. Also, in contrast to most modern taekwondo styles, hapkido utilises a wide variety of low (below the waist), hooking or sweeping kicks, with one of the most distinctive being the low spinning (sweeping) heel kick.
Hapkido's method of delivery tends toward greater weight commitment to the strikes and less concern for quick retraction of the kicking leg. Traditionally, Choi Yong-Sool's "yu kwon sool" () kicking techniques were only to the lower body, but most derived varieties of hapkido, probably as a direct influence from other Korean arts, also include high kicks and jumping kicks. At the more advanced levels of Hapkido the practitioner learns "blade kicks" which utilize sweeping blade strikes of the inner and outer foot against pressure points of the body.
Two of the earliest innovators in this regard were Ji Han-Jae and Kim Moo-Hong, both of whom were exposed to what were thought to be indigenous Korean kicking arts. They combined these forms together with the yu sool concepts for striking taught to them by Choi and during a period of 8 months training together in 1961 finalized the kicking curriculum which would be used by the Korea Hapkido Association for many years to come.
Other influences also were exerted on the kicking techniques of important hapkido teachers. Kwon Tae-Man (권태만) initially studied under Ji Han-Jae before immigrating to southern California in the United States. Han Bong-soo studied under "Gwonbeop" () and Shūdōkan karate from Yoon Byung-In (윤병인), whose students were influential in the later forming of Kong Soo Do and Taekwondo styles, specifically the Chang Moo Kwan and Jidokwan. He, like Kim Moo-Hong, also trained briefly in the Korean art of Taekkyon under Lee Bok-Yong (이복용).
Many other teachers like Myung Kwang-Sik (명광식), Jeong Kee-Tae (정기태), Lim Hyun-Soo (임현수), and many others trained in tang soo do and kong soo do, Shotokan and Shūdōkan karate based systems which predated and influenced the forming of first tae soo do and later modern taekwondo styles.
Kim Sang-Cook states that while many of the original yu kwon sool students were exposed to many different contemporary Korean arts the Chung Do Kwan was of particular importance in the transition from the original jujutsu based form to what we know today as modern hapkido.
Most forms of hapkido include a series of double kicks used to promote balance, coordination and muscular control.
After these kicks are mastered using one foot kick the student moves on to jumping versions using alternate kicking legs.
Kim Chong Sung (김종성, Jang Mu Won Hapkido Founder), was one of the oldest living active hapkido instructors, maintains that the source of these kicking methods is from the indigenous Korean kicking art of Taekkyon. Others feel that these kicks are more representative of kong soo do and tang soo do styles which emerged from an adaptation of Japanese karate forms.
Hand strikes.
Like most martial arts, hapkido employs a great number of punches and hand strikes, as well as elbow strikes. A distinctive example of hapkido hand techniques is "live hand" strike that focuses energy to the "baek hwa hyul" in the hand, producing energy strikes and internal strikes. The hand strikes are often used to weaken the opponent before joint locking and throwing, and also as finishing techniques.
Hand striking in hapkido (unless in competition) is not restricted to punches and open hand striking; some significance is given to striking with fingernails at the throat and eyes; pulling at the opponent's genitals is also covered in conventional training.
In order to recall hand strikes more easily in an emotionally charged situation, beginning students are taught conventional, effective patterns of blocks and counter-attacks called "makko chigi" (막고 치기), which progress to more complex techniques as the student becomes familiar with them.
Joint manipulation techniques.
Many of hapkido's joint control techniques are said to be derived largely from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu. They are taught similarly to Aikido and Ju Jutsu techniques, but in general the circles are smaller and the techniques are applied in a more linear fashion. Hapkido's joint manipulation techniques attack both large joints (such as the elbow, shoulder, neck, back, knee, and hip) and small joints (such as wrists, fingers, ankles, toes, and jaw).
Most techniques involve applying force in the direction that a joint moves naturally and then forcing it to overextend or by forcing a joint to move in a direction that goes against its natural range of motion. These techniques can be used to cause pain and force a submission, to gain control of an opponent for 'come along' techniques (as is often employed in law enforcement), to assist in a hard or gentle throw or to cause the dislocation or breaking of the joint. Hapkido differs from some post-war styles of Aikido in its preservation of a great many techniques which are applied against the joint that were deemed by some to be inconsistent with Aikido's more pacifistic philosophy.
Hapkido is well known for its use of a wide variety of wristlocks. These techniques are believed to have been derived from Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu although their manner of performance is not always identical to that of the parent art. Still many of the techniques found in hapkido are quite similar to those of Daito-ryu and of Aikido, which was derived from that art. Examples of such techniques are: the supinating wristlock, pronating wristlock, internal rotational wristlock, and the utilization of pressure points on the wrist. These techniques are common to many forms of Japanese Jujutsu, Chinese chin na, and even "catch as catch can" wrestling.
Although well known for its wristlocking techniques, Hapkido has an equally wide array of tactics which center upon the manipulation of the elbow joint (see armlock). The first self-defense technique typically taught in many hapkido schools is the "knife-hand elbow press". This technique is thought to be derived from Daitō-ryū's "ippondori", a method of disarming and destroying the elbow joint of a sword-wielding opponent. Hapkido typically introduces this technique off a wrist-grabbing attack where the defender makes a circular movement with his hands to free himself from the opponent's grasp and applies a pronating wristlock while cutting down upon the elbow joint with their forearm, taking their opponent down to the ground, where an elbow lock is applied with one's hand or knee to immobilize the attacker in a pin. Both Daito-ryu and Aikido prefer to use hand pressure on the elbow throughout the technique rather than using the forearm as a "hand blade ()", cutting into the elbow joint, in the Hapkido manner.
Throwing techniques.
In addition to throws which are achieved by unbalancing one's opponent through the twisting of their joints, hapkido also contains techniques of pure throwing which do not require the assistance of jointlocks. Some of these techniques are found within Daito-ryu but a great many of them are held in common with judo (pronounced "yudo 유도" in Korean). Many of early practitioners of hapkido had extensive judo backgrounds including Choi Yong-Sool's first student Seo Bok-Seob.
Judo techniques were introduced in the early years of the 20th century in Korea during the Japanese colonial period. Judo/Yudo tactics employ extensive use of throws, various chokes, hold downs, joint locks, and other grappling techniques used to control the opponent on the ground. It is believed that these techniques were absorbed into the hapkido curriculum from judo as there were a great many judo practitioners in Korea at that time and its tactics were commonly employed in the fighting of the period. Indeed, there also exists a portion of the hapkido curriculum which consists of techniques specifically designed to thwart judo style attacks.
The judo/yudo techniques were however adopted with adjustments made to make them blend more completely with the self-defence orientation which hapkido stresses. For example, many of the judo style throwing techniques employed in hapkido do not rely upon the use of traditional judo grips on the uniform, which can play a large role in the Japanese sport. Instead in many cases they rely upon gripping the limbs, head or neck in order to be successful.
Even today Korea remains one of the strongest countries in the world for the sport of judo and this cross influence on the art of Korean hapkido to be felt in Hapkido influenced styles such as GongKwon Yusul (공권유술).
Weapons.
As a hapkido student advances through the various belt levels (essentially the same as other Korean arts, e.g. taekwondo), he or she learns how to employ and defend against various weapons. The first weapon encountered is most often a knife (). Another initial weapon used to teach both control and the basic precepts of utilizing a weapon with Hapkido techniques is the Jung Bong (police baton sized stick), techniques and defenses against the 35 cm short stick (), a walking stick or cane (ji-pang-ee; 지팡이), and a rope are introduced in hapkido training. Many hapkido organisations may also include other weapons training such as a sword (gum; 검), long staff (), middle length staff, nunchaku (), war-fan or other types of bladed weapons such as twin short swords. Some schools even teach students to defend against firearms. Hapkido weapons techniques are often incorporated into many military and law enforcement training curricula.
Training.
Hapkido training takes place in a dojang. While training methods vary, a typical training session will contain technique practice (striking techniques as well as defensive throws and grappling), break falling (), sparring, meditation and exercises to develop internal energy ("ki", ).
Hapkido is predominantly a "soft" art, but this does not mean that it is easier on the opponent, or that training is easier (see Hard and soft (martial arts)). Hapkido training is vigorous and demanding. The practitioner could benefit in training by being lean and muscular. However, strength is not a prerequisite of hapkido; what strength and fitness is necessary to perform the techniques develops naturally as a result of training.
Example Curriculum
The following is an example of the Korea Hapkido Association technical requirements from 1st degree to 5th degree Black Belt as recorded by He-Young Kimm in 1991, created in association with Ji Han Jae. These techniques are now considered pre-dan level.
1st Degree Black Belt
2nd Degree Black Belt
3rd Degree Black Belt
4th Degree Black Belt
5th Degree Black Belt


Glider Pilot Regiment

The Glider Pilot Regiment was a British airborne forces unit of the Second World War, which was responsible for crewing the British Army's military gliders and saw action in the European theatre in support of Allied airborne operations. Established in 1942, the regiment was disbanded in 1957.
Formation.
The German military was one of the pioneers of the use of airborne formations, conducting several successful airborne operations during the Battle of France in 1940, including the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael. Impressed by the success of German airborne operations, the Allied governments decided to form their own airborne formations. This decision would eventually lead to the creation of two British airborne divisions, as well as a number of smaller units. The British airborne establishment began development on 22 June 1940, when the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, directed the War Office in a memorandum to investigate the possibility of creating a corps of 5,000 parachute troops.
On 21 June 1941, the Central Landing Establishment was formed at Ringway airfield near Manchester; although tasked primarily with training parachute troops, it was also directed to investigate the possibilities of using gliders to transport troops into battle. It had been decided that the Royal Air Force and the Army would co-operate in forming the airborne establishment. Squadron Leader Louis Strange and Major J.F. Rock were tasked with gathering together potential glider pilots and forming a glider unit; this was achieved by searching for members of the armed forces who had pre-war experience of flying gliders, or were interested in learning to do so.
The two officers and their newly formed unit were provided with four obsolescent Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers and a small number of Tiger Moth and Avro 504 biplanes, for towing purposes. Around this time the War Office and Air Ministry began to draw up specifications for several types of military gliders to be used by the unit. The resulting gliders were the General Aircraft Hotspur, General Aircraft Hamilcar, Airspeed Horsa and the Slingsby Hengist. These designs would take some time to be implemented and produced, however, and for the time being the fledgling unit was forced to improvise.
A Glider Training Squadron was formed, and the first test-flights were conducted using Swallow light aircraft which had their propellers removed to simulate the flight characteristics of a glider; they were towed by the Whitleys using tow-ropes of varying number and length for experimentation purposes. Appeals were made throughout the United Kingdom for civilian gliders to be donated to the squadron, and the first four arrived in August 1941; three of them had been manufactured in pre-war Germany. Soon several more were donated, and these were put to use training instructors, glider pilots and newly formed ground crews. Accidents were quite frequent in these early months, primarily due to the hemp tow-ropes breaking during flight; these problems were only solved with the introduction of nylon tow-ropes imported from the USA. The first demonstration of the squadron's abilities took place on 26 September, when Prince George, Duke of Kent witnessed a demonstration of the fledgling airborne establishment's capabilities: four parachute-drops were conducted, and then two gliders were towed by civilian aircraft. This was followed on 26 October by a night exercise being conducted by the squadron, with two Avro 504s towing four gliders, and on 13 December five gliders were towed to Tatton Park, where they landed alongside sixteen parachutists dropped from two Whitley bombers.
There was a certain carefree atmosphere in the squadron in the first few months of its existence; new recruits were not obliged to pass a medical test to join the squadron, and it attracted a number of adventurous-minded men with a passion for flying, including a sergeant who had flown a Messerschmitt during the Spanish Civil War. These first pilots had been volunteers recruited from all branches of the armed forces, primarily the Army, but as the squadron began to conduct training exercises, arguments broke out between the RAF and the Army over the pilots. In the view of the RAF, gliders were aircraft and therefore came under their jurisdiction and should be controlled by them; the Army argued that as the glider pilots would subsequently be fighting alongside the troops they had transported, they should come under Army control. After much debate, a compromise was brokered between the two services: the pilots would be recruited from the Army but would be trained by the RAF.
Volunteers were sought from the Army and had to be passed by RAF selection procedures before entering training. Once qualified as light aircraft pilots after a 12-week course, they were given further training on gliders: another 12-week course to qualify on the General Aircraft Hotspur. After a while they would then go to a Heavy Glider Conversion Unit for a six-week course so they were qualified for the Airspeed Horsa.
Higher formations.
In 1942 the Glider Pilot Regiment came under a newly formed administrative corps, the Army Air Corps, alongside the Parachute Regiment and wartime Special Air Service, and the Air Observation Post squadrons of the Royal Artillery. In 1949, the AAC was broken up and the regiment formed part of the Glider Pilot and Parachute Corps. In 1957 the Glider Pilot Regiment and the Air Observation Post squadrons of the Royal Artillery amalgamated to form the current Army Air Corps.
Regimental Association.
Veterans of the regiment were represented by the Glider Pilot Regimental Association. The association published a journal entitled "The Eagle", operated a benevolent fund and organised pilgrimages to locations where the regiment had fought, particularly Normandy and Arnhem. Due to the declining number of veterans and lack of external support, the members of the association voted in favour of winding it down. It closed on 31 December 2016.
Family members of veterans, who had previously been permitted to join the association as associate members, gathered together to form a civilian society named The Glider Pilot Regiment Society which officially opened on 1 January 2017 with the approval of a large number of veterans. The objective of the society is to preserve and promote the heritage of The Glider Pilot Regiment through education and engagement and create a network for veterans of the Glider Pilot Regiment and their families to engage with one another. The society produces a magazine entitled "Glider Pilot's Notes", arranges trips for veterans and organises events every year to mark key anniversaries relating to the regiment's history.
Battle honours.
The regiment was awarded the following battle honours for its service during the Second World War:


NRW Trophy

The NRW Trophy (also known as the NRW Summer Trophy or NRW Autumn Trophy) is an annual international figure skating competition organized by the Skating Union of North Rhine-Westphalia and since 2007, it has been sanctioned by the Deutsche Eislauf Union and the International Skating Union. It is held every autumn at Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany. Medals are awarded in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The competition is held in two parts. The Ice Dance Trophy is held for ice dance levels pre-novice to senior in early November. The Figure Skating Trophy is held for singles and pairs skating levels novice to senior in late November or early December.


Gideon Kliger

Gideon "Gidi" Kliger (born March 30, 1980) is an Israeli Olympic sailor, who is a three-time bronze medallist at the sailing world championships.
Biography.
Kliger was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He started sailing and competing when he was 8 years old. He competes with the club Hapoel Tel Aviv. He competed with partner Udi Gal in two-man competitions through 2009.
In 1996 he and Gal won the 420 Europeans and finished second place at the 420 Worlds.
In 2000 he and Gal won the 470 Youth World Championship, and in 2001 they finished second place in the European Championship in Ireland.
He and Gal won bronze medals in the Sailing 470 World Championship for three years straight in Men's 470-Class Two-Person Dinghy — from 2006 to 2008. In May 2003, he was ranked number 1 in the world. In June 2007, he came in third place in the Men's 470 ISAF Sailing World Championships, in Cascais, Portugal. In January 2008, he and partner Gal came in third place in the Men 470 World Championships, in Melbourne, Australia. In April 2008, the pair was ranked third in the world in the 470 class dinghy.
Kliger and Gal competed on behalf of Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and on behalf of Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, in Men's 470-Class Two-Person Dinghy, coming in 15th and 14th place, respectively.
In 2009, Kliger began partnering with Israeli Eran Sela, a windsurfer from Sdot Yam, in the 470. In 2010, Kliger was ranked the # 2 skipper in the 470 by ISAF. In September 2010, they won a silver medal at the 470 class European Championship in Istanbul. In November 2010, the two won the gold medal in the Men's 470 at the Perth International Regatta. They won a bronze medal at the Open 470 European Championships. In 2011, they came in 4th place at the 470 World Championship, and in 7th at the 2012 World Championship.
In 2012, Kliger and Sela also competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing in 15th place.


The Blossom Twins

Lucy Knott and Kelly Sharpe (née Knott) (born on 18 February 1988), are a retired twin Professional wrestling tag team, better known by their ring names Hannah Blossom and Holly Blossom.
Early lives.
The twins grew up in Stockport, Greater Manchester, where they attended St Winifred's RC Primary School. Both became fans of professional wrestling at the age of 12, and admired The Hardy Boyz.
Professional wrestling career.
Both the Knott twins began training when they were 15, and debuted in professional wrestling at the age of 16.
English promotions (2005–2013).
On 4 May 2008, The Blossom Twins made an appearance at the ChickFight X, where they defeated Jade and Maya. At ChickFight XI, they lost to Jetta and Wesna.
In 2008, at the Gerry Norton Promotions, The Blossoms defeated CJ Banks & Danny Hope. On 19 September, they teamed with Bubblegum to defeat Generation S.E.X (Brad Flash, Brett Valentine and Mikey Riot). On 10 October, The Blossoms and Travis the Menace defeated Bret Valentine, Brad Flash and Prince Ameen. On 27 February 2011, at "Futureshock Wrestling", The Blossoms defeated Becky James and Charlie Quinn. On 30 April 2011, Hannah faced Mickie James to determine the inaugural Covey Pro Women's Champion, but was unsuccessful in winning the championship.
On 8 February 2012, The Blossom Twins debuted for , as participatants in the promotion's eight-woman Queen of the Ring tournament. Hannah was eliminated from the tournament by Nikki Storm in her first round match, while Holly's match against Sara-Marie Taylor ended in a double disqualification due to interference from both Hannah and Taylor's tag team partner Carmel Jacobs, eliminating them both from the tournament. Later during the pay-per-view, Taylor and Jacobs, known as The Glamour Gym, defeated The Blossom Twins in a tag team match.
Ohio Valley Wrestling (2009–2014).
On 7 October 2009, Hannah debuted for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). She faced Epiphany for the OVW Women's Championship in her debut match. She won both the match and the championship. Nearly two months later, she defended the championship against Josie, who won the match by pinning Holly, who was aiding her sister illegally. Four days later, the championship was awarded back to Hannah as a result. Hannah held the championship for just two weeks, before Josie defeated her for it on 16 December.
Going into 2010, The Blossoms turned face saving Josie from the attack of C.J. Lane, Epiphany and Taryn Shay on "OVW episode 551". The six were involved in a tag team match on 28 February, at OVW's "Retribution" which The Blossoms and Josie won. On "OVW episode 555", Holly defeated Taryn Shay. On "OVW episode 556", Epiphany defeated Hannah. After the match C.J. Lane attacked her, leading Holly to challenge her for the title. However, on OVW's "The Showcase" on 24 April, she lost to Lane. Holly Blossom won the title for a second time, after she defeated Taryn Shay on 31 July, at OVW's "Futureshock 2".
She lost the title to Lady JoJo (formerly Josie) on 28 August, at OVW's "Summer Scorcher". In the end of 2010, the duo quickly started a scripted rivalry with Lady JoJo and Taryn Shay, which led to a Loser Leaves OVW match at OVW's "Saturday Night Special" on 11 November, in which they lost and were forced to leave OVW.
On 19 March 2011 at "OVW episode 604", Lady JoJo defeated C.J. Lane to retain her title. After the match Lady JoJo and Taryn Shay continued a beatdown on C.J. Lane when out came The Blossom Twins who attacked JoJo and Shay to help C.J. Lane. Later it was announced that The Blossoms are officially back in OVW. In April, they started a rivalry with Smothers Twisted Daughters (Jessie Belle and Izza Belle Smothers. The teams faced each other on 30 April, at " OVW episode 610", in which The Blossoms won. At 7 May, on "OVW episode 611", The Blossoms teamed up with Johnny Spade to defeat The Smothers and Shiloh Jonze in a six-person mixed tag team match. The two teams faced again, this time both as faces on "episode 625" at 13 August, where The Blossoms lost.
After one-year absence, The Blossoms returned to the promotion at OVW's "episode 687" on 20 October 2012 defeating Josette Bynum and Taeler Hendrix in a divas tag team match. On the 24 October edition of "OVW episode 688", The Blossom Twins teamed up with Jessie Belle Smothers and Heidi Lovelace in a winning effort defeating Epiphany, Bynum and Killa Kaila and Hendrix. The Blossom Twins return to OVW on the 6 March 2012 edition of "OVW Episode 707", where they defeated Hendrix and Lovely Lylah in a dark match despite the pre-match attack. The girls would continue to work dark matches in single and tag action until the 18 May 2012 episode where they worked the live show and won a tag match against Lovely Lylah and Nikki St. John.
On the 3 July edition of "OVW episode 724", Hannah defeated Taeler Hendrix in a pre-show dark match. During the episode, Holly faced off against Lei'D Tapa, which ended in a no-contest, when Epiphany came to the ring and challenged Tapa to a match. On the 17 July edition of "OVW Episode 726", in a pre-show dark match, The Blossom Twins teamed with Heidi Lovelace in a winning effort defeating Lovely Lylah and The Mean Girls (Hendrix and Envy) after Lylah was pinned by Lovelace.
On the 21 September edition of "OVW episode 735", Hannah won a fatal four–way ladder match to win the OVW Women's Championship for the third time, while also turning heel when she knocked Holly off the ladder to take the title. At OVW's "Saturday Night Special" on 5 October, the evil Hannah lost the title to Lei'D Tapa, ending her reign at 17 days. On 7 January 2014, the twins announced that they are taking a break from wrestling and stating that they are no longer a part of OVW and they took time off wrestling.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2012–2014).
In 2012, it was announced that The Blossom Twins were to be participants in the Challenge TV reality show "", alongside Rockstar Spud and Marty Scurll as contestants competing for a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. The show began airing on 1 January and ended on 22 January 2013. In the third episode, The Blossoms Twins were seen at the Hall of Fame ceremony with Marty Scurll. In the final episode, The Blossom Twins faced Gail Kim and Madison Rayne to prove to Hulk Hogan and Dixie Carter they deserve the win, but Rockstar Spud was chosen as the winner of the show's first season.
The Blossoms returned on the 14 February 2013 episode of "Impact Wrestling", teaming with Marty Scurll against Gail Kim, Tara and Jessie in a six-person mixed tag team match. The match ended after Kim pinned one of the twins to get the victory for her team. On the first episode of "TNA Backstage Pass" in a in-ring segment with Dixie Carter, it was confirmed that The Blossoms were signed to a contract. Hannah would take part in the One Night Only events, taking part in both "Knockout Knockdown" and "TNA World Cup of Wrestling" as part of Team UK. In the "Knockout Knockdown" event, where she defeated Taeler Hendrix and Sojournor Bolt in a triple threat match advancing to a battle royal which was won by Gail Kim. In the "TNA World Cup of Wrestling" event, she was defeated by Team International's Lei'D Tapa.
On the 14 November episode of "Impact Wrestling", Hannah made her return, answering TNA Women's Knockout Champion Gail Kim's open challenge though in a losing effort.
On 7 January 2014, the twins announced they were taking time off of wrestling, thus announcing their departures from TNA.
Other media.
The Blossom Twins made an appearance on "A League of Their Own", where they wrestled comedian Micky Flanagan. Lucy's debut romance novel "How to Bake a New Beginning" was released for pre-orders in September 2018.
Personal lives.
Both the Knott twins work as teaching assistants in a primary school in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The twins are known for handing out homemade cupcakes to the audience prior to matches.
Kelly is married to Chris Sharpe, a professional wrestling referee who works for WWE. Lucy was married to Chris Silvio, a former OVW wrestler.


Milton Hanauer

Milton Loeb Hanauer (5 August 1908 – 16 April 1988) was a public school principal, chess master and Marshall Chess Club official.
Born in Harrison, New York, He is best known for running the New York school competition that became known as the Hanauer League and for writing the book "Chess Made Simple".
His playing career is not well known, but he played on the silver medal winning US team in the 2nd Chess Olympiad at The Hague 1928, he qualified for four US Championships, and he won games from Reuben Fine and Isaac Kashdan.


Pavlo Ishchenko

Pavlo Olehovych Ishchenko (Павел Олегович Ищенко; nicknamed "Wild Man"; born April 30, 1992) is an Olympic Ukrainian-Israeli boxer who competes as a bantamweight. He won the gold medal at the 2013 European Amateur Boxing Championships as a Lightweight (60 kg) for Ukraine. In 2017, boxing for Israel, he won a bronze medal at the 2017 European Amateur Boxing Championships as a Lightweight.
Early and personal life.
Ishchenko was born in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Krai, Russia, and is Jewish. His father, Oleg Ishchenko, is also Jewish and is his coach. He grew up in Kherson, in southern Ukraine, where he attended the local Chabad.
Boxing career.
He represented Ukraine at the 2012 Summer Olympics, at 20 years of age, and was defeated in Round One of the Men's bantamweight by Joseph Diaz of the United States, 9-19, and came in 17th.
He won the gold medal at the 2013 European Amateur Boxing Championships as a Lightweight (60 kg) for Ukraine, receiving congratulations from Prime Minister Mykola Azarov. He also won a bronze medal at the Baku 2015 European Games, as he pulled out injured from his semi-final bout. He competed for Ukraine until 2015.
As an amateur he had a record of 294-23.
In February 2016 he defeated Rafael Vazquez of Puerto Rico in a unanimous six-round decision in New York City, to bring his professional record to 3-0 (2 KOs).
In 2017 he won the Israeli National Championship in the lightweight division. That same year, boxing for Israel, he won a bronze medal at the 2017 European Amateur Boxing Championships as a Lightweight.


Traditional football