Patrick County High School - Archive Yearbook (Stuart, VA)

Page 25 text:

Members of the Chinese Goju Black Dragon martial arts club include Ser¬ geant Gary Edward, Sergeant Floyd Mumford, Private Maria Pangam, First Lieutenant Linda Rustin, and Staff Sergeant Pabon Nery. Private Maria Pangam demonstrates the technique that is most effective when attacked by an aggressor. Sergeant Floyd Mumford demonstrates a front kick as Staff Sergeant Pabon Nery, in the background exhibits defensive front arm blocking techniques. Martial Arts 21

Page 24 text:

Martial Arts Assembly Intrigues Student Body Sergeant Floyd Mumford demonstrates the pre-kick stance at the martial arts assembly. Though similar in technique to Tae Kwon Do karate, Chinese Goju is more of a spectacle to watch. The students at PCHS were both dazzled and intrigued when five members of the United States Army displayed their talents in the martial arts. The group consisted of three men and two women. The men were originally from Michigan, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico. One woman was from Chicago and the oth¬ er woman, currently serving as a lieutenant, was from New York. The group went through many different maneuvers and techniques which awed the students. Some particular moves which were appealing to the females were when the women threw the men to the floor. Just a simple flip of the arm or trip sent them sprawl¬ ing. Some of the demonstra¬ tions included breathing and concentration techniques, breaking boards, and sparring. Each maneuver was execut¬ ed with the utmost skill and dexterity. The moves appear to be simple, however, they are achieved with great expertise. After some board breaking exercises, one of the members went out into the audience and chose a student to come out and perform. Senior Sarah Travis was chosen. She ner¬ vously stepped out from the crowd and approached the boards. The members then ex¬ plained to Sarah, in only a few minutes, how to focus her con¬ centration on the board, and ultimately break it with her hand. She looked as though it was hopeless and also seemed very skeptical, but when she brought her hand down, the board snapped easily. The students learned that the forms of martial arts are effective methods of self-de¬ fense. Because it is very easy to hurt someone using these techniques, students were cautioned not to use them un¬ less they took a class under a well-trained teacher. One point that was stressed was that strength is not the important factor in executing the maneuvers. The key ele¬ ment is concentration. This was certainly proved when the one-hundred pound woman broke the board and threw much larger men to the floor. The last demonstration was sparring. Two at a time, the members “boxed” using the different maneuvers. They were equipped with special hand-arm and foot gear for this activity. It was exciting to see the agility and ease of their movements. The assembly was greatly enjoyed by the students. When the bell rang, everyone left in a flurry of excitement to try these moves on their friends. 20 Martial Arts

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Smiling shyly is Conna Turner, Miss Patrick County Fair. Joseph Pfeifer concentrates as he prepares to bump the next car. 22 PC Fair