TAHOE CITY, Calif. and#8212; Tahoe City chiropractor Dr. Tim Schroeder recently attended an international martial arts event held at the University of North Alabama in Florence, Ala. The three-day event featured Masters of Tang Soo Do Karate from 32 different countries. The and#8220;USA Masterand#8217;s Clinicand#8221; emphasized the spirit of tradition, brotherhood and professionalism and#8212; the three mottos of the World Tang Soo Do Association (WTSDA.) The event was under the direction of Grandmaster Jae C. Shin, ninth degree black belt, who is well known in the world of martial arts and has an entire chapter devoted to him in the book and#8220;20th Century Warriors.and#8221;

The WTSDA holds its Masterand#8217;s Clinic every year for the purpose of enhancing its unique brand of Korean martial art and keeping it vital. The clinic is also used to keep the quality of instruction at a high level worldwide and to maintain high standards of tradition. All candidates wishing to attain the coveted title of master and current masters going for higher rank must test at this clinic before a panel of senior judges.

Dr. Schroeder was fortunate to be asked to test for his fifth degree black belt at the event. and#8220;It was such an honor to be selected for evaluation for rank advancement. This year was special because I was able to test alongside some of the best in the world,and#8221; said Schroeder. and#8220;There were men and women who were testing for fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh degree black belt as well as one person testing for eighth degree black belt. The energy in the room was palpable and I got to see things you only see in the movies. But this was real. The test ended at about 2 a.m. and I was sore for days following it.and#8221;

Schroeder continued, and#8220;One of the highlights for me was testing next to one of my old friends, Master Ricardo Valdez from Caborca, Mexico. He and I have come through the black belt ranks together and we used to spar with one another in the World Championships. As we tested for fifth degree together we created new memories.and#8221; Final results should be announced by next month, however, Dr. Schroeder feels his performance was solid.

The majority of time at the clinic is spent training in a variety of different martial art aspects, such as Advanced Korean Healing Exercise or and#8220;Ki Gong,and#8221; Masterand#8217;s Hyungs, Knife Defense, Grappling, Group Sparring, Hapkido, training with the Sword and Split Second Survival.

Tang Soo Do is a traditional martial art more than 2,000 years old. Grandmaster Shin began teaching Tang Soo Do to students in the United States in 1968 and in 1982 chartered the World Tang Soo Do Association. The WTSDA is very proud of its organization and of the many accomplishments it has experienced in its last 29 years of existence and#8212; more than 150,000 members, 32 member countries and more than 25,000 Black Belts.

The organization has experienced phenomenal growth since its birth, but if one singled out one unique characteristic, World Tang Soo Do with all its diversity displays a loving unity of brotherhood and sisterhood that can be felt throughout its membership, and its contribution to humanitarian aid around the world.

and#8212; Dr. Schroeder teaches Tang Soo Do along with third degree black belt and masterand#8217;s candidate Patrick Cerceau at the Tahoe City Martial Arts Academy in the Cobblestone Center in Tahoe City. Classes are held for children and adults in a family atmosphere with traditional teaching by internationally certified instructors. Call 530-581-0662.