Martial Arts Banquet
Sunday, May 6th, 2001
VIP Palace
Oakland, California
  
All Photos © 2001 Ting and Randy Vogel
 
 

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 Roped-Off Area in Downtown Oakland
 Sculpture
 John and Ting Walks to Banquet
 Entrance of VIP Palace
 VIP Palace Sign
 Mark & Sally
 Suzanne & Dave
 First Taekwondo Team Member & Spouse
 Pat's Group Performs Korean Music
 Ting, Randy, and John
 Lisa & Pat
 Beno MC's the TKD Skit
 Julie Receives Award for Martial Arts Fitness
 Lisa Receives Award for Best Martial Arts Instructor
 Staff Awards
 Dr. Min Honors Li Jing, Sifu of the Wushu Club
 Dr. Min Honors Dr. Link
 Dr. Link with Award
 An Emotional Mrs. Min
 Mrs. Min Hugs Dr. Link
 Mrs. Min Received Cruise Gift
 Dr. Lieu Introduces the "Applause Meter"
 Dr. Lieu Gives a Demonstration
 The Final Sales Pitch
 Wushu Receives the Most Applause
 Wushu Receives the Best Skit Award
 

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Every year, the UC Martial Arts Program hosts a Martial Arts Banquet in the Spring to present awards and to have a chance for all the clubs to get together. This year's Martial Arts Banquet was held at the VIP Palace. We picked up John, who is in Hankido, before heading to downtown Oakland where the VIP Palace was located. Downtown Oakland after normal business hours is mostly deserted. We passed a roped-off area which deserved a picture simply because of the artistry of the "ropes" and an interesting sculpture.

There was a line at the door of the VIP Palace when we arrived as people lined up to get tickets or get verified. We sat at a table with Dave and Suzanne, Sally and Mark, and a couple whose names escape me at the moment, but he was later introduced by Dr. Min as the "First Taekwondo Team Member" (and of course, John). Everyone at our table except for the Taekwondo Team Member was in Hankido. Dave, like me, was also in Taekwondo (a 4th-degree black belt).

Following dinner, each club presented individual club awards. Five minutes before the ceremony, Master Yoon pulled me aside and asked me to present the Taekwondo Awards and to think of an anecdote why each person should receive the award. I was quite unprepared. For most functions where I have MC duties, I normally prepare a script.  However, knowing how much Master Yoon hates public speaking, I agreed to do it. The five minutes gave me enough time to look over the award recipients and get the pronunciation of the "Eleemosynary
" Award right. Thinking of anecdotes was not too difficult as I know the recipients well enough. After the club awards, staff awards, and various recognition awards (presented by Dr. Min), Dr. Link moved up to the stage to present a "special" gift. In past martial arts banquets, this was the part where Dr. Link gives a gift to Dr. Min. This year, we had a surprise twist. While Dr. Min certainly deserved a gift for being our fearless leader all these years, we knew that part of his strength was the companionship and support of his wife, who therefore deserved a gift. The gift was a vacation on a cruise for Mrs. Min with  the "companion of her choice." This gives her an option to take Dr. Min or someone else (like her sister). (Dr. Min said afterwards that despite our efforts to separate him from his wife that she will definitely take him on the cruise). Mrs. Min was quite overcome!

Another traditional part of the Martial Arts Banquet, besides the presentation of the awards, was  the presentation of a skit by each club.  While I should vote for the clubs I am actually a member of, I could not help applauding the loudest for the Wushu Club who presented the best skit this year hands-down. Dr. Lieu's "Applause Meter" registered an undisputed winner for the skits. All's fair in play.