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.
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