INTERNATIONAL HQ VISIT 2009

Master Kirkwood, Mrs Kirkwood and Mr Ryan Kirkwood joined Master Darcy for a two week vacation on the paradise island of Hawaii in the Pacific ocean. The Island is unbelievably beautiful and tranquil, and is indeed one of our favourite places to visit!

Although the main visit was for a well earned holiday, the other was for the International Testing under Grandmaster Hee Il Cho, in which Master Darcy and A.I.M.A.A students from Ireland had been preparing for all year.  Most of the A.I.M.A.A European visitors from Scotland and Ireland arrived in Hawaii on the 19th of November, and had a few days relaxing in the sun before the International Testing on the 22nd of November at A.I.M.A.A HQ.

The Testing for low grades took place from 9.30am until 12noon. Due to the amount testing the testing areas had been divided into three areas, with three main tables. The head Panel consisted of Grandmaster Cho, Master Kirkwood and Master Byrne. These Masters sat in the centre of the Dojang and where flanked at each side by tables with National and International Instructors who had their own group of belts to test. Grandmaster Cho and the A.I.M.A.A Masters had the High grades testing from Red belt or above!

A.I.M.A.A Ireland had two excellent students testing in the early morning testing, Both students train under Master John Darcy. Both Joe and Lillian did an outstanding job and had a great testing. Both showed great determination, power and ability on the floor and did Master Darcy proud in representing A.I.M.A.A Ireland.

As the day progressed there was a break for lunch before the International Black Belt Testing. You could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air as everyone waited for Master Darcy to take to the floor. The order of the testing was the 7th Degree testing then, the 1st to 3rd Degree testing students.

Master John Darcy is the epitome of a true Martial Artist in the eyes of A.I.M.A.A worldwide. As the European Director of A.I.M.A.A he does an outstanding job in spreading the word of A.I.M.A.A throughout Europe. However, as a Senior student of Grandmaster Cho he is always humble and unassuming, a true ambassador for our association worldwide.

Master John Darcy stepped onto the floor just after 1pm to raptures of applause and love from his A.I.M.A.A family, who sat their proudly watching their prodigal son take his steps into the history books within the association, as this testing would lead him to become the first 7th Degree Master within A.I.M.A.A Europe.

His testing was just unbelievable! The power and technique used to execute each move, punch, block and kick was amazing, and just watching him you forgot about his injuries and the pain he must had been enduring. Whilst most of us in life will give up, due to the pain we have from medical conditions, we witnessed a man who had the heart of a lion endure his pain without a flinch! Watching him test you would not have known of his knee surgery or the enduring pain he is in! His testing was flawless, precise and for the privileged few who watched him test these memories will be burned within the minds and hearts.  This testing highlighted the true dedication of an A.I.M.A.A Master, an inner warrior and a true martial artist.

As Master Darcy's testing drew to a close he undertook his destruction/breaking, another aspect within the testing which required focus, ability and sheer power! His one step and self defence was truly inspiring to watch. He had to perform both elements in slow motion then in full force!

The testing progressed into the 1st Degree to 3rd Degree students. Mr Sean O'Donnell, who's Instructor Mr O'Connor of A.I.M.A.A Ireland was the only High Red Belt on the floor testing for 1st Degree. Sean exploded from one technique to another and was truly amazing to watch. His destruction/breaking was fantastic and everyone watched in amazement as he jumped up into a side kick to break boards held high up on chairs! 

Master Kirkwood and Mrs Kirkwood, as well as their son Ryan would like to wish their friend Master John Darcy their warmest wishes and heart felt congratulations on his promotion. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Joe Darcy (Bongo Joe), Lilian O'Meara and of course Sean O'Donnell on their promotion within A.I.M.A.A. You all truly deserve it and are true ambassadors of A.I.M.A.A.

The group of 15 International Masters, Instructors and students had an exceptional time in Hawaii, and where all given the 5 star treatment by all their A.I.M.A.A family members in Hawaii!

The group were welcomed into the home of Mr & Mrs Diamond who had put on a beautiful banquet in their mansion. This meal was to not only a special welcome to the International visitors but to also celebrate the forthcoming "Thanks Giving" celebration. All the visitors, as well as Grandmaster and Mrs Cho received a Hawaiian Lei's, which are beautiful flower necklaces!  The night was full of entertainment from the Irish Instructors Mr Gerry Long, Mr Fitzgerald and Student Joe Darcy, who all received enthusiastic clapping from all at the party!

The group also celebrated "Thanks Giving" in the home of Dr & Mrs Zunin who welcomed all the Scottish and Irish visitors for a fantastic home cooked meal! There was plenty of music from Bongo Joe on the Bongo! and Mr Fitzgerald on the Bagpipes! This was followed later on by Mr Gerry Long on guitar accompanied by Mr O'Connor singing! It was a great night, with fantastic company.

The full two weeks the group trained and relaxed together in many locations in Hawaii and had some fantastic trips shopping, on boats and sightseeing. They also had the great privilege to have dinner on many occasions with Grandmaster Cho and Mrs Cho.

To all our A.I.M.A.A Family who had joined everyone in Hawaii, it has been an exceptional testing, and our holiday has been filled with many cherished memories and love from everyone. Everyone, not only are we blessed to have such a family and association within this world, we are humbled to call so many of you our friends. Our only disappointment is that we truly missed not having Master Ameris and Mrs Ameris, as well as our son John and his family with us in Hawaii.

We would like to thank all the A.I.M.A.A Instructors and students in Hawaii for their hospitality, especially Mr & Mrs Diamond and Dr Zunin and his wife for their unbelievable hospitality. We would also like to thank Grandmaster Cho and Mrs Cho for their hospitality and kindness and look forward to our next trip to A.I.M.A.A HQ in the near future. We look forward to spending time with everyone in Washington DC next year in July, when we will all be together again, and many more cherished memories will be made!

Master Kirkwood & Mrs Kirkwood