A Demonstration for the Utica City Center
Saturday June 10, 2000

Thanks to Councilwoman Anne R. Sullivan's efforts the students and instructors performed for the kick of weekend for the summer of the Utica City Center on Genessee Street in downtown Utica. This renewed business area is in what used to be the old Woolworth Building and across the street from the Liberty Park. Greeting our group of over 30 students and instructors was Concession coordinator Mr. Elia Jahjah.

With a super turnout, the meditation, stretching and basics were done by the whole group.


Empty-hand katas were demonstrated by everyone plus one of our Tai Chi Chuan students, Jan Hamacher-Abraham, seen in the first picture, who demonstrated the 24-movement form taught in its traditional format at the American Martial Arts Institute. Some special martial arts tools were used by Susanne Turner (Bo), Mr. Phillips (Sword), Master Crandall (the Halfmoon staff), Anastasja Abraham (Escrima sticks), Nicole Stanulevich (Naginata). Some of the above pictures are of these forms.





Many of the students demonstrated controlled sparring skills. With a black belt instructor supervising each pair three and four pairs of students were able to spar at the same time.











A favorite part for the audience is the breaking segment of a martial arts demonstration. Above are pictures, left to right, of some of the students who broke wood at this demonstration. Starting with Christopher Eaton, Timothy Phelps, Stephanie Chard, Anastasja Abraham, Jon Lyon, Nicole Stanulevich, Susanne Turner, Marie Johnson. The last breaks were executed by Black Belt Instructors Mr. Peter Freedman with a ridge hand and Mrs. Cheryl Freleigh doing a palm heel strike.


Then came two demonstrations of meditation: the control of mind and body together to do things some would think impossible.


Mr. David Phillips laying bare back on a bed of nails while 50 pounds of concrete is smashed with a sledge hammer on his solar plexis by Grand Master Crandall.


Mrs. Marlyn Stalloch walking barefoot through a tray of broken glass. As her feet crushed the jagged edges, the sound of amazement could be heard from the audience.


In conclusion, Mr. Jahjah is seen here breaking a board with his bare hand. It was a fun filled demonstration of the martial arts in action for participants and spectators alike.