The Junior Rank Demonstration Team Performs July 18, 2000
This was for the Utica City Zoo

The weather during the early part of the day was rainy but as the day continued the day cleared up and the performance at the Utica Zoo took place outside on the stage in front of an semi-circle of seats set into the hill. Grand Master Crandall opened the performance by thanking the Utica Zoo staff for allowing his group to help promote the great efforts being made by the Zoo for animals and the community. He also thanked WKTV-2 for sending a representative to film and cover the performance for the evening news and the Pennysaver and the Observer Dispatch for sending staff to cover the performance for the newspapers. A special thanks to Christina Kunzman of the Pennysaver for sharing the pictures she took with us for our web site.

With a short explanation of the American Eagle Style form of martial arts Grand Master Crandall introduced the members of the team and informed the audience that if they wished to know more about each of the team members they could go to the school web page under Demonstration Team where specific information about each team member is listed.


The team members that were able to be present at this performance were Travis Donley (wearing the red top which indicates that he is a member of the Junior Rank Black Belt Assisting Instructors program), Tim Quigley (junior rank black belt), Susanne Turner (a junior rank black belt), Nicole Stanulevich, Eric Legeer, Dan Boak, Zachary Keep, Nick Fabbio and Ian Ramsey. Two black belt instructors were present to assist in this demonstration: Mr. Mark Sanson from the Rochester location and Dr. Jamie Howard from the Albany location.




The students began with a short warm up under the direction of Mr. Mark Sanson.



The first part of the presentation was a short example of what a martial arts class would look like with the whole team doing center punches, kicks and basic forms. This was under the direction of black belt instructor Mr. Mark Sanson. The first and second picture below is the group doing center punches which was followed by the team demonstrating kicks, and basic forms.






Then each team member demonstrated an empty hand form or kata. The first picture below is of Nicole Stanulevich demonstrating Pal-gwe eight followed by Zachary Keep (left) and Nich Fabbio (right) doing Chulgi 1. The third picture is of Travis Donley executing the school and style form called Eye of the Eagle.








Below is a picture of some of the team with the extension tools or wearpons they performed with. To left side, not seen in the picture, is Zachary Keep with the sword. Then left to right is Nicole with Naginata, Tim with Tonfas, Ian with escrima sticks, Nick with Tonfa and Susanne with Bo.




Then came the breaking segment of the performace. Everyone had the opportunity to break and the breaks thrilled the audience. Whether it was wood flying from a blow with the hand or foot, the crack of the wood and flying pieces emphasized the power used by the team members.




Ian Ramsey with a combination center kick hammer fist.



Nicole Stanulevich with a combination elbow palm strike.



Susanne Turner with an ax kick.



Tim Quigley with a palm heel strike through three boards.



Travis Donley with a multiple break involving a side kick followed by a ridge hand to his left and ending with a straight lunge punch through three boards in front of him.



Then Grand Master Crandall had Kim Ingino of the Utica Zoo, who made the arrangements for the team to perform there, demonstrate her mental focus and power by instructing her through the breaking of a board with her bare hand.



The action was concluded with Dr. Jamie Howard demonstrating the area of meditiation for the audience by walking barefoot through a tray of broken glass.


In conclusion, questions were answered and students handed out Action Martial Arts Magazine trading cards to everyone. This trading card is one of the 54 in the year 2000 deck with Grand Master Crandall on it.




After the demonstration, the team wandered throughout the zoo seeing the animals and enjoying a performance well done.


A special thanks to WKTV-2 for the coverage on the evening news and to Chae Kihn of the Observer dispatch and to Christina Kunzman of the Pennysaver for their coverage in the local newspapers.