The 13th Annual Hong Ik Martial Arts Festival (HIMAF) Recap

The 13th Hong Ik Martial Arts Festival (HIMAF)  took place on June 13th at the Irvington High School Gym, bringing  together an inspiring community of martial artists, families, and  supporters. Over 200 competitors represented the six regional NY/NJ Hong  Ik Martial Arts schools, joined by guest academies from across the  tri‑state area and beyond, including US Taekwondo Center (Shrewsbury, MA), White Tiger Taekwondo (Greenwich, CT), and Yong In Elite Taekwondo (Norwood, NJ).

Competitors began checking in as early as 9:30 a.m., accompanied by close to 400 guests who filled the gym with energy and encouragement. The Festival opened with electrifying demonstrations by the HIMAF Demo Team,  comprised of SUSA and MUSA who tried out for the team and practiced for  three months leading up to the festival, showcasing creative forms,  tumbling, and dynamic board breaking. A vibrant group warmup led by MUSA  Chloe Asencio set the tone for the day.

The Opening Ceremony  featured a heartfelt violin performance of the South Korean and  American national anthems by the talented Goldberg mother‑daughter duo  from HIMA Tarrytown. The ceremony continued with the formal recognition  of 9 special guests (8 Grand Masters and 1 Master) and 12 volunteer  judges/masters, each honored with individual plaques presented by young  HIMA students as a gesture of deep appreciation. The volunteer  judges/masters received their plaques from the respective Grand Masters.

Competition began with four active rings running simultaneously, starting with Individual Formsand Board Breaking, organized by age and belt rank. Team Forms and Board Breaking followed. After team events concluded, the four rings merged into a single main ring for an exciting Sparring  showcase, featuring multiple matches (mostly round‑robin) happening  simultaneously. Full body contact was allowed at all levels, and this  year light head contact was permitted for Black Belts.

All  competitors received special commemorative medals ordered from Korea,  while 1st and 2nd place winners were awarded trophies. The Festival  wrapped up around 1:45pm, with numerous participants and spectators  staying throughout the entire event—demonstrating the strong spirit,  unity, and support that define the Hong Ik community.

This year we were  honored to feature about several sponsors who contributed to the HIMA WORLD ORGANIZATION, the official non-profit sponsor of HIMAF for the past two years.

The HIMAF 2026 Sponsors include:

Brian Kelly PI	Chinitz Orthodontics
Goldfarb Properties	Century 21 Marciano
NOMA Hotel	Enzo's Restaurant
Reclamation Foods	Posto 22
Rye Health and Fitness	FastSigns
Ashley Korin Photography

 We are humbled to see the support for HIMAF growing and appreciate this generosity.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to Irvington High School for hosting, to every competitor for their courage and sportsmanship, and to all Grand Masters, Masters judges, and volunteers whose dedication makes HIMAF a meaningful and memorable experience year after year.

Please enjoy some footage of the Festival!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z52X2gXStCc

Spring/Summer 2026 Newsletter

2026 SUSA/MUSA Heartwarming Celebration

HIMA WORLD ORGANIZATION hosted the 2nd Annual SUSA/MUSA Heartwarming Celebration on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at HIMA headquarters in Tarrytown. Out of 40 SUSA & MUSA and almost 100 guests, 21 competitors showcased their skills in form, board breaking and weapons demonstrations.

The event began with a short Qigong routine for both student competitors and non-

competitors to raise their motivation and confidence. Grand Master Yoo emphasized that

through Qigong training one can harmonize Um and Yang energy. Although leaning on

excessive Yang energy can be tempting and feel good in the moment, it later results in energy imbalance and possibly extinguishing or burning out. Watching the students practice the short Qigong routine already proved their good understanding and application of this principle, also referred to as TaeGeuk.

Students then proceeded to a few minutes of target kicking, with each Master holding focus

targets. The competition then officially began, with two students at a time demonstrating their skills within a 1-minute time limit for each. Performances were diverse, with some featuring board breaking, nunchucks, target kicking, dancing, and tumbling. Each HyunSa scored all competitors assigning scores ranging from 70 to 100. Results were then compiled by Grand Master Yoo, and four finalists were selected. Two semifinals and then a final matchup were all scored by all HyunSa using a colored flag system to determine the ultimate winner: Zayna Elsebai from Hong Ik Martial Arts of Mahwah. Zayna was awarded a certificate of $600, applied towards 1 year of her SUSA or MUSA membership!

MyungSa Saya recapped the work HIMA World Organization has done in its first year, including sponsoring the Hong Ik Martial Arts Festival, holding Taichi classes for Seniors in the

community, and providing financial assistance to students in need who are passionate in

martial arts. We expect donations will grow to help further and expand this mission for years to come.

A brief demonstration followed by all HyunSa, featuring:

o Qigong (Masters Shin Min and Chun Shim)

o Running Back Hook Kick (Master Moon)

o Quadruple Front Snap Kick (Master Oh)

o Bally Kick (Master Jorge Delgado)

o Tumbling (Masters JiSun and Jorge Delgado)

o Superman Punch (Master JiSun)

All competitors and guests were then treated to authentic Korean food, also courtesy of the

HIMA World Organization. We congratulate all competitors for their courage, commitment, and remarkable display of skill and positive energy. We also thank all parents for their ongoing support and cheerfulness, making our 2nd Heartwarming Celebration event a great success. A special thanks to MyungSa Saya, Jennifer, Jonathan and Nelson and all volunteers both on and off the mats. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

Contributions can be made by check, payable to the HIMA World Organization, and mailed to

the Tarrytown HQ (10 Main Street, Tarrytown, NY 10591), dropped off at the front desk of any

dojang, or handed directly to John Tran, Director of Public Relations, at Tarrytown HQ. These

generous donations help sustain the organization's efforts to make a meaningful impact in the lives of martial artists.