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