One of the oldest clubs on campus, Connecticut College’s Martial Arts Club studies and practices the wide range of systemized traditions of combat training. President Charles Van Rees ’10 said the club currently has between 10 to 20 active members who are divided between a formal branch and an informal branch. Students join the club for a variety of reasons whether it be self defense, discipline, mental focus, personal or spiritual development, or personal fitness.
The formal branch consists solely of Tang Soo Da, a Korean form of karate. Regular tests and traditional ranking systems are also included in the formal branch.
Van Rees was responsible for founding the informal branch, which constitutes student-run classes and practice sessions of various martial arts. Any student interested in teaching a particular form of martial arts must contact Van Rees to have their class approved, then the class and practice sessions may be open to the student body.
Martial Arts approved and currently taught include Aikido, Kenjutsu, Ninjutsu, Kung fu, Yang and Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, and freestyle Karate. Student instructors include Van Rees, Club Vice President Patrick McGrath ’12, Alex Soffron ’12, Nick Peng Xuefeng ’10 and Evan Bragdon ’12.
The club uses all sorts of different equipment but it depends on which of the martial arts is being practiced. A variety of striking pads and sparring gear (mouth guards, shin guards, padded helmets) are put to use on a routine basis. Practice weapons such as wooden swords or rubber knives as well as mats for grappling and groundwork are also incorporated into the teachings.
Currently the team does not hold competitions, as their main goal is regular training and practice of techniques.
They do, however, hold monthly self-defense lessons at the Women’s Center, which are taught by student instructors. The club also regularly hosts a “CCMA Demo Night” where students can demonstrate different aspects of a particular martial art as well as the history and principles behind it. The next demo night will be sometime in late March or early April.
Locations and practice times vary depending on availability but the team generally practices in either the 1941 room in Cro or the adjacent dance studio. Generally, the club meets weekdays at 4 PM.
As a graduating senior, Van Rees hopes the Martial Arts Club will continue “to grow in both the quality of training offered and the variety of arts in which solid training is available.”
