By Grant Clark
The 27th annual Washington State Governor’s Cup Taekwondo Championship, the largest and longest running taekwondo tournament in the state, will be held at the Saint Martin’s University Marcus Pavilion on Saturday, October 24.
Originally known as the Capital City Invitational before adopting its current title in 1995, the Governor’s Cup began as a smaller event for local competitors, but has grown substantially over the last three decades, while developing a reputation as one of the Pacific Northwest’s top-drawing taekwondo events.
More than 700 competitors are expected to participate this year, drawing athletes from Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Canada.
“It’s really grown into a high-caliber event over the near-three decades it’s been around,” said Master Angie Lee of the U.S. Martial Arts Center, which hosts the Governor’s Cup. “We see competitors from every age group and every skill level here.”
Founded by Grand Master Young-Hak Lee, the USMAC opened the first of three locations in Thurston County in 1983. Grand Master Lee, who holds a 9th degree black belt in taekwondo and is a six-time Korean Champion, brought his knowledge of the martial art to Olympia.
The USMAC later opened up locations in Lacey and Tumwater with his grandchildren – Master Angie Lee and Master Jason Lee serving as head master instructors at each location, respectively.
“Taekwondo is a very family oriented sport. It’s unlike other sports,” said Master Angie Lee, who holds a 5th degree black belt and serves as tournament director for the Washington State Governor’s Cup. “It really is one of only a few sports where every member of the family can train with each other. We’ve seen a lot of parents who get involved after their kids get start taking up the sport. Everyone in the family is working toward the same goals.”
Divisional competition at the Washington State Governor’s Cup, which begins at 8:00 a.m. and runs until approximately 6:00 p.m., will be held in sparring, individual poomsae, world class black belt poomsae, team poomsae, team pairs poomsae and creative board breaking.
Poomsae consists of a defined pattern of defense-and-attack motions, while sparring is comprised of full-contact competition.
Competitors in the 12-14, 15-17 and 18-35 year old black belt sparring division will be using Daedo Truescore Scoring System and USA Taekwondo rules. Nine age groups, ranging from under 5 to over 41, participate in the event.
“You will see participants (at the Washington State Governor’s Cup) from beginners who are in their first competition to experienced competitors. You get this wide range of skills,” Master Angie Lee said.
Past guests of the Governor’s Cup include former Washington State Governors Booth Gardner, Mike Lowry, Gary Locke, and Christine Gregoire, who attended while serving as Washington State Attorney General.
In addition to overseeing the Washington State Governor’s Cup, the USMAC offers classes for both children and adults year round. The emphasis, during the children’s classes, is placed on increasing self-confidence, improving focus and concentration, developing self-discipline, and optimizing physical fitness, while the adult classes, which allow participants to progress at their own individualized fitness level, focus on both the physical and mental benefits of the sport
“I think one of the best things that happens is when you have younger students who are now achieving something they once thought was impossible,” Master Angie Lee said. “You see that a lot at the Governor’s Cup every year. This is the place for them to showcase what they have learned.”
Participants can compete in as many four events. Belt rank is divided between Beginners (white/yellow), Intermediate (purple, green and orange), Advance (brown/red) and Black Belt (black and poom).
Tickets, which are available at the door, are $10 and cash only.
“This is a great event for anyone interested in learning taekwondo to get introduced to it,” Master Angie Lee said.
The USMAC also holds an annual Break-A-Thon Fundraiser with a donation made for every board that is broken. Proceeds go to the Olympia School District Education Foundation and the North Thurston Education Foundation.
For more information about the Washington State Governor’s Cup Tournament you can contact the Governor’s Cup Committee at (360) 459-3661 or by email at wagovcup@gmail.com. More information about the event is also available the event’s Facebook page.
