This last weekend, I participated in the Arnold Martial Arts Festival. Here are my logs from that event.

March 3rd, 2005
We arrived at the Columbus airport shortly after 9pm. The plane was loaded with people in suits and business attire, not a friendly fitness face in the crowd. We collected our things and headed out to the shuttle which would take us to our hotel. To our surprise, the hotel was literally nestled between two runways, right next to the airport. Still, not one person that debused with us looking like they were a fitness buff.

March 4th, 2005
The weatherman has predicted snow and sure enough it did snow during the early mornings. Flurries still drop. Good thing there's a shuttle that will take us directly to the convention center. The Convention Center was in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio, attached to a Hyatt hotel. The Fitness Classic, of which Martial Arts was a portion, took up the whole Convention Center and parts of the Hyatt next door. We arrived at the hall an early 8am and already crowds were begining to line up for the Expo. Down one hall was gymnastics and table tennis. Down another was weightlifting and bodybuilding. Down the third was fitness and Martial Arts. Spread all over were demonstrations and competitions in everything and anything related to health and fitness.

While my husband went off to attend classes for personal training, I roamed around the various displays. I signed into the Martial Arts event and had some wonderful, though brief, discussions with the lovely ladies behind the registration tables. Since the Martial Arts events hadn't started up yet, with my daughter in tow, we roamed all the way down to the gymnastics hall and watched the young ladies perform their parallel bars routines. I never realized they actually did stand on those things!

By the time we wandered back, the crowd for getting into the expo (which hadn't opened yet) stretched across the whole hall, up the stairs, and almost to the entrance of the hotel. People in the crowd came from all walks of life: some fit enough they looked like they belonged on Muscle Beach in California, some tall and lean, some young, some old, and all with an interest in fitness and sports. The most amazing demonstration I witnessed were the girls and women participating in the weightlifting competitions. It was an awakening that women do have a place in all sports and some of these women were lifting weights that many men probably couldn't.

Finally, some of the Martial Arts demos were starting. My daughter and I wandered into the main hall and watched a few two-man sets, capoeria players, and various wu shu and wah lam forms. There were people there for Martial Arts from all around the world, including a large contingent from Bejing.

Mixed among the crowd were some of the great name in Martial Arts, Don "the Dragon" Wilson, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Cung Le, Frank Shamorck, Glenn C Wilson, and many, many others that I'm sure I missed. All the booths were active, giving out demonstrations of their equipment and sampling products they had to offer. The most curious booth I thought was the one for Black Salt, a production studio that was making a new series of Martial Arts movies.

March 5th, 2005
This is the day that most of the competitions were kicked off. In one area there was karate, another Chinese Martial Arts, and another jujitsu. While all the competitors did their best, there were a few of the competitions that stood out in my mind.

The San Shou competition was key and took up the middle of the hall. Raised on a plaform in a boxing ring, both men and women used good technique to execute San Shou fighting. The bouts were intense and, if anyone is interested in kickboxing or Muay Thai, they would have enjoyed this demonstration.

One of the competitions involved karate students who all have some disabilities. They all did an outstanding job and really showed that there is no limitation to Martial Arts, only a limitation to what is in your heart.

Finally, I must admit that the Wu Shu artists stole a lot of the show with their amazing acrobatics. I must say these were some of the best I've ever seen. Their gracefulness and dedication to the arts really shown through.

During the event, Wesley Snipes came to join us. Sporting a nice black hat and sunglasses, he made his rounds through the event and even came ringside to watch up-close the boy's Chinese Martial Arts forms competitions. It was a pleasure to see his involvement and interest in Martial Arts.

Later in the day, Arnold Schwarzenegger made his appearance to thank everyone for coming, personally speak with some of the dignitaries that came and usher in an exhibition match between two champions fighting K1 style.

At the end of the night was the Gala Banquet. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this event this year. But visiting the hotel I did get a glimpse at all the demonstrations. The dinner, starting around 8pm, lasted well into the night and had demonstrations throughout. Not just of martial artists but also of entertainers, musicians and acts akin to those you'd see from Chinese acrobat shows.

For those curious, yes I did compete in the Tai Chi Women's event. In my division, other Tai Chi forms, I did place 1st and in overall score I did gain the reward for the highest female Tai Chi competitor. I would have gone on to compete for the all-around award but the competition occurred after I already had to leave.

March 6th, 2005
The events were winding down for Martial Arts but the rest of the expo was still going in full swing. I attended a few of the special seminars anc gained a lot of insight into various aspects of Martial Arts. I attended the class held by my GrandMaster, Glenn C Wilson, and had a great time working with all the students. We covered intercepting hands, a great technique for both defense and combat.

There was a special luncheon with Arnold that many of the VIP got to attend. Not being a VIP at this event, I wasn't invited. But I happened to be outside the hall when Arnold walked by. I was literally 10 feet from him and it was amazing just how much he really does look like he does on TV. I'm sure he didn't even notice me, but I'll never forget that experience.

For those people cleaning Exhibition Hall C, you can thank my little daughter if you found your jobs just slightly easier on Sunday. She had decided the last day of the event to walk around and pick up all the garbage we walked by.

Early that afternoon it was time for me to catch my flight back home. So I missed the closing ceremony.

Overall, I had a great time at the event. I just wished I could clone myself so I could have seen more of the rings in just the Martial Arts Festival. But even then, there was so many things happening with the overall expo that I'm not sure I could have absorbed it all.

I know I can't wait for next year's event! So see everyone in Columbus in 2006!