FAITH CERUSSI, LITTLE MISS "SPIRIT OF HANMADANG"
One day before Hanmadang events started, competitors and VIP's were to pick up their laminated badges in an area near the vendor booths. After having my photo re-taken, I went from there into the competition arena, having heard the shouts of one of the University demonstration teams. There weren't many people around, so I hopped up onto the collapsed lower stadium seating and watched for a while. It was there that I met a very sweet six year old girl named Faith, and her father Tom. I want to say their last name was
Cerritis, but was unclear on their surname at the time (it is Cerussi). They lived near Sacramento and trained at one of Grandmaster Clint Robinson's schools.
Faith was bright and filled with awe watching what the demo team was practicing. Tom lifted her up onto the stacked seats near me, and we talked with an ease it seems only very old friends or very young people sometimes do. Tom has educated his daughter well, and he seemed quietly proud with the conversation Faith and I were having. We said our goodbyes when they had to leave, but I was pleasantly surprised to have them visit me in the spectator seats two days later when watching heavy breaking. Faith, competing as a green belt, had herself a Gold medal for individual poomse around her neck, a new stuffed bear in dobok with a black belt, and a smile that stretched from ear to ear. The bear was Toms gift to her for winning Poomsae. She wanted to name this bear, and she laughed without reserve when I told her it already had a name. "What?" she asked. "Teddy" I answered, "that's why they call it a Teddy bear". Her laughter was infectious. We went on conversing and being silly with words for quite some time, and this beautiful little girl with the missing front teeth, the big smile, and the embodiment of life and joy itself left me with a permanent memory and one of my strongest impressions from Hanmadang. I even inquired with Grandmaster Robinson when we spoke a few days after the event if he by some chance knew who they were. He has 17 affiliated schools, and did not know them.
But what was most important about this interaction was how much fun Faith was having, meeting new people, making new friends, both young and old, competing and winning and being part of something that was historic. For little Faith, her experiences seemed only to have been positive. This was Faith’s first major competition; four days participating in what for her was nothing but a fun and awesome event. It is this experience that the USTC wanted everyone to have. She knew nothing of politics, or what went on behind the scenes with referees; only what it meant for her to be there with her Dad by her side. To be at Hanmadang and have the opportunity to compete with other young people, see some incredible talent, compete herself, and have her tiny part in a very big event. It’s the experience I believe the USTC, President Lee and all who contributed wanted everyone to have, in the ideal sense. Knowing that at least some people came, competed and saw it as 101% wonderful, makes it a great success, in my belief. It doesn't matter that she was a child, or that children don't get to compete below Poom or Black Belt level in Korea. I do believe that the purity of her experience, as she shared it with me, was the real essence and one of the many successes of Hanmadang.
As adults, we can all learn a lesson from this innocent young athlete, and focus on all that went right, and resolve to do it even better next time. Young Faith embraced Hanmadang and was part of the spirit of it all. This and the actual events themselves will be the memory she carries with her forever. In Faith's experience, it couldn't get any better than it did.
Nearly a month after Hanmadang, Grandmaster Clint Robinson sent me an Email with contact information for Tom and Faith Cerussi. Tom and I continue to exchange emails, and I sent a copy of my book (with Grandmaster Dong Keun Park) to Faith, which I inscribed on the title page to her personally. I received back a wonderful note that told me “I like the book very much. It is very asom (phonetic spelling for awesome). From Faith Cerussi, thank you”. This was followed by her hand drawn snaggle-toothed happy face. The picture she drew me still hangs on my refrigerator door, complete with a rendering of her reading the book with Teddy sitting nearby.
This is a memory from Hanmadang that I will carry with me at all future Hanmadang events, and always. I will always consider Faith to be “Little Miss Spirit of Hanmadang 2008”, my unofficial title for her.
Allan Schein
USTC Columnist
Note to readers. Undoubtedly, many of you have stories about your experiences, and those of your children and students from Hanmadang. Please share them with us, along with your photos by sending them to: bharris@ustaekwondocommittee.com .
