Martial Arts Expo to be Held at Brookhaven Lab, May 7

April 7, 2005

UPTON, NY - A Martial Arts Expo will be held at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory on Saturday, May 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Berkner Hall. Sponsored by the Laboratory's Asian Pacific American Association in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the event is open to the public. All visitors to the Laboratory age 16 and over must bring a photo ID.

Photo fo martial artist enlarge

Catherine Vetter, a black belt student with the Ryu Shu Kan Studio, demonstrates the art of using a weapon called the sai. (Click image to download hi-res version.)

At the expo, teachers and students from Long Island studios and from recreational groups at Brookhaven Lab will give live demonstrations of numerous styles of martial arts, such as kung fu, tai-chi, jiu jitsu, karate, kendo, and more. Originated in China, Korea, and Japan, the martial arts include various forms of self-defense based on ancient techniques that include both mental and physical discipline.

The groups that will give presentations are: the Brookhaven Employees Recreation Association (BERA) Jiu Jitsu Club; the BERA Tai-Chi Club; Island Jiu Jitsu, Inc.; Ken Zen Institute of Long Island; Ryu Shu Kan: Long Island's Family Karate Center; Shaolin Kung Fu Studios, Inc.; Wing Chun Original of Long Island; and the Yuan-Ji Society.

Tickets cost $10 each for adults and $5 each for children age 12 and under. They may be purchased in advance at the BERA store in the Laboratory's Berkner Hall, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, or at the door on the evening of the event.

Call (631) 344-7988 for more information about the event. The Laboratory is located on William Floyd Parkway (County Road 46), one-and-a-half miles north of Exit 68 of the Long Island Expressway.

2005-10299  |  INT/EXT  |  Newsroom