Black Bear Tang Soo Do to celebrate grand opening

SANDPOINT — Black Bear Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Center will celebrate its grand opening this weekend, at its new location at 114 Boyer Ave. in Sandpoint.

There will be a belt test on Friday, from 6-8 p.m., which will be judged by Grandmaster Byrne, a 9th degree black belt with more than 40 years experience, and Master Penny Mitchell, a 7th degree black belt with more than 30 years experience.

On Saturday, there will be three seminars, each of which costs $50 to attend. The first will be a Tang Soo Do seminar led by Byrne from 9-11 a.m.

Master Mitchell will put on a Hai Dong Gumdo seminar from noon to 1 p.m. Hai Dong Gumdo is a korean sword art, or battlefield combat art. Rather than a dueling martial art that teaches one-on-one fighting techniques, Hai Dong Gumdo teaches defense against many attackers.

The final seminar will run from 2-4 p.m., as Byrne puts on a shoot fighting and self-defense seminar. Byrne, who holds three world records and has written two books, was a shoot fighting champion in the 90’s.

All seminars are open to the public, which can view the new facility, and all day seminar spectator passes are available for $15.

For more information, call 255-1111 or visit “www.blackbeartangsoodo.com.”