Oriental Martial Arts College
Date Announcement for 2011
The success of the Battle of Columbus for the past 34 years has only been possible because of your enthusiastic support.
We are working to make the upcoming 35th anniversary Battle historic and special.
In order to make the BOC special and to best accommodate competitors and participants who have been supporting the event for the past 34 years, we have decided to change the date of the competition.
The 35th Annual BOC World Games will be held May 28 (Sat.) - 29(Sun.), 2011, Memorial Holiday weekend. Due to the history of the BOC, it was a very difficult decision to make a change to the event date.
Following are the major factors we considered while planning the change of the date:
1. Time of the year - In March, there are few other activities available in Columbus. For competitors, coaches/instructors, family members and friends coming from all around the globe, this is not the best time to highlight our city. With the new emphasis on the USAT State Championships around the country - most of which happen in March and April, there are many other championship events competing for attendees, limiting the availability of out of state competitors.
2. Weather - There is a saying about the weather in Columbus in March: "In like a lion, out like a lamb." March weather is known for wild swings where it could be 70 degrees fahrenheit one day and a blizzard the next. The weather has often had a negative affect on traveling from out of the area, and even just driving locally.
3. Time of the week - BOC has traditionally started on Friday and run through late Saturday night. Friday has always presented challenges for everyone arranging time off of work or school; particularly travelers who may have required Thursday off as well. Running late on Saturday has meant either that attendees had to depart before the end of the activities, or travel on Sunday, leaving no time to be rested before returning to normal work and school activities on Monday. By shifting to a holiday weekend, events can be more evenly spread over Saturday and Sunday. Attendees will not need to arrange for extended time off in order to travel or participate.
4. Memorial Weekend Events - Memorial Weekend sees a number of events happening in and around Columbus. One of the most impressive is the Asian Festival at the Franklin Park Conservatory. The Asian Festival celebrates the culture, food, and people of over 15 Asian countries, and annually attracts over 100,000 spectators to share the fun and culture. This and other events provide opportunities for attendees to enjoy more of our wonderful city and make a true vacation of their trip.
We sincerely apologize to those who have other plans on Memorial Weekend. We hope you can adjust your plans for this historical event that we have celebrated for 35 years. Since 1976, BOC has served tens of thousands of martial artists from around the world as one of the most prestigious and innovative multiple martial arts events while demonstrating the traditions and virtues of the martial arts.
Please make your calendar available on May 28 (Sat.) - 29 (Sun.), 2011, Memorial Holiday weekend. The BOC World Games is your competition and has improved constantly over the years due to your continued support.
Again, thank you for your 35 years of support. This is a special martial arts event that we need to carry on for the future -- especially for the children, our future!
Sincerely,
Sr. Grandmaster Joon Pyo Choi
Founder/President, Battle of Columbus/Martial Arts World Games
15-March-2010
