Whitefish martial arts studio Sawbuck Do Jang hosted a prestigious event, the 155th Dan Shim Saw, last month.  

Among rigorous training of body and mind, four budding local martial arts students, Charlie Hanson, Arlo Mauldun, Ellie Ward and Levi Boedeker, passed their test.  

In total, Sawbuck Do Jang studio’s Master Andy Hamer had 25 total students participate in the regional event. 

They were joined by 75 other participants, 20 testing, from across the Rocky Mountain Region, including students from Oregon, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah and Idaho. For many of the local students, hosting the event at home enabled them to participate in their first regional event. 

Of the four testing, Hamer said they have trained for several years, starting at age five and six; although the timeline of progression can start at any age, including adults. 

Curriculum training for the martial arts students covers basic technique, such as stances, and learning the chain of command, which enables the body to develop the best blocks, punches and kicks.  

They do partner work, creating release and counter attacks, as well as sparring as individuals. They also do board breaks. A series of forms, with 20 to 50 plus moves to simulate multiple attackers, must be demonstrated. 

Hamer requires a written report with testing.  

“Our regional senior is always thrilled by these essays, because they’re not writing about kicking and punching, they’re writing about interaction and human relations,” Hamer said. 

The essays are just a reflection of the mindsets instilled in the students – which is the fundamental part of the art that makes families stick with it, Hamer said.  

“It’s more of a philosophy, a connection with nature,” he said.  

“They learn three kinds of energy – internal, relating to breath, external, relating to use of your hips from your center, and then spiritual – the spirit yell shows how you draw up energy from the Earth, your surroundings and into a verbal exclamation that empowers your techniques.”  

THEY BEGAN the event on Friday, May 2 with training in the afternoon and evening. Saturday started early in the morning with training and an international leadership conference, followed by testing in the afternoon. 

In the future, students who progress to a higher level of the art will receive a midnight blue belt and an ID number that will then be used to place them in a worldwide hierarchy, connecting their time of testing to their lineage. 

For example, Master Hamer’s number is 41,773. His instructor’s is 18,700, while his most recent lineage, Tanner Armstrong, is 47,631.  

For now, the younger teens are still at that age of finding themselves, Hamer said.  

“Charlie has a quiet demeanor I appreciate, he’s upbeat and consistent,” he said.  

“Ellie is an all-around athlete,” Hamer said. “She comes in from running for track, getting in a snack while putting on uniform to go straight into training. She’s endless energy. 

“Levi is a serious first child. He got some criticism a few months before the test that made him redouble his efforts.”  

Hamer said Arlo, the oldest of the bunch, has overcome physical challenges to find balance in the body, and has had grounding maturity for the group.  

“The camaraderie is there,” Hamer said. “That’s the other big picture – having the middle school gym with members lined up one side, testing candidates on the other, and bleachers full of people was a really good turnout.”  

The Dan Shim Saw occurs biannually. The last time Whitefish was hosted was in the fall of 2019, although it is typically a three-year cycle.