Berkeley, California—05 June 2007—Hapkido West, a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the martial art of Hapkido, today announced that it has received official notification from the Internal Revenue Service approving its tax-exempt status as a 501(C)(3) public charity. Similar approval was granted by the State of California on February 21, 2007.

“Gaining tax-exempt status is very important to us, since much of what we offer is provided for free or heavily discounted,” said Erik Medeiros, Hapkido West's treasurer. “In the future, many of the groundbreaking projects we will be undertaking will require considerable time, energy, and resources. Grants and charitable contributions by individuals and organizations will constitute an important and welcome source of funding.”

About Hapkido West
Established in January 2007 under the leadership of Marc Tedeschi, an internationally respected martial arts master, Hapkido West's core mission is to promote the practice and instruction of Hapkido, both locally and internationally. Hapkido West offers affordable high-quality martial arts training to a broad segment of the general public and seeks to improve educational standards, build goodwill and fellowship, and increase public awareness of the beneficial role of martial arts practice in one’s life.

What is Hapkido?
Practiced in over 100 countries, Hapkido possesses one of the most complex, unique, and varied arsenals of self-defense techniques to be found in any martial art. Its skills encompass all major martial categories: strikes, kicks, blocks, avoiding movements, holds, joint locks, chokes, throws, breakfalls, tumbling, ground fighting, weapons, meditation, and healing. Although combatives are an important aspect of training, Hapkido’s ultimate objective is the harmonization of body, mind, and spirit; the perfection of human character; the cultivation of social responsibility; and the empowerment of self.

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Press Contact:
Philip Atkins
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