Master Jin of Elite Martial Arts Academy is a very close friend, longtime of Tiger Claw. I’m told he was with this group in Korea, but did not return on the flight. We worked together on the load-in for Tiger Claw Elite Championships last month. We are so grateful that none of his group were hurt and extend our condolences to everyone who suffered in this horrible tragedy.
Martial arts academy owner posts ‘all home safe’
By Calvin Men
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 07/06/2013 06:18:33 PM PDT
Fire crews are on the scene after an Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 crashed on… ( JOHN GREEN )
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – A group with Scotts Valley ties was on the plane that crash landed Saturday at San Francisco International Airport.
The group was part of Elite Martial Arts Academy in Scotts Valley and it was on its way back from a martial arts event in South Korea.
Elliot Stone, owner of the academy, said the group was fine in an interview on CNN.
Stone was with nine other people who were from the Santa Cruz area. The 10 were among the 307 people onboard the Boeing 777 flight that crash landed.
According to reports, at least two people were killed.
Asiana Airlines flight No. 214 crashed around 11:30 a.m. at SFO. The flight began in China with a stop in South Korea.
Stone recollected his experience with CNN.
“It seemed like we were a little bit high and could see the tarmac down below us, and we were coming down kind of sharp. Then right when it started to coast for the landing, all of a sudden the engine was all (high-pitched sound),” he told to CNN, imitating the sound of the engine the moment before impact. “And then just boom. The back end just hit and flies up in the air and everybody’s head goes up to the ceiling.”
The National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and FBI are investigating.
Among Stone’s group were his family, girlfriend and several other martial arts students from his academy, Stone told CNN.
The group was seated in the central area of coach section. Stone said some passengers fell out of the back of the plane during the crash, Stone said in the CNN interview. “It was the most terrible thing I’ve seen.”
“The back got the worst of it,” he said.
After the plane struck the runway, the aircraft fishtailed and rolled over before stopping, he said. He also described a fire starting.
“That’s when all the passengers jumped out,” he said in the interview.
Stone described a fiery scene with other passengers bleeding and limping away. He recounted seeing bodies 500 yards away from where he was and calling ambulances over for help.
A message posted on Elite’s Facebook Page confirmed that the group arrived home safe.
“Everyone is home and resting after a long and exhausting day,” the message read about nine hours after the crash. “Thank you for all the good wishes and we look forward to seeing everyone next week!”
“The ambulances took like 20, 30 minutes to get there,” Stone told CNN. “It was ridiculous.”
The group were in South Korea for a martial arts competition and to test for martial arts ranks, Stone said. Stone’s master is from South Korea, he said.
Santa Cruz resident Jenny Campbell has two daughters who attend Stone’s academy. She said she was relieved when after learning the group was fine. Campbell’s daughters were not on the flight.
“He’s quite the man so we’re all very glad he’s OK,” Campbell said.
Stone is a great leader and great with kids, she said.
Campbell said she was aware Stone and his group were in South Korea because of the academy’s Facebook page. When Campbell learned about the crash, she reasoned he was on the flight.
“The last (thing) they posted was 12 hours ago and (the news) said it was 12-hour plane ride and I said,’ Oh no, this can’t be good,'” she said.
Campbell, as well as her two daughters, were relieved upon reading the message.
“They’re such wonderful people and it would’ve been horrendous for any of them to get hurt on a such a nice trip,” she said.
San Francisco General Hospital was treating 52 patients of the reported 182 hospitalized, said hospital spokeswoman Rachael Kagan in an e-mail. Patients arrived in four waves:
The first wave had 10 patients were six female patients and four male patients. Eight are adults from their 20s to 40s. Two are children. Five patients were in critical condition, including a child. Five are in serious condition.
The second wave had 17 patients from critical to good condition. The breakdown of their ages and genders were not available.
The third wave had seven patients. Their conditions and other data was not available.
The fourth wave had 18 patients. These patients were reported to be in the best shape, with most being able to walk and talk.

