Future Events-

As this year progresses, there are still several opportunities for travel with Axe Taekwon Do.  Listed to the right are the upcoming events our organization plans to participate in for the rest of this year.  All students are able and encouraged to attend any and all events they can.  We let students know as far out as possible so you can budget and prepare for these events.  Axe TKD only participates in sanctioned USTF events which follow strict guidelines to ensure the safety of all. 

Newsletter- Each month we publish the Axe Taekwon Do Newsletter.  We encourage any student, or parent of a student to contribute articles for submission.  Master Todd will review all articles before they are published.  This is a great forum to share your personal experiences within Taekwon Do with others within the organization.  If you have an article you would like considered, please provide it to any instructor.

Axe TKD tournament-

The Axe tournament is less than two weeks away! Are you ready?  There is still plenty of time to ensure you are fine-tuned to perform at your best during this event.  The tournament will be held at the Youth Center on Saturday, May 18^th.  We will begin promptly at 10 AM and should finish around 6PM at the latest.  All students are requested to attend and in most cases compete in all events for only $30.  There will be divisions for all ranks and ages in patterns and sparring.  Those students who are older than sixteen may participate in the breaking competition.  There will be a team patters competition as well.  Some groups are already working toward perfection!  This year’s tournament is extra special as we are privileged to have Grand Master Sereff, the highest ranking female in the USTF, attend our event.  Competitors from Missouri, Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado are expected to attend also.  This is definitely an opportunity to safely test the skills  you have acquired in class while showing support to your fellow classmates. We do require advance registration by May 9^th.  Registration at the door will be an additional $10.00 so get registered early.  Forms will be posted on the website. Master Todd would like to see 100% participation from Axe Taekwon Do students.  Please ask if you have any questions or need further encouragement!

We will be setting up for the tournament Friday evening 17 May.  We will need as much help with this as possible.  Them more people we have help out, the quicker we will have the setup completed.  We will let you know the time as we get closer to the date.  Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Next Promotion Testing-

Master Todd will conduct the next testing at the Youth Center on Saturday, June 1^st.  Promotion testing will begin at 1230 and should end by 4pm.  Those who are eligible to test will be closely observed to determine if they will be permitted to test.  Mr. Bushor will pass out testing forms to those who are ready!  Remember:  although class is two times a week, students are encouraged to practice what they have learned outside of class in order to progress quickly.  Those who do the minimum may take longer to test than normal testing cycle.  It is not appropriate for you to ask if or when you will be testing.  When the instructor feels you are ready to test, he will let you know, until then just keep working on improving youself and your Taekwon Do.

***USTF headquarters National Tournament-

Senior Grand Master Sereff will be hosting all USTF students to compete in the USTF National Championship.  We will be traveling to Broomfield, Colorado June 22nd and 23rd. This will be the largest tournament our class will have the opportunity to attend. There will be students from all over the nation, and it's a two day event.  Whether you compete or watch it’s an experience you won’t forget! The USTF will ensure it is a safe and coordinated event for all.  There will be patterns and sparring for all, and breaking for black belts, 16 years old or older.  More specifics on the tournament are outlined at www.axetkd.com.   All Axe students will pre-register. The pre-registration form and payment must be in by May 18^th 2013.  For your planning and decision making, we will hit the road early that Friday morning in order to be there for the weigh in. We will return sometime late Monday. We understand that we have a lot going on this year in class, and that June is still some time away.  We will be making hotel arrangements soon.  The number of people attending makes a difference on the cost.  Please let Mrs. Ragone know by May 9th whether or not you will be attending.  We want to give total expense figures as soon as possible and confirm room arrangements.   

The Theory of Power (Pat Finan, IV Dan)-

As we learn different techniques, there is a process we go through to ensure we are doing each technique correctly.  We achieve that “instinctive reaction” by developing muscle memory through repetition.  Once we have created the muscle memory for a specific technique, we no longer have to think about what we need to do to form the proper technique.  That does not mean we should stop thinking about each technique we do.  If we do that, we start getting lazy and over time the good technique we learned will change to improper technique.

Once we develop the proper technique, we can start working on increasing our power for each move.  There is a lot that has to happen in an instant to achieve maximum power.  I will briefly touch on each of the six factors in the theory of power to assist you in developing more power properly with your techniques.

Concentration is the first factor I will cover.  In order to develop power, you must focus on the target.  Know where the target is, or where it is going.  Know where you are hitting on your target such as the jaw or the ribs.  Do not just throw a technique hoping it will hit something.  Your focus goes farther than that in that you also need to concentrate on ensuring the proper tool for the technique is used to deliver the movement.  If you are punching, use the first two knuckles, not the whole hand, or just the last two knuckles.  If you are throwing a side piercing kick, use the foot sword, not the back sole, the ball of the foot or the side sole. 

Speed is the second factor we will discuss.  Speed is created by the acceleration of your technique from the preparatory position to the executed position.  As you move your hand or your foot, you increase the speed you are moving at, and this increase in velocity assists in creating power.  According to the theory of kinetic energy, every object increases its weight as well as speed in a downward movement.  This is the principle behind incorporating sine wave into our techniques.  As we execute a movement, we end in a downward motion, thus increasing the weight and speed of the movement just before impact.

Mass is also key to power.  When we strike an opponent, the more mass we put behind a technique, the more power we are able to generate for that technique.  Force equals mass multiplied by acceleration (F=MA).  Sine wave also assists in generating more mass for the technique.  If we were to just use our arms to throw a punch standing still, you would not be able to generate as much power as when you incorporate sine wave into the technique and use your whole body behind your punch.  The same is said for kicking.  You could just throw you leg out there, but by rotating your hips and putting more torque into it, you are putting more of your mass behind your kick.

Reaction Force takes from Newton’s third law of motion:  For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  As we throw a punch, we are exerting a force toward the target.  At the same time, we are pulling our opposite hand to the side.  Both arms are moving at the same time, at the same speed, and with the same mass.  This is creating the reaction force.  It helps torque the body to enable more mass behind the technique.

Equilibrium, or balance, is the fifth factor we will discuss.  If you are not balanced and stable, you cannot generate power.  There are two different types of balance, static and dynamic.  Static balance is your balance when you are standing still, where dynamic balance is your balance when you are in motion.  Both are important and work together in generating power.  Stability is very important because if you are not in balance before you start a technique, you have already lost quite a bit of potential power.  As well, if you are off balance while executing your technique, you are not able to incorporate your mass, speed, and focus into your target.

The last factor we will discuss is Breath Control.  Breathing is very important when executing techniques as it helps tie everything together.  By forcing your breath out as you strike your target, you are tightening your core which increases your power.  As well, if you are forcing your breath out and you get hit with an opponent’s technique, your breath control will allow you to take the hit without as much damage.  It can keep you from being knocked out, as well as stifle the pain.  If you have seen someone take a hit when they are holding their breath, the hit could knock the wind out of them, and cause them to drop.  If the same hit was delivered to someone forcefully exhaling, they would not have the wind knocked out of them, and they have a much greater chance of being able to continue.

Once you have the basics for the technique down, you can start focusing on these six factors to increase your power for your techniques.  The more you practice, the easier it becomes to incorporate the six factors of power and deliver very powerful techniques.