Battle of the Belts:  Sept 17th (Saturday) Missouri is hosting their 23rd annual Battle of the Belts tournament.  We will leave Friday the 16th, around noon from the Youth Center parking lot and return after the tournament Saturday evening.  We plan to stay one night at the Day’s Inn Hotel in Ottumwa IA. The cost of the tournament is $30 and includes Individual Patterns, Sparring, and Breaking competitions.  Breaking is only open to 16 year olds and older (sorry youngsters).  If you are sparring you must have head gear, hand gear, foot gear, mouth piece, and protective cup (for guys) or you will not be allowed to spar.  Teams for Team Patterns have been selected and Axe TKD will pay those entry fees.  Rules and Regulations will be just like our tournament because we follow the USTF requirements!  Master Todd will pass out ride, room, and cost information in class before the tournament.  If you have questions, ask before we go.

Tuition (By Mr. Bushor) There will be an increase to the monthly tuition charged for our class.  The costs will increase $5.00 to $45.00 per month for one student and $75 per month for two or more students from the same family.  This is the second increase in the past few years, but the Youth Center has new requirements that they have to manage their programs under.  They have to pay their employees and pay the light bill just like every other business.  Every program they host is being hit with the increase.  The Youth Center is the single point of contact for paying your monthly tuition.  Their requirement if for it to be paid not later than the first class in any given month.  Axe TKD also requires you to be a student in good standing (meaning all your tuition is paid) before you will be considered for promotion testing.  If you are unsure if you are a student in good standing, please check with the front desk at the Youth Center.  If you will miss an entire month of class for any reason, let your instructors know and notify the front desk at the Youth Center so they can put you in a “Leave of Absence” (LOA) status.  You will not be required to pay the monthly tuition during the month(s) you are in an LOA status.  There have been errors recently in the Youth Center’s record keeping, and Master Todd keeps a close eye on who is behind.  Please keep your receipts when you pay your monthly tuition, this will quickly solve any problems that arise from their errors!

Sr. Grand Master Sereff Tournament:  Oct 16th (Sunday) Broomfield, Colorado is hosting their annual tournament. We will leave Saturday the 15th, typically very early and return after the tournament Monday evening. We plan to stay two nights in a hotel. Axe TKD will reserve rooms, but if you wish, you may make your own reservations. We typically have a decent sized group attend this tournament and would like to keep it up! Everyone rank 10th gup to 4th dan are able to participate. If you do not want to participate, and are referee certified, you may go and help and still enjoy the tournament!  This is the largest tournament held yearly. 

New Students:  As with the start of every new school year, our class gets a lot of new students and this year is no different.  We have many new faces in the class, and just like you when you first started they probably don’t know many people (if any) in the class.  If you remember how nervous and scared you were when you started, the new students all feel just as nervous and scared as you did.  We are all Master Todd’s students and as such we all have that one thing in common.  We all need to welcome each of the new students, to include those former students who have returned, into our class and our Taekwon-Do family.  Aside from our weekly training classes, we travel to other schools in other states for tournaments and training classes, and we meet outside of class in social environments.  Treat your fellow new students and their families the way you would want and expect to be treated, make them feel welcome into the Axe Taekwon-Do family.

Departures:  Mr. Finan, 3rd dan is scheduled to leave in October for a year to Korea.  He will continue training/teaching there and return to the U.S. in 2012.  At this time, we are uncertain where Mr. Finan will be stationed.  Ms. Matos, 2nd dan will also leave in October for three years to live in Spain.  She will return to Axe TKD hopefully when finished in Spain.  We wish them both luck and will see them off properly before they leave.   

Black Belt Testing:  (By Master Todd)  November 5th (Saturday) Kirksville, Missouri is hosting a black belt testing.  Mr. Bushor will be testing there for his 6th degree black belt.  His testing requires a 9th degree Grand Master.  There will be many people testing some for 7th degree and other ranks.  Grand Master Sereff is scheduled to test all.  We are not certain of the testing time yet.  This will dictate when we travel there for the testing, how many nights we need etc.  Typically, there is a dinner of some type after these large tests.  I encourage all students if possible to attend this event. A good time to wear your Axe TKD jackets!  Black belts that are not away on vacation or for something else are strongly encouraged to attend.  The dress for black belts at this event would be blue pants, white shirt and tie/tab.  I will announce more details when I have them.   

Calendar

Sept 17th– Battle of the Belts, Kirksville, MO

Oct 1st – Class A USTF Instructor’s Course, Broomfield, CO

Oct16th – Senior Grand Master Sereff Tournament, Broomfield, CO

Nov 5th – Testing in Missouri (Mr. Bushor for 6th degree)

Nov Promotion Testing, Axe TKD (Date TBD)

Dec – Holiday Party – Axe TKD (Date TBD)

June 24-29, 2012 – Sereff World Camp, Estes Park, CO (you need Master Todd’s permission to attend) 

Stickers:  Mr. Bushor has AXE TKD stickers for sale.  We have 2 sizes, 3” stickers are 2 for $1.00 and are coated to resist the weather.  The 2” stickers are 4 for $1.00 but do not have the weather coating.  Make sure you have permission from your parents before putting these stickers on doors or windows because they will not come off easily.

Axe Taekwon-Do Jackets:  Since the weather will be getting cooler in the next couple of months, look around for the new Axe Taekwon-Do Jackets, they look great.  We will place another order if there is enough interest.  Please see Mr. Bushor for an estimated price and more details.