April 16th:

This weekend, Axe TKD will be traveling to Broomfield, Colorado.  Sr. Grand Master Sereff the founder of the USTF will be teaching his last seminar at USTF Headquarters on Saturday April 16^th.  This is going to be a memorable event in the organization.

Senior Grand Master Sereff was a beloved student of General Choi, the founder of Taekwon-Do, the “Original” Taekwon-Do.  Often students ask what is the difference between WTF and other organizations that have been created and claim to teach Taekwon-Do?

All Axe students are encouraged to watch this video montage at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlX-YqTyCoE, and more history can be found on the USTF-ITF Headquarters and the Original Taekwon-Do ITF Facebook pages.   We encourage students to educate themselves about the history of the USTF.  Be confident that your training as a member of the USTF follows the teachings of General Choi.

April 26thWorld Camp Payments Due:

If you are registered to attend the USTF World camp in Colorado from July 10^th – 15^th, your final payment is due to Sr. Master Todd.  Please contact him if you have any questions.

May 21^st Axe TKD tournament:

Our school tournament will be on Saturday, May 21^st.  The event will be at the Youth Center in the large gym.  All students should plan to compete and support the school.  There will be divisions for all ranks and ages in patterns and sparring.  Those students who are older than sixteen will participate in the breaking competition as well.  This is a USTF sanctioned tournament and gives you an opportunity to test your skills that you have been practicing in class.  Competitors from Missouri, Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado are expected to attend!  All competitors will adhere to the safety rules and guidelines as written in the USTF handbook.

WANTED:  The tournament begins with team pattern competition!  We will need color belt and black belt teams.  Ms. Bowing, Mr. Bushor Jr., and Ms. Grant will be coordinating the teams.  Please let them know ASAP that you would like to be a part of a team! 

Advanced registration is expected of Axe students.  Tournament information will be handed out in class.  Senior Master Todd would like all students in attendance.  Please mark your calendar and plan on being at this event!

Practice At Home! But How? (by Mrs. Ragone):

1.  Stretch, stretch, stretch! Make sure you are properly warmed up before you start practicing your kicks. Focus on stretching your legs. As a minimum, stretch your knees, then do half splits, splits, front splits, butterfly stretches. Also do kick warm ups. Don’t forget to go deeper every time in your stretch. This will increase your flexibility and you will be able to kick higher.

2.  Don’t forget to do cardio to build your endurance. You can run, do burpees, do cardio kickboxing, swim, or do anything else that will work out your heart. Endurance is important in Taekwondo!

3.  Exercise your legs. Practice all types of kicks in general, kick targets, and do it often. Focus on your form and make sure your movements are accurate. If you don’t have a partner to work with and want a target, you can make one yourself using a nail, string, tennis ball and a small plastic sandwich bag. Place the ball in the bag, then use the string to tie the bag closed being sure to leave a few extra feet of string. Drive the nail into a ceiling or, if you can't kick over 5 ¹⁄₂ feet (1.7 m), a door frame will work. Tie the string from the bag to the nail in the ceiling so that it hangs down about 6 inches (15.2 cm) lower than you can kick.

4.  Do foot drills to work on speeding up your foot movement! Similar to football or basketball, TKD also requires footwork! Make sure you know how to move forwards and backwards, side to side, how to slide, or cross your feet. This will speed up your movements for when you actually perform kicks in general.

5.  Keep practicing your kicks slowly, making sure your movements are absolutely exact and accurate.  Once your kicks are perfect, slightly increase the speed with which you hit your target. When you kick movements are once again perfect at the new speed, increase the speed a little more.

ETIQUITTE From General Choi Hong Hi (The Father of Taekwon-Do)

      A high degree of etiquette should be observed by students, both inside and outside dojang. This should be applied by lower ranking students to senior students while training, by higher ranking students to elder students outside of the dojang, and by all students when visiting another dojang. In all cases, emphasis should be placed on correct and proper salutation. It is a form of respect and courtesy in Western as well as Oriental societies. It is indeed poor taste for a black belt to slight a beginning white belt who might very well be the instructor's senior in both age and station. Students visiting other dojangs, whether they be Taekwon-Do or other martial arts, must pay proper respect and observe the traits of modesty and courtesy at all times.

Continuation by Sr. Master Todd

     We have searched for a suitable guide to etiquette and have found the following from various sources.     Etiquette is the most important, valuable and fundamental aspect in one's life. Etiquette is that hidden element which comes spontaneously from within a person's heart and is expressed in actions, behavior and/or speech. It is associated with personality and character building. Etiquette is not something, which is forced upon someone to abide by rules and regulations, but it is that element which flows naturally and automatically to make a person more readily accepted in our society. Etiquette enriches one's quality of life and thus gives a person peace and tranquility not only to oneself but also to society at large.

Basics in the Dojang (training hall):

1. When students bow they must first stand to attention (feet form a 45 degree angle). Fists are lightly clenched, bending the elbows slightly. Bend the body forward 15 degrees.

2. In the dojang, while sitting in the company of senior members (senior means higher ranking TKD students or an elderly person) one must maintain proper posture. In case of any senior member entering the room one must stand immediately and bow. You take your seat only after the senior member has sat down.

3.  When entering a dojang, bow first to the Instructor, then the assistant instructors and the flag. Even when visiting other Martial Arts dojangs, students must show proper respect and observe the traits of modesty and courtesy at all times.

4. In the dojang, you should refrain from making excessive noise and attempt to build a serious training environment.

Dinner Table Etiquette

1.  Maintain proper seated position while eating.

2.  Wait for the senior member or any elderly person to start first.

3.  Do not stand or leave the table while eating without seeking permission to be excused.

4.  If you are the host, do not eat fast and finish before your guest who may still be eating.

5.  Do not take uninvited guests to a party.

Seating Arrangements during Social or Official Functions

The middle is for the senior. The right side must be the second and left is the third. The fourth place is again at the right, etc.

General Etiquette

At home or in public, always try to use proper language in your conversation and maintain proper language, (e.g. not slang). On all occasions, in whatever relationships you have (e.g. teacher-­student) always maintain and display good etiquette.

During Conversation

1.  Ensure that you use the correct and appropriate language.

2. When speaking to others, do not talk in an abrupt, violent or aggressive manner. Speak with humbleness.

3.  Always remember to address a person with a proper title.

4. Always be a good listener. Do not cut in on someone else's conversation. When giving an opinion, think very carefully beforehand.

5. Do not point fingers at someone while talking and do not touch another person unnecessarily during the conversation.

Email

1. Ensure that you use the correct and appropriate language.

2. Do not send unwanted jokes or email to your seniors.

3. Do not provide your seniors or other Taekwon-Do students email addresses to others without their permission.

Social Meetings

1. If you are introduced by a friend to a senior black belt or instructor, let your friend complete the introduction first before you speak.

2.  When shaking hands, junior students must wait until the senior extends his hand first. A junior must never be the first to extend the hand to the senior.

3.  When shaking hands, do not hold too tight (or loose).